Tennessee Irish clan on their new TV series, Irish dance and family - VIDEO

Family: The Willis Clan, twelve Irish dancers

This week a new series "The Willis Clan"  premiered, on Great American Country, featuring the family of 12 kids, aged from two to 21 years, from Tennessee. All of whom are Irish dancers.

Many of the Willis kids are Oireachtas champions and Jeremiah (20) has placed sixth at All Irelands and seventh at Worlds. In 2013, the clan competed in the drama division at the World Championships, placing fourth.

The new series, which runs Thursdays at 8pm, ET, features the day to day goings on in the Willis family as they prepare for the many musical and dance performances that are propelling their family band into a career.

The Willis family is busy getting ready for the premier, but I was able to chat with the two oldest children, Jessica and Jeremiah, about Irish dance, family, and what the future holds for them.

At 21 years old, Jessica is the main singer/songwriter in the family band. She plays piano, violin, and sings, and has written over 200 pieces of music. She has also enjoyed exploring various creative outlets including poetry, novels, costume design, and other visual arts.

Starting off in Irish step dancing, she is now pursuing a wide education in all areas of dance including ballroom, west coast swing, and flamenco.  Jessica has been called one of the last true romantics.

Jeremiah (20) one of the best Irish dancers in the Willis Clan

Jeremiah, commonly called Jair for short, is 20 years old, and plays the acoustic, nylon and electric guitar, cello, uilleann pipes, whistles, flute, mandolin, banjo, and piano.

Jair is a three-time champion in west coast swing and a three-time place winner in the World Championships of Irish dance.  He also is a Tennessee state champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Christy:  What is it like living in a family that puts so much emphasis on performance?

Jessica:  A lot of hard work and a whole lot of fun!

We get to travel, meet wonderful people, learn new things and enjoy a very full life. Since we perform so many different styles of music and dance we are able to take elements from all these genres and create a style that is our own unique fusion. The question is, what is coming next?

The Willis Clan is looking to fuse elements of all these influences to create a new generation of music and dance that has Irish at its base and will continue in the great tradition of "Riverdance" that has allowed Irish music and dance to become mainstream worldwide. Irish dancers and musicians should follow The Willis Clan particularly if they study multiple styles as there may be opportunities to be a part of this amazing future.

Christy:  How did you get involved in Irish dancing?

Jair:  Our dad grew up in a family of nine kids, mostly boys, and they all wrestled. My mom and dad decided before they got married that they wanted 12 kids and my dad assumed that they would have 12 sons and he would teach them all to wrestle.

However, he got eight daughters. His thought was, "What in the world do you do with daughters?"  Then my parents saw "Riverdance" and knew what to do with all those girls - Irish dancing!

As it turned out, the boys were all really talented dancers, too. They started the three oldest kids with Julie Showalter at the World Academy of Irish Dancing in Chicago.

Jessica the eldest of the Willis children and
one of eight girls

Christy:  Tell me a bit about your experiences with Irish dancing - where have you performed, do you compete, what school do you attend?

Jessica:  We have performed all over the US and in Ireland. We had the opportunity last year to perform at the O2 arena in Dublin, Ireland, opening for Brad Paisley and The Band Perry. We competed in Irish dance when we were younger, but injuries prevented us from continuing. Jair, Jenny, Jack and Jedi are all Oireachtas champions and Jair placed sixth at All Irelands and seventh at Worlds several years back. We did compete with the Kristin Butke School (Nashville) at the World Championships this year in the drama division.

One of the most beautiful things about Irish culture is the older generation passing the music, dance, stories, history and tradition down to the young people. Sometimes competitive Irish dancers miss this part. If you have never gone to a pub in Ireland during a session and spontaneously got up and danced because you were moved by the music, you have missed what Irish dance is all about.

Christy:  What is it like to have siblings who also Irish dance? Are you ever in the same classes together?

Jair:  Having brothers and sisters to dance with allows us to do so much. Creating choreographies and dancing together takes it to a whole new level. We have our own Riverdance! We have been in classes together and it works out great. We can help each other and encourage each other and then work on it at home.

Christy:  Will we see you Irish dancing on the new show for Great American Country?

Jair:  Absolutely! The cameras followed us to the World Championships in Boston where we competed in the drama division. I think there is a whole episode devoted to it. They filmed the behind the scenes work such as costume making, rehearsals, set design—even some of the set backs and disasters.

Christy:  Do any of you plan to pursue careers in Irish dance performance or teaching?

Jessica:  We are all pursuing careers in music and dancing, but not just Irish. Riverdance introduced us to dance—all styles of dance. We all teach our younger siblings. Since we are on the road quite a bit we can't attend regular classes, so the younger kids in our family have to learn from the older ones.

The Willis Clan family band

Jair is the most talented dancer in our family. He is one of the few young men in the dance world that has incredible star power, and is multi-talented, like Michael Flatley. Jair definitely plans to base his career around dance and music, and with the help of his brothers and sisters, hopes to create a world-class brand of Willis Clan entertainment.


Christy:  Do you have any fun or comical stories about Irish dancing together?

Jair:  We got into swing dance because we did an Irish dance exhibition at a swing dance event and fell in love with that style. There is a cabaret division in swing dance competitions so when we started competing in swing, we always entered an Irish choreography in the cabaret division. One competition had a crazy competition where you put together a spontaneous group, and in 3 days choreographed a number to perform. We took about 15 swing dancers and did a number from Riverdance. In 3 days we taught them how to Irish dance, made costumes and put on a great show, brought the house down - and won the competition. Never had more fun!

Christy:  What advice can you give to a beginning Irish dancer?

Jessica and Jair:  Embrace the whole culture - the music, dance, history, and the older generation. Listen to all the great Irish bands, and learn to play an Irish instrument. Even if you don't become an Irish musician, play some kind of drum so you become really good at rhythm. If you ever get a chance to take a class with Colin Dunne - do it!  He will take your dancing to a whole new level. Baby your feet and try to avoid injuries.

Some parting thoughts from Jair:

One of our family goals in Irish dance and music is to bring back the social element. Live music with social ceili dancing is so much fun and very few competitive Irish dancers ever get the chance to do it. Last year our band played at the North American Irish Dance Championships in Chicago each evening before awards. It created such a fun atmosphere that dancers spontaneously got up on stage and started dancing. There were probably close to 100 dancers on stage at once. We hope to inspire Irish dance events to include social dancing opportunities for all the competitors and their families. Dancing should always be about meeting other people and having fun!


The Willis Clan Dance Drama at World Irish Dance 2013:


The Willis Clan premieres June 27 at 8p/7c on Great American Country (GAC).

All photos courtesy of Great American Country channel.

Irish dance diet - Summer is the perfect time to be healthy

Summer fruits
Photo: Flickr/Mrs. Magic

If you are paying attention to my Irish dance diet, you may have noticed how slooowly the weight is coming off. I am not discouraged though, because I've been converting fat to muscle. Go me! I'm getting so close to my goal and you know what that means? A solo dress! My oldest son (who is also in my Irish dance class) says that he can't imagine me in a solo dress. That's ok, buddy, I can!

Month: 7

Weight: 142.5

Weight lost: 12.5 pounds

Muscle gained: 12.17

Total fat loss: 24.67

Here are three ways that the warmer months can help you with your healthy lifestyle:

1-Summer is a great time to get in good shape. 

It is easier to exercise in the summer because the weather is nice and we are more likely to get outside and be active.  The sun sets later, and there are more hours in the day.  It is easier to drag yourself out of bed in the morning if it is light outside. Swimming, hiking, biking, walking, running, dancing, whatever you love, get out and do it!

2-Summer fruit is such a luxury and can feels like a treat to the dieting you.  

Strawberries, blueberries, apricots, peaches, apples and cherries!  Is your mouth watering yet? You do  much better on your healthy eating lifestyle if you feel satisfied, and fruit can help you fill that void.

3-Summer-wear can motivate you to keep on target. 

You want to fit into your swimming suits when summertime comes around, not to mention those cute workout shorts that help you cool off while you are working out. Use those goals as an incentive to motivate yourself to stick to the routine and nutrition that helps you look and feel your best. 

How does summertime motivate you to take better care of yourself?

Irish dance school in Utah hosts the first WIDA open Irish dance competition in North America - PHOTOS

Irish dancers enjoying themselves at the first WIDA open feis in North America. 

                                Photo:  Sharon Summerhays

On May 18, 2013, Irish dance schools in the Western United States came together for the first WIDA (World Irish Dance Association) competition in the United States. 

WIDA is a fairly new Irish dance organization, based out of Europe, and focuses on organizing workshops, competitions, and examinations to help promote interest in Irish dancing, language, music, and culture. In recent years, schools involved with WIDA have popped up in North and South America. The Utah Legacy Open Feis is the first competition to be held in the United States. 

Roisin Robson, TCRG, with members of the Tir Ruaidh Irish Dance Company
Photo: courtesy of Roisin Robson

The open feis, held in Syracuse, Utah, was hosted by the Legacy Irish Dance Company. An open feis encourages Irish dancers from any organization to attend. Victoria Lambourne, TCRG (certified Irish dance instructor) at Legacy Irish Dance Company is amazed at how smoothly the event pulled together. Lambourne says, "The competitors were extremely supportive and encouraging of each other which lead to a positive, relaxed, yet competitive feis atmosphere."

Victoria Lambourne, TCRG with members of the
Legacy Irish Dance Company
Photo: Christy Dorrity

Lambourne recently attended the WIDA World Championships as an adjudicator in April of this year. Her perspective on teaching, coaching and dancing changed after attending this international event. "My whole perspective on the dancing completely changed after judging, especially such a huge event with such talented dancers," Lambourne says. "It gave me a greater, more in depth appreciation for the dancing."

When the Legacy Irish Dance Company joined WIDA in 2012, they began making plans for hosting a competition near them with the help of Tir Ruaidh Irish Dance Company in California. Soon, a date was set. Girls came by the busload to compete at the pioneering event. Parents and students all agree that the feis was a very positive, calm and fun event. 

An Irish dancer proudly displays her ribbon
at the Utah Legacy Open Feis 2013
Photo:  Christy Dorrity 

Solos in all age groups were held at the Utah Legacy Open Feis, including a Jump 2, 3 competition for toddlers, and Championships for older ages. Adults were thrilled to be included in the competition according to the level of their ability. Premierships by age level, and a treble reel competition motivated the Irish dancers to do their best. 

In thinking about the future of Irish dance in the United States, Lambourne hopes that many of her students will go on to open schools in the future. "I would also love for the surrounding schools to be more involved with each other,"says Lambourne. "We can be more unified, regardless of what organization, to help promote the dancing that we all love."

Plans are already in place for hosting the Utah Legacy Open Feis next year, and the Tir Ruaidh Irish Dance Company will be hosting a competition in October, 2013.

Exclusive interview with dance performance group Fusion Fighters who combine Irish, tap, African gumboot, and hip hop - VIDEO

Fusion Fighters

New on the dance performance scene are a group who call themselves the Fusion Fighters. Wearing custom tap shoes and masks, these dancers combine Irish, tap, African gumboot, and hip hop, in an effort to push the limits of how each of these separate dance forms have traditionally been viewed.

The dancers remain anonymous as they perform onstage and in video. One of the dancers said, “The new age of dance is coming, and it’s more about the movement and not about us as individuals—less distractions and more intrigue.”

A masked identity allows the Fusion Fighters to transcend boundaries. “Because of a lack of identity of age, race, or color, our performance is accessible to a wide group of people,” said one of the dancers.

During a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Trafalgar Square (see video below), the mayor of London presented the Fusion Fighters to over 18,000 people. “It was quite a unique experience to have the mask on the whole time,” one Fusion Fighter said. “There was a tangible excitement in the crowd. Never mind that it was hard to breath.”

So how did this group come about? Two of the dancers had worked in Africa, learning the gumboot dancing. They met together in New York and found that they had similar goals: to bring something new to the dance performance world, and experiment with interactivity, technology, and comedy. The dancers agree: “We are more than a dance crew, we involve interaction with the audience through comedy, instruments, music, film, and technology.” Plans for more events with the Fusion Fighter's DJ, including laser lights, looping pedals and responsive technology, are already in the works.

Each of the dancers in the Fusion Fighters is an elite performer—a world champion in his or her field. They are multi-talented dancers who are able to perform each of the disciplines, and collaborate on the dance forms.

Much of the preparation for performances is done separately. The choreographers get together for a creative period and focus on the steps, making sure that each dance form is incorporated into the whole. The dances are then recorded, and each dancer starts his or her own rehearsal. A few weekends before a show, rehearsal are held together in London, working together to finalize the dancing.

Costuming for the Fusion Fighters is as eclectic as its members. Each piece of the “armor” you see in their first video was selected from vendors all over the world—Asia, Africa, and Europe. “I had a contact at Bloomindales, of all places, and got the boots for a great price,” one of the Fusion Fighters said. “We found a cobbler and had them custom made with taps.” The female member of Fusion Fighters was unsure of how the armor would work out for her, but she quickly got on board with the unique costuming. New masks are already purchased—you will get a chance to see them soon.

Shield of the Fusion Fighters

The group’s first video went live in March, and showcased the Fusion Fighter’s ability to pull the many aspects of each dance form into an engaging, limit-pushing experience. Currently the Fusion Fighters are performing at nightclubs and other events through Tourism of Ireland. They will be performing on a larger scale at the University of Limerick, The Gathering (in Dublin, Ireland), and the City of London Festival, among others, and boast a corporate crew who are available for performances anywhere in the UK. New videos are already in progress, each one very different, and plans for the future include performances with many unique interactive, and comedic elements.

“We want to bring people together and encourage Irish dancers to help and support each other, and not focus on the competitive nature that stems from Irish dance,” a Fusion Fighter said. "It's far from just being Irish; there are many different flavors in the melting pot that will appeal to a large range of people and ages. We want to be on the cusp of the wave of groups out there who are pushing along to experiment and evolve"

Watch for a groundbreaking video from Fusion Fighters, coming this summer. 

Fusion Fighters "painting the town red"

Fusion Fighters in Trafalgar Square

Irish dance diet - The three levels of performance

Performance-ready Irish dancers
Photo: deviantART user ukapala

April is a big month for many Irish dance organizations. The World Irish Dance Competition in Boston for An Coimisuin dancers, and the World and European Irish dance competition in Germany for WIDA are both held in April. Good luck to all of you ladies and gents working so hard. How do you make certain that you are ready to perform?


How I'm doing on my Irish dance diet:

Month: 4
Weight: 144
Weight lost: 11 pounds
Muscle gained: 6.5
Total fat loss: 17.5

You practice your Irish dance steps over, and over until you think you've got it just right. But how do you feel when you hit the stage? Chances are, if you've performed, you've had days when you fly across the stage, and others when you can't seem to get your feet to obey you. Much of your success onstage will depend on what level of performance you are at.

When performing onstage, there are three levels of performance:


1-Memorization

At this stage you are worried that you might forget a step. An observer may be able to see it in your expression as you mental calculate what comes next.

How to get past this step? Practice, practice, practice until your dance becomes engrained into your muscles and you  no longer have to think about what your body is doing.

2-Self-consciousness

You are worried about what you look like to others. Are my feet turned out? Does my dress flatter my figure? How do I look when I leap?

How to get past this step? Perform your dance for anyone who will pay attention--your mom, your dog, onlookers in the grocery store. Prepare your costume, makeup and hair beforehand so that you feel confident.

3-Letting go

Now you are ready. Your steps are a natural extension of your feet, and you can turn inward and give the full expression of emotion and drama to your audience. This is the time to shine.

Have you ever experienced the third level of performance? How did you get there?

Irish dance diet - Strength training for Irish dancers - VIDEO

Monika Volkmar, Dance Personal Trainer
Photo: courtesy Monika Volkmar

"My top 3 reasons for dancers to strength train are to correct muscle imbalances, to gain full body strength, and to improve technical execution."
~Monika Volkmar, Dance Personal trainer

Over the holidays I hired a personal trainer to help me with my Irish dance diet. I want to do this right, and balance good eating with strength training and cardio health. It's going great. I feel good, I'm losing fat and I'm strengthening my body. I'm going to a better Irish dancer!

Month 3
Weight:
Weight lost:
Muscle gained: 4 pounds
Total fat loss:

I just finished throwing out all of the rest of the Christmas goodies that were still lurking around my house. You know exactly what I mean don't you? I think that as my family has grown, and I spend much of my time planning, cooking, storing food and the junk food makes its way into my house (how does it do that?), and that I have a harder time resisting food. Strength training is a great way to increase my metabolism, and counter those extra foods. 

As I've been getting into personal training, I ran into Monika Volkmar, a personal trainer who specializes in dancers. I've asked her to answer some questions for us Irish dancers. She's very enthusiastic and I think you'll enjoy her advice. 

Christy:  Why is strength training an important part of a dancer's health?

Monika:  Making a dancer stronger requires a more wholistic approach, taking the mind and body into consideration. And though there are many, many reasons for dancers to strength train, my top 3 reasons are:  to correct muscle imbalances, to gain full body strength, and to improve technical execution. By becoming stronger, dancers can also improve elements of their technique, such as jumps, leg height, upper body carriage, turns and balance. 

Monika Volkmar, Dance Personal Trainer
Photo: courtesy Monika Volkmar

It is imperative however, to strength train in an intelligent way. Make sure you have a well-designed program to address your specific needs, and that you have a coach or partner to make sure your form is perfect.

Christy:  Can you recommend some strength training exercises that may be helpful for Irish dancers?

Monika:  I’m not going to pretend that I’m an expert on training Irish dancers(my training being mostly in ballet, modern and jazz dance). I can say that Irish dancers would benefit from strengthening the anterior core, hip extensors, and upper back, while working on ankle mobility.

Core strength is necessary to hold the trunk strong and prevent lower back injuries. 

Upper back strength will help to maintain the upright posture of the shoulders. Developing a strong pair of glutes to extend the hips is of utmost importance. Your hips are where your power comes from so you must learn to use them!

I also understand that the posterior calf becomes quite shortened, and tight due to the fact that you’re constantly on your toes. It is, therefore, important to maintain mobility of the ankle to prevent things like shin splints, ankle sprains, Achilles tendinitis, and knee issues. Using a lacrosse ball to massage the calves, simple ankle mobility drills, and strengthening the tibialis anterior should be part of every Irish dancer’s self-care routine

Monika demonstrating the deadlift, which works core, glutes, hamstrings and upper back. 

Here are some of my favourite strengthening exercises:

Squats: core, glutes, quads, upper back.

Deadlifts: (my favourite): core, glutes, hamstrings, upper back
Single leg Romanian deadlifts: single leg hip stability, core strength, glute and hamstring strength

Row variations: Upper back.

YWT: Lower/middle traps, external shoulder rotators, scapular stability

Plank: Core strength

(note: Monika has videos for all of the above exercises on her YouTube Channel, including the one above)

Christy:  What suggestions do you have for adult dancers?

Monika:  As you age, you begin to lose muscle and strength, and joints become compromised, making you more at risk for injury. My advice:  if you don’t already strength train, start now! Try to maintain mobility at the ankles, hips, and shoulders, and constantly work on stability of the knee, scapulae, and core. The older you get, recovery from injuries becomes more and more timely, so prevention is your best bet.

In all likelihood, you will get injured at some point. The stronger you are, and the better your nutrition is, the quicker you will bounce back!

Most importantly, pay attention to your posture outside dance class and the gym.

And keep dancing! It’s good exercise for the heart, and keeps your brain sharp. Oh, and it’s fun too.

Christy:  Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us, Monika. 

To find out more information about Monika's dance strength training program, visit The Dance Training Project website. 

Irish dance in Hong Kong is not too different than in Glasgow

Isn't it amazing to see how a love of Irish dance hops and leaps over continents all over the world? I love hearing from Irish dancers from different cultures. Today I've got Kathryn O' Connor-Barton TCRG, ADCRG, who began the O'Connor-Barton Irish Dance school in Hong Kong, Asia.

Irish dancer in Hong Kong
Photo: courtesy Kathryn O'Connor-Barton

Christy Dorrity:  Please tell me about Irish dancing in Hong Kong. How long has the dance form been present, and how did your school begin?

Kathryn:  The school began in November 2011, after a move to Hong Kong for our family meant me leaving Scotland, and the irish dance school I had there, and opening a dance school in Hong Kong.

Christy Dorrity:  Where do your dancers compete and/or perform?

Kathryn:  My dancers will compete across Asia and the first open competition was November 24th, in Taiwan. We have another feis in Shanghai in March, and this will be the catalyst for Irish Dance competitions across Asia. It is very exciting to be part of this new chapter for Irish dancers in Asia.

Christy Dorrity:  Do you teach adult Irish dancers? 

Kathryn:  I teach to any age group!  I have had adult Irish dancers in the past, and have had requests to do so in Hong Kong, so this is something definitely on the agenda.

Irish dancers in along the Hong Kong skyline
Photo: courtesy Kathryn O'Connor-Barton

Christy Dorrity:  I've heard that Irish dancing is very popular in Asia. Are your dancers well received in Hong Kong?

Kathryn:  Irish Dancing is certainly growing in Asia, and my dancers are very well received wherever they perform. They recently performed in a public area, in Hong Kong, for a promotional film and drew in a massive crowd. They received an amazing unexpected response, so they were all delighted to get such a reaction.

Christy Dorrity:  You recently received your ADCRG in order to be an adjudicator. How do you feel that this help your students?

Kathryn:  I think because the Irish dance competitions are just starting across Asia, the opportunity to adjudicate outwith Asia will ensure that I keep up to date with what is 'current' in terms of choreography, costumes, networking with other teachers and adjudicators, etc. It also allows me to generate exposure for our dancers in Asia, and create interest from schools outwith our region who may be willing to travel, and take part in future Asian Feisanna.

Christy Dorrity:  Is Irish dance different for your students, who live far from feiseanna, then for you growing up in Glasgow, Scotland?

Kathryn O'Connor-Barton with the
O'Connor-Barton Irish Dance school in Hong KongPhoto: courtesy Kathryn O'Connor-Barton

Kathryn:  There is no difference in how I teach the students or the structure of the classes, this is very similar. However, most students commit to only one class per week, compared to three or four when in Glasgow. This is due to the lifestyle out here, and children having so many opportunities to try different things. The other difference is that, until now there has been no Feisanna, but I am hopeful that this will change and that once the dancers start to compete, they will commit to coming to more classes.

Christy Dorrity:  What do you feel is the future of Irish dance in Hong Kong?

Kathryn:  For my school, it is to compete, to improve standard, to work through the grades to championship level, and to welcome more opportunities to perform at events on a local level.

Christy Dorrity:  What is your favorite thing about teaching in Hong Kong?

Kathryn:  I think the diversity is amazing. A lot of the children actually don't have an Irish heritage, but the dancers and their families are so enthusiastic to learn this form of dance, and supportive of the school and the journey we are taking.

Christy Dorrity:  Thank you so much for sharing your love of Irish dance with us. Good luck to you in the future.

Irish dancing school thrives like a rose in the Mexico desert

In May of 2000, Irish Dancing de Mexico was founded by Alicia Mosti, a trained ballerina, and self-trained and later certified, Irish dance teacher. Now there are seven academies under Mosti's dance school, the newest of which is located in Tijuana, taught by Yovanna Torres Blanco, who also runs an academy in Guadalajara. 

Irish dancers in Mexico

On November 8, 2012, dancers from Irish Dancing de Mexico participated in "Fiesta de los San Patricios", a celebration honoring the Irish fighters of Mexico. Along with the Rose Ritchie Academy of Irish Dance, Blanco's students were able to perform for an enthusiastic crowd. "For the first time, dancers from Mexico and USA shared a stage to dance at a bicultural event without involving any competition," Blanco says. 

Yovanna Torres, adult Irish dancer in Mexico
 in "Take the Floor 2012"
Photo: courtesy Yovanna Torres

Many of the Irish dancers in Mexico began learning the sport on their own from videos of the famous dance shows, Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. From those humble beginnings, a rose has sprouted in the desert. Students of all ages, including adults participate in dance performances and travel to competitions in the United States and Mexico, including the school's own Feis Acapulco. Today Irish Dancing de Mexico claims over 500 students and more than 7600 medals and trophies. 

Irish Dancing de Mexico
Photo: courtesy Yovanna Blanco

Among the dancers in Blanco's school in Guadalajara, there are several adult Irish dancers. Blanco encourages adults to join in and dance, regardless of their age. "I like to tell my adult students: in Irish dance, nothing is impossible," says Blanco. "If you are a late starter it will take you longer to get a step right, but it is always possible."

Ciara Sexton and Yovanna Blanco at Take the Floor 2012
Photo: courtesy Yovanna Blanco

Blanco herself began Irish dancing as an adult at 22 years of age. She  had the opportunity to compete as a senior lady, and recently performed in the show Take the Floor 2012.

She trains by herself and travels once a month to Mexico City, where Alicia Mosti teaches her the steps and helps her polish her technique. "It has not been an easy road," says Blanco,  "but the best feeling in the world is to teach people (Irish dance), and see them grow, and reach their goals."

There is plenty of room for the growth of Irish dance in Mexico, and Blanco intends to put in the effort to help others dance for many more years to come. 

Gall-Tír dance group promotes Irish dancing in the Czech Republic

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer, with her husband, Jan.
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

"I think I can say that at least every second or third Czech knows Irish dance, which is a great progress 
in my eyes."

~Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer.

Gabriela Klášterková is an adult Irish dancer, and co-founder of the Gall-Tír dance group in the Czech Republic. She and her husband, Jan, founded the school in Prague. 

Christy Dorrity:  How did your love of Irish dance begin?

Gabriela: More than 10 years ago, I had a friend who danced in one of very few dance groups, because Irish dance had just come to our country at that time. It took some time before I decided to try it, and result? My friend Katy stopped after 2 or 3 years, and I have been going on through many injuries, and other problems until today. I think it changed my life maybe more than I realize.

Christy Dorrity:  Is Irish dance popular in the Czech Republic?  How are you received when you perform?

Gabriela: It is very young form of dance in my country. Czech people started learning very first steps approximately 15 years ago. "The teacher" had been a very kind Irish lady working at the British Council who danced a few basic steps, and some ceilí dances, and was willing to share it with people excited to learn.

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer with 
Gall-Tír dance group in The Czech Republic
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Since then, Irish dance is becoming more, and more famous every  year. Really huge work has been done by the shows like The Lord of The Dance, Riverdance, and later Gaelforce Dance, as well that started having their performances here regularly after 2000.

I think I can say that at least every second or third Czech knows Irish dance, which is a great progress in my eyes.

Our performances are received extremely possitively. Even people who look bored at the very beginning are coming to us after our show, impressed and amazed, to praise us.

Christy Dorrity:  Do you teach adults? Do they fit in well with your dance school and community?

Gabriela Klášterková, and husband Jan, 
qualifying for World's.
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Gabriela: Yes, I do! The Irish dance group Gall-Tír that I and my husband founded, have still been leading mostly of adults. Adults in my country usually have no problem with community. They all fit in well before the steps start to be harder. We have to demand harder work from them in case that they wanted to achieve higher. 

Christy Dorrity:  Where do you perform and/or compete?

Gabriela: I and my Irish dance group, Gall-Tír, perform usually in The Czech Republic. We have not tried to arrange any performance abroad yet because we are absolutely focused on competitions. We, of course, would not refuse a nice offer, but we do not look for it now.

A few years ago my husband, I,  and a friend had a performance in an Irish pub (my husband qualified for The World Championship that year), and I think this experience was probably more exciting for us then for the audience. However, they were  surprised that someone from the middle of Europe, living far away from them can dance their "national treasure" so well.

We are used to participating in all the Europian feiseanna,  especially those closer to Prague,  like our own Prague Feis. We have been at London Feis,  The World´s in Dublin, and Belfast, and my husband also at The All Ireland´s and The Great Britain´s.

Christy Dorrity:  Why do you think Irish dance is popular all over the world?

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer with 
Gall-Tír dance group in The Czech Republic
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Gabriela: It is just magnificent! Definitely! I think it is really noble, and elegant dance but also unbelievably difficult, and everyone can see this paradox. You work like an athlete for the Olympic Games but you have to look like an elegant dancer flying somewhere above the dance floor, obviously using no effort. Even people knowing nothing about any form of dance can appreciate Irish dance and we very often hear the people who had never been interested it dance in general say, "Wow, this has really got me!"

Christy Dorrity:  What do you envision for the future of Irish dance?

Gabriela Klášterková, adult Irish dancer, with her husband, Jan.
Photo: courtesy Gabriela Klášterková

Gabriela: That it will spread more and more, it will be more popular, everyone will know it, and many people will do it. This is my belief, and my wish to all irish dancers as well! Irish dance undoubtedly has a future, and we do our best to be a part of this al,l and to be the ones who help Irish dance to penetrate the public awareness.

Christy Dorrity:  Are you currently working toward any shows or competitions?

Gabriela: Yes I am, and so are all the dancers I teach. The qualification for The World´s 2013 in Salzburg is coming (in November 2012) . This is my husband and my closest goal!

Christy Dorrity:  What is the best part of Irish dancing, for you?

Gabriela: Everything! I cannot choose any part because only all of them together can make the final impression I love!!!

Thank you Gabriela.  Good luck to you as you prepare for upcoming events.

Interview with adult Irish dancer S.J. Velasquez of New York, USA - PHOTOS

"I figure, if my grandfather was dancing a one-legged jig, there's no reason I should stop dancing while I have two perfectly good legs." ~S.J. Velasquez

Adult Irish dancer S.J. Velasquez from New York, USA
Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

S.J. Velasquez is an adult Irish dancer, and she writes the blog RincePop here on IrishCentral.com.  She started Irish dancing when she was eleven, and recently took up Irish dancing again as an adult.  I asked S.J. to share with us her unique perspective on dancing Irish as a teen and an adult. You can read her blog RincePop here.

Christy:  How long have you been dancing?

S.J.:  I started dancing when I was 11, and I'm now 27. I danced competitively with Rince na Tiarna (Buffalo, N.Y.) through my teen years. After college, I moved to New York City and danced a year, though I did not compete. In 2010, I danced on an adult ceili team for the Johnston School while living and working in Syracuse, N.Y. Now, I'm back in my hometown where I dance for Clann Na Cara, and I'll be one of nine adults proudly representing that school at the Mid-Atlantic Region Oireachtas in November.

Christy:  As a dancer who competed as a teen and an adult, have you found the stress of dancing to be harder on your body physically? Do you learn the steps equally as quickly?

S.J.:  I actually had a hard time when I was in my early teens. I was definitely a chubby adolescent! I lost a considerable amount of weight in high school and college and that's when dancing was the easiest on my body. I was more flexible, and there was less weight to carry. Since college, my weight fluctuated and body changed, making dance more challenging as the pounds came back. But, to be honest, I am the physically the strongest I've ever been. I now run long distance races (did my second half marathon in May) and have found that the best runners are typically not the younger runners--the best are those who've been training and tuning their bodies over the years. The running scene has given me a new perspective on Irish dance and what our bodies are capable of doing after what's believed to be our physical peak.

S.J.:  But I must admit, there were a few years during and after college where I hadn't really danced at all. Getting back into dancing was very awkward and frustrating. It felt like my body couldn't keep up with my brain. Moves and techniques that I once could do without much thought were suddenly very difficult to execute. It wasn't so much my age that was holding me back as it was my lack of practice. I found a really great school in New York City (the Aherne Sheehan School) that helped me get my Irish dance groove back. 

Now that I'm back in Buffalo, I feel like I'm dancing just as well, if not better, than ever before. My rhythm has improved, I'm stronger, and I finally feel like dancing is natural to me.

S.J. Velasquez and Sarah Culligan, adult Irish dancers 

at the recent Young School Feis in Rochester, NY

Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

Christy:  Is there anything about Irish dancing as an adult that you like better than when you danced as a teen?

S.J.:  Absolutely. As an adult in the media world (I'm a multimedia journalist), I connect with Irish dancers on a whole different level. As a youth, I mingled with friends at dance class and made feis buddies, but I didn't really interact with dancers beyond my region. Now I connect with dancers of all ages and levels from around the world, and I maintain many of those relationships through social networks and travel. I even interviewed my Irish dance idol, Jean Butler, twice in person. It's amazing when you grow up gawking over the stunning beauty that is Riverdance, and suddenly you're interviewing the star of the show.

So, as a teen, my Irish dance circle was very local. Now it's a global network. I look forward to meeting up with international dance friends at events. And I particularly like meeting up with dance friends for an adult beverage after class or performance. Couldn't do that as a teen!

Christy:  Do you feel any animosity from others because you dance as an adult?

S.J.:  Sadly, yes. I admit that when I was younger, I snickered at the sight of adult beginners. That was completely childish and prejudice of me. I realize now that Irish dance adults are extremely talented and devoted, and they're capable of reaching great heights when their teachers and fellow dancers support them and challenge them. So often, dancers that start later in life are not taken seriously, and they may never reach their full potential. I personally feel just as capable of learning steps and training as I did when I was 14. But there aren't as many people who are willing to take me seriously because of my age.

Lucky for me, I have a tough, but supportive dance teacher at Clann na Cara who constantly challenges me to be a better dancer.

Christy:  What do you miss about competition from your teens?

Adult Irish dance 4-hand team 

for the Johnston School (Syracuse, NY) in 2010

Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

S.J.:  I miss having all the options for competition. I retired as a preliminary champion, and there simply aren't that many levels in most adult categories. I'm extremely fortunate to have the option to dance as a soloist in my region's oireachtas (in 2011, the Mid-Atlantic region began offering adult traditional sets at oireachtas), but I'd love to have more opportunities to dance non-traditional choreography, like every other age group.

Christy:  What is the best thing about dancing as an adult?

S.J.:  Irish dance has really shaped much of my social life, and it's now more apparent than ever. As an adult, I can appreciate what dancing has done, and continues to do, for me. I was a bridesmaid in my friend Rachel's wedding a few years ago. Rachel and I met through dancing when we were about 13 years old. And my friend Connor took up Irish dance classes with me when we both relocated to New York City. There's something about dancing friends that makes them different from your friends from school or work. It's like the bonds are enhanced because of this common interest and talent.

Irish dance taught me about being a leader, presenting myself in public and sportsmanship. I credit much of that professional training to Mary Kay Heneghan, my former teacher at Rince na Tiarna. These skills have helped me land jobs and grow as an adult. 

Also, as an adult, I'm interested in what Irish dance means. These last few years, I've been intrigued by the history of Irish dance and how it's developed over the years. Different styles reflect regional trends and cultural evolution, yet it ties me to a piece of my ancestry. I can identify, in some small way, with my ancestors through dance.

Christy:  What do you think the future holds for adults in Irish dance?

S.J.:  Adult dancers are getting better and better. I look at schools like O'Rourke (New York) and Tir na nOg (Germany, Russia, etc.), and I'm blown away by how talented the adult dancers are. They prove that Irish dance is something you can enjoy and master at different ages. And based on what I've seen at the Mid-Atlantic Region Oireachtas, the level of talent in the top adult ceili teams is definitely at par with the youth categories. The fact that our region offers adult trad sets at the oireachtas is extremely promising.

Outdoor dance jam in Washington Square Park in NYC in 2010

with members of the Sneaky Steppers and Hammerstep. 

Photo: courtesy S.J. Velasquez

Christy:  How long do you intend to Irish dance? Will you drop down in to the "& overs"?

S.J.:  Right now, I really don't plan on dropping down to & overs. The competition in adult categories is pretty fierce. My current goals are to place top five in trad sets at the oireachtas and help my ceili teams earn spots on the podium.

I'll dance for as long as I can physically dance. My Irish grandfather (I'm of very mixed ancestry) was always so proud of me for taking up Irish dance. He loved dancing around with me, his only Irish-dancing grandchild. Shortly after having one of his leg's amputated due to a diabetes-related infection, he propped himself up on one leg and hopped around the room while exclaiming, "I can still jig!" I figure, if my grandfather was dancing a one-legged jig, there's no reason I should stop dancing while I have two perfectly good legs.

So how do you feel about dancing when you are an adult, or now that you are an adult? Are there differences that you can see for adult Irish dancers? How do you overcome the differences?