Historic Event Thrills Crowds

Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, the World Championships in Irish Dancing, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from April 2009, for the first time in North America. I was fortunate enough to be there for the entire event, and I am happy to report that it was extremely successful! From the colorful and impressive opening ceremonies on day one through to the presentation of awards to the winning teams in the senior dance drama competition on the final night, it was a week filled with excitement, energy, and emotion. It was a week which created for me, and for many other attendees, a great many fond, lasting memories.

An Coimsiun le Rince Gaelacha (The Irish Dance Commission), and in particular its Oireachtas Committee under the able chairmanship of James McCutcheon, made certain that the competitions went smoothly, the awards ceremonies were impressive, and the social events were the best ever. All of that happened as result of careful, long-term planning, put into place by a host of volunteers from around the world, who carried out their many responsibilities with dedication and flexibility. Hats off to James McCutcheon and Terry Gillan (assistant chair of the Oreachtas committee), and to their army of volunteers, for countless jobs well done.

The World Championships are always the high point of the Irish Dancing year. This year was no exception. We were privileged to see thousands of outstanding dancers from around the globe competing in solo and team events. Competitions were held in the magnificent Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and in the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel. Having two different venues was challenging and required a considerable amount of planning and coordination, but once again thanks to the committee and to many local volunteers, things went smoothly at both locations.

As a proud North American teacher and adjudicator, I was especially pleased that quite a number of North American dancers were successful in winning trophies, sashes, and medals in the many solo competition. In fact, North American solo dancers earned the title of World Champion in six different competitions. Ashley Smith, from the Smith-Houlihan School in Boston, won the title for the Senior Ladies. Deirdre Robinette, from the McGing School in Ohio, is champion for ladies under 21. In the girls under 17 age group, Gabriella Wood from the Petri School in NY was the winner. Michaela Hinds was the winner for the girls under 14 age group; she dances for the Butler Fearon O’Connor School in Canada. Scott Doherty won the title of Senior Men’s Champion; he dances for the O’Shea Chaplin School in Boston. The Dennehy School celebrated when Michael Putman won the title of World Champion in the boys under 17 age group. For the McGing, O’Shea Chaplin, and Dennehy Schools, these winners were their first ever world champions, which made the wins especially exciting. It is important to recognize that this is the first time in the thirty-nine year history of the championships that the Senior Men’s and Senior Ladies’ championships have been held jointly by North American dancers. I cannot fail to mention that both dancers are from the Boston, Massachusetts area, my home town, and that they both represent in a remarkable way an ongoing tradition of world class dancing to be found in that great city. Congratulations to Ashley and Scott, two truly amazing dancers, and to their very proud teachers.

Team dancers from North American dance schools were not to be outdone by their solo counterparts in terms of titles and bragging rights. Eight teams from five different schools won the title of World Champion in a variety of team events. The Cara School from Pennsylvania won the minor mixed ceili competition, while The McGing School from Ohio won the junior girls figure choreography event, and The Watters School from Florida won the Junior Dance drama championship title. The Claddagh School from California earned two world championship titles: in the minor girls figure choreography and the senior mixed figure choreography. The Smith-Houlihan School from Boston was the big winner with three championship titles: Minor Girls Ceili, Senior Ladies Ceili, and the Senior Dance Drama. Congratulations to all of these teams and to their talented teachers.

It is important to note that all of the dancers who competed in the World Championships should be very proud of their accomplishments. Each of the solo dancers who competed in Philadelphia had qualified to represent their individual regions of the world in regional competitions. All of them represented their regions with distinction.

I came away from Philadelphia with especially fond memories from this year’s World Championships. First, I was thrilled that Peter Smith, ADCRG, president emeritus of the Irish Dance Commission, was able to be present, despite recent health challenges. Along with Fedelmia Mullan Davis and Anna O’Sullivan, Peter was a founder of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA), which has been such an important part of the development of the current high level of Irish dancing in North America. It was especially fitting that these three wonderful individuals were recognized and honored during this unique event.

There was a first-class teachers’ reception, planned and presented impeccably by Lisa and Karen Petri, who were the chairpersons for all social events, at which I was able to renew acquaintances with many friends from around the world while being entertained by the fabulous Barry Owens Band from London. My wife, Millie Allen Beaton, TCRG, and I also had a wonderful evening at the dinner dance, where several types of recognition occurred. People who successfully passed their TCRG and ADCRG exams during the past year received their certificates and were presented to the audience. In addition, many individuals who have made a life-long difference in the world of Irish dancing received recognition awards from The Irish Dance Commission. For us, this was made extra special because Eddie Irwin, ADCRG, the gentleman who had been my wife’s dance partner when they danced for the Hansen-Keohane School of Irish Dancing in Boston, just a few years ago, was one of those honored. Listening to the ways in which each of the honorees had given years of dedication and talent to help make Irish dancing the major cultural and artistic force that it is in North America, made me very proud of what we have accomplished in North America. We enjoyed a great evening of fun and reminiscing with Eddie Irwin, as well as the Dillon Sisters, his former pupils, who are now themselves teaching dancing in the Boston area.

On the final night of the championships, I had the honor of being present for the entire Senior Dance Drama competition, hosted by the delightful Mary McElroy and Frances Curley, in which nineteen teams showed how creative and original they could be in telling stories and entertaining the audience. Their themes ranged from comedy to tragedy, their costumes were amazingly detailed and varied, and their stage presence and strong dancing skills impressed all of us that night. Representing the Southern region of the IDTANA, I had the distinct privilege of presenting the awards to the winners of this final competition of the week. The excitement and energy on stage during the awards ceremonies were amazing. It was a fantastic way to conclude a week full of wonderful dancing and sportsmanship. As I left the hall and walked back to my hotel, I was as happy and proud as I could be to be a part of the world of Irish dancing.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed the untold amounts of hard work and dedication that made the 2009 World Championships in Irish Dancing in Philadelphia successful and memorable. Led very ably by James McCutcheon and Terry Gillan, that large band of volunteers came together to ensure that it was a week to remember for ever. Thanks to all of them for the memories.

Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, the World Championships in Irish Dancing, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from April 2009, for the first time in North America. I was fortunate enough to be there for the entire event, and I am happy to report that it was extremely successful! From the colorful and impressive opening ceremonies on day one through to the presentation of awards to the winning teams in the senior dance drama competition on the final night, it was a week filled with excitement, energy, and emotion. It was a week which created for me, and for many other attendees, a great many fond, lasting memories.

An Coimsiun le Rince Gaelacha (The Irish Dance Commission), and in particular its Oireachtas Committee under the able chairmanship of James McCutcheon, made certain that the competitions went smoothly, the awards ceremonies were impressive, and the social events were the best ever. All of that happened as result of careful, long-term planning, put into place by a host of volunteers from around the world, who carried out their many responsibilities with dedication and flexibility. Hats off to James McCutcheon and Terry Gillan (assistant chair of the Oreachtas committee), and to their army of volunteers, for countless jobs well done.

The World Championships are always the high point of the Irish Dancing year. This year was no exception. We were privileged to see thousands of outstanding dancers from around the globe competing in solo and team events. Competitions were held in the magnificent Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and in the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel. Having two different venues was challenging and required a considerable amount of planning and coordination, but once again thanks to the committee and to many local volunteers, things went smoothly at both locations.

As a proud North American teacher and adjudicator, I was especially pleased that quite a number of North American dancers were successful in winning trophies, sashes, and medals in the many solo competition. In fact, North American solo dancers earned the title of World Champion in six different competitions. Ashley Smith, from the Smith-Houlihan School in Boston, won the title for the Senior Ladies. Deirdre Robinette, from the McGing School in Ohio, is champion for ladies under 21. In the girls under 17 age group, Gabriella Wood from the Petri School in NY was the winner. Michaela Hinds was the winner for the girls under 14 age group; she dances for the Butler Fearon O’Connor School in Canada. Scott Doherty won the title of Senior Men’s Champion; he dances for the O’Shea Chaplin School in Boston. The Dennehy School celebrated when Michael Putman won the title of World Champion in the boys under 17 age group. For the McGing, O’Shea Chaplin, and Dennehy Schools, these winners were their first ever world champions, which made the wins especially exciting. It is important to recognize that this is the first time in the thirty-nine year history of the championships that the Senior Men’s and Senior Ladies’ championships have been held jointly by North American dancers. I cannot fail to mention that both dancers are from the Boston, Massachusetts area, my home town, and that they both represent in a remarkable way an ongoing tradition of world class dancing to be found in that great city. Congratulations to Ashley and Scott, two truly amazing dancers, and to their very proud teachers.

Team dancers from North American dance schools were not to be outdone by their solo counterparts in terms of titles and bragging rights. Eight teams from five different schools won the title of World Champion in a variety of team events. The Cara School from Pennsylvania won the minor mixed ceili competition, while The McGing School from Ohio won the junior girls figure choreography event, and The Watters School from Florida won the Junior Dance drama championship title. The Claddagh School from California earned two world championship titles: in the minor girls figure choreography and the senior mixed figure choreography. The Smith-Houlihan School from Boston was the big winner with three championship titles: Minor Girls Ceili, Senior Ladies Ceili, and the Senior Dance Drama. Congratulations to all of these teams and to their talented teachers.

It is important to note that all of the dancers who competed in the World Championships should be very proud of their accomplishments. Each of the solo dancers who competed in Philadelphia had qualified to represent their individual regions of the world in regional competitions. All of them represented their regions with distinction.

I came away from Philadelphia with especially fond memories from this year’s World Championships. First, I was thrilled that Peter Smith, ADCRG, president emeritus of the Irish Dance Commission, was able to be present, despite recent health challenges. Along with Fedelmia Mullan Davis and Anna O’Sullivan, Peter was a founder of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA), which has been such an important part of the development of the current high level of Irish dancing in North America. It was especially fitting that these three wonderful individuals were recognized and honored during this unique event.

There was a first-class teachers’ reception, planned and presented impeccably by Lisa and Karen Petri, who were the chairpersons for all social events, at which I was able to renew acquaintances with many friends from around the world while being entertained by the fabulous Barry Owens Band from London. My wife, Millie Allen Beaton, TCRG, and I also had a wonderful evening at the dinner dance, where several types of recognition occurred. People who successfully passed their TCRG and ADCRG exams during the past year received their certificates and were presented to the audience. In addition, many individuals who have made a life-long difference in the world of Irish dancing received recognition awards from The Irish Dance Commission. For us, this was made extra special because Eddie Irwin, ADCRG, the gentleman who had been my wife’s dance partner when they danced for the Hansen-Keohane School of Irish Dancing in Boston, just a few years ago, was one of those honored. Listening to the ways in which each of the honorees had given years of dedication and talent to help make Irish dancing the major cultural and artistic force that it is in North America, made me very proud of what we have accomplished in North America. We enjoyed a great evening of fun and reminiscing with Eddie Irwin, as well as the Dillon Sisters, his former pupils, who are now themselves teaching dancing in the Boston area.

On the final night of the championships, I had the honor of being present for the entire Senior Dance Drama competition, hosted by the delightful Mary McElroy and Frances Curley, in which nineteen teams showed how creative and original they could be in telling stories and entertaining the audience. Their themes ranged from comedy to tragedy, their costumes were amazingly detailed and varied, and their stage presence and strong dancing skills impressed all of us that night. Representing the Southern region of the IDTANA, I had the distinct privilege of presenting the awards to the winners of this final competition of the week. The excitement and energy on stage during the awards ceremonies were amazing. It was a fantastic way to conclude a week full of wonderful dancing and sportsmanship. As I left the hall and walked back to my hotel, I was as happy and proud as I could be to be a part of the world of Irish dancing.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed the untold amounts of hard work and dedication that made the 2009 World Championships in Irish Dancing in Philadelphia successful and memorable. Led very ably by James McCutcheon and Terry Gillan, that large band of volunteers came together to ensure that it was a week to remember for ever. Thanks to all of them for the memories.