Go Feis - The Irish Dance Blog
by Kathleen O’Reilly-WildRSS 
Recent Posts
- Songs for the 1st – 2nd September Irish Dancing Competitions - VIDEOS
- Songs for the 25th – 26th August Irish Dancing Competitions – VIDEOS
- Songs for the 18th – 19th August Irish Dancing Competitions – VIDEOS
- Songs for the 11th – 12th August Irish Dancing Competitions – VIDEOS
- Championship training for Irish dancers - tips from teachers on Oireachtas Part 1
Archives
When the littlest girls finished their first two rounds at the World Irish Dancing Championships, the second group to take the stage seem like old hats at this major international competition thing. After all, as girls aged 11-12 they could already have one World Irish Dancing Championship experience under their belt. Most have competed at the All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championships this year or last, and they performed well at a qualifying event or they wouldn't have made it here.
The big stage and bright lights are less intimidating than one might remember. There are seven adjudicators watching instead of five or three, and it can be a bit daunting when announcements are made in Gaelic before English. But when the music starts and the rhythm clicks in, the steps are as natural as the beating of one's own heart. It has been said that for these youths, there is nothing in the world that comes close to the thrill of Irish dancing on the Worlds' stage.
------------
Read more:
Photo: Helene Ossipov
The Valley’s newest certified Irish dance teacher, Kirsten Hahn, started Irish dance relatively late at age 16. In spite of this, and quite possibly because of her maturity, Hahn soon rose to the highest ranks of the sport, qualifying for the World Irish Dancing Championships every year from 2000 through 2009. A skilled solo and ceili dancer, Hahn placed second in both solo and ceili at a memorable Oireachtas, the regional Irish dancing championships, in 2004.
When Kirsten Hahn left New Jersey for Arizona State University, she began training with the Bracken School of Irish Dance on the advice of her former Irish dancing teacher, Dierdre Shea. She also showed talent as a teacher, which Thomas Bracken, TCRG, ADCRG and director of the Bracken School, soon recognized.
Photo Helene Ossipov
by PATRICIA MCNAMARA
Heading to Pennsylvania this weekend for the West Virginia Feis at Pittsburgh? How about New York for the Big Apple Feis? Or maybe you’re going to Massachusetts for the Forbes Feis.
No matter your competitive destination this weekend, we want to share four tunes you should add to your own playlist before lacing up and taking the stage. Best of luck to all competitors. And be sure to come back here and share your results!
Better than a flash mob? An Irish dancing flash mob!
Best of all? A flash mob choreographed by the Teelin School of Irish Dance for St. Patrick's Day!
will perform at more than 30 shows and 3 parades in March.
McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance in Pennsylvania will be celebrating its 50th anniversary all year long in 2012. These extra special appearances on CBS3 and at the Wilmington, Delaware Irish Parade are just the beginning!
Photo courtesy McDade-Cara Champion Irish Dancers
The late Maureen McDade McGrory TCRG experienced a wonderful childhood amid Irish dancing and music with the best Celtic performers in greater Philadelphia. Her father, Jimmy McDade, was the leader of the All Ireland Orchestra and she studied Irish step dancing with the late Sean Lavery. After Lavery's death, McGrory offered Irish dancing lessons in her home before founding the McDade School of Irish Dance in 1962. Mrs. McGrory passed away in 1993 after battling cancer but her legacy lives on through the many Irish dancing teachers she nurtured over more than thirty years of teaching. She was inducted into the North American Feis Commission's Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame in 2004.
Photos and Story by Caitlin Buck
Feis America LLC Contributor
by PATRICIA MCNAMARA
Heading to Texas this weekend for the Texas State Championships and Feis or to Wisconsin for the Lavin-Cassidy Feis? How about Alberta, Canada for the Possak Feis at the Tower? Massachusetts for the North Shore Feis? Or maybe you’re going to New Jersey for the Garden State Feis.
No matter your competitive destination this weekend, we want to share four tunes you should add to your own playlist before lacing up and taking the stage. Best of luck to all competitors. And be sure to come back here and share your results!
The Latest Irish Dance Blog Posts
Most Popular Irish Dance
