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The 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championships big winners

Top competitors from all across North America and abroad from Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom

KATHLEEN O'REILLY-WILD,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, June 18, 2012, 9:16 AM

Updated Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 1:24 PM

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Sisters Breanna and Nora Ahern from Gilleoghan Irish Dance, Connecticut

Photo by Meghan TeeKing

This is part two of a recap of the 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championships, hosted by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. Top competitors from all across North America and abroad from Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom vied for coveted podium positions, many as defending champions or past champions seeking the return of the top prize.

Of 23 solo female competitions, 9 titles were defended by 2011 North American Irish Dancing Champions Fiona Dargan, Frances Dunne, Kate Kaneko, Emily Marino, Nadine Martin, Sarah Oldam, Julia O’Rourke, Ava Marie Schroder, and Melanie Valdes. Two sets of sisters claimed North American Championships for the first time together – Fiona and Kevinah Dargan from Rince na Tiarna in New York and Anna and Charlotte Sulger from Pender-Keady in Connecticut.

In 2011, 5 female North American titles crossed the Atlantic to Ireland and the United Kingdom in the hands of France Dunne, Nadine Martin, Molly McAdam, Niamh O’Brien and Aisling Reinhardt. Dunne and Martin each hold previous North American titles as well.

2011 Girls/Ladies North American Irish Dancing Champions
Girls u8 Charlotte Sulger Pender-Keady Connecticut
Girls u9 Molly McAdam Kelly Hendry England
Girls u10 Emily Marino Rince na Tiarna New York
Girls u11a Ava Marie Schroder Mattierin Western Canada
Girls u11b Margaret Muise Tim O'Hare Middle America
Girls u12a Julia O'Rourke Petri New York
Girls u12b Clare Murray Macritchie Murray New Hampshire
Girls u13a Aine Claire Sheehan McDade-Cara Pennsylvania
Girls u13b Melanie Valdes Petri New York
Girls u14a Fiona Dargan Rince na Tiarna New York
Girls u14b Anna Sulger Pender-Keady Connecticut
Girls u15a Aisling Reinhardt Elaine Kavanagh Ireland
Girls u15b Melissa McCarthy Harney Massachusetts
Girls u16a Niamh O'Brien Anthony Costello Ireland
Girls u16b Sarah Oldam Peter Smith New York
Girls u17a Kevinah Dargan Rince na Tiarna New York
Girls u17b Kate Kaneko Peter Smith New York
Ladies u18a Kelly McCourt Gray Connecticut
Ladies u18b Taylor Kerrane Petri New York
Ladies u19 Gabriella Wood Petri New York
Ladies u20 Nadine Martin Doherty England/Wales
Senior Ladies o20a Meghan Lucey Pender-Keady Connecticut
Senior Ladies o20b Frances Dunne Doherty England/Wales

Stay tuned right here for more updates and future editions of the 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championships recap as we prepare for our role as the official live commentators for the 2012 Chicago event!

Like us on Facebook, comment in the box below, Tweet this post to your friends or follow us here on Irish Central's Irish dance page! Feis America LLC is the world's most respected media feed for Irish dance and has been selected by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America to provide live commentary and results at the 2012 North American National Irish Dancing Championships!

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10 Comments

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Bangor46 | Jun 20, 2012, 09:36 PM EDT

I agree with all the comments on the recent Irish "dancing dolls". Are we heading for burlesque??? Our traditional Irish dancing was done by lovly young girls with their own hair and fresh complexions as well as suitable dance costumes with appropriate Celtic designs. I know -- I had 3 such young ladies and I happily making and embroidering their traditional costumes!! Let's keep Irish dancing IRISH and not music hall parodies!!

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Bythebay | Jun 20, 2012, 03:47 PM EDT

NYCSheridan, why are you?

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NYCsheridan | Jun 19, 2012, 10:49 PM EDT

Bythebay, why are you so angry?

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pilib04 | Jun 19, 2012, 10:00 PM EDT

Is it just me or are the Irish dancers looking more and more like child beauty contestants.

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Searlit | Jun 19, 2012, 03:35 PM EDT

I bet those wigs are very uncomfortable to wear, too.

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Bythebay | Jun 19, 2012, 03:15 PM EDT

These girls look like painted dolls, not at all historically culturally accurate depictions of actual Irish dancers or dancing. The one on the right looks like a Marie Antoinette wannabe.

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clevelander | Jun 19, 2012, 12:12 PM EDT

I wonder what @bythebay will say. Something like, They should not be Irish Dancing because they are not in Ireland?

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katieherk | Jun 19, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT

I remember the good old days when their hair was their own. Whoever started the wig trend should be banned from having anything to do with the dancers. It's ugly and a shame that it continues!!

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Porickseantuny | Jun 19, 2012, 10:45 AM EDT

Amen to Clancey

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Clancey | Jun 19, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT

I just wish that someday some contestant will have the courage to ditch the dreadful, artificial look affected by these dancers (Jon-Benet Ramsey, anyone?) and go out there looking like a normal child with free-flowing hair and minimal (if any) makeup - take this competition back to reality.

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