Nature's Original River Dance
"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic." - Adrienne Cook
This post is dedicated to the memory
of my friend and mentor, Dr. Sean Burke.
of my friend and mentor, Dr. Sean Burke.
When I began photographing this Snowy Egret on my walk along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River on Friday, March 8, 2013, the few times I photographed Irish step dance performances for Sean Burke (pdf link) quickly came to mind. I can assure you that Michael Flatley, well known for his elaborate stage productions of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, has nothing on this bird and its own original river dance.
As a matter of fact, the more I have worked with this series of photos, preparing them for publication, the more I am convinced this egret is quite accomplished in the sean-nós style of traditional Irish solo dance.
One thing the series of still photographs fails to adequately depict is how the egret shuffles its feet on the river bottom between larger steps. That shuffling motion, which it does to stir up food from the sediment, is a critical visual aspect of the egrets behavior, giving it the appearance of the sean-nós dance movement.
By a rather fortuitous coincidence (the luck of the Irish?), here is a video of Emma O'Sullivan demonstrating a sean-nós dance at the 2011 North American Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann convention (pdf link). Another coincidence? This convention was held here in San Antonio:
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring
the best to you and yours.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
As a matter of fact, the more I have worked with this series of photos, preparing them for publication, the more I am convinced this egret is quite accomplished in the sean-nós style of traditional Irish solo dance.
One thing the series of still photographs fails to adequately depict is how the egret shuffles its feet on the river bottom between larger steps. That shuffling motion, which it does to stir up food from the sediment, is a critical visual aspect of the egrets behavior, giving it the appearance of the sean-nós dance movement.
By a rather fortuitous coincidence (the luck of the Irish?), here is a video of Emma O'Sullivan demonstrating a sean-nós dance at the 2011 North American Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann convention (pdf link). Another coincidence? This convention was held here in San Antonio:
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring
the best to you and yours.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
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