Songs for the 1st – 2nd September Irish Dancing Competitions - VIDEOS

by PATRICIA MCNAMARA

Heading to California this weekend for the Hidden Valley Feis or Missouri for the Kansas City Feis? Connecticut for the Constitution State Feis or Ontario for the Oakville Feis? Or maybe you’re off to New Mexico for the Enchantment 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 and share your results with us!

 “Working On A Dream” – Bruce Springsteen
Play this and keep focusing on your dream of winning first place.

“September” – Earth, Wind and Fire
Here’s to a September of flawless dancing!  

---------------------
READ MORE:
Songs for the 25th - 26th August Irish Dancing Competitions

Songs for the 18th - 19th August Irish Dancing Competitions - VIDEOS

Songs for the 11th - 12th August Irish Dancing Competitions - VIDEOS
----------------------

“What I Like About You” – The Romantics
The upbeat jam will get you on your feet.

“We’ll Be Coming Back” – Calvin Harris
The perfect song to blast while driving home from the feis.  

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!

Looking runway ready at competitions - makeup tips for Irish dancing ladies

by ERIN CONCANNON

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz and press about the glitz and glam of Irish dancing competitions, and how everything goes against the all-natural look. But to those immersed in the competitive world of Irish dance, we know all the self-tanning, makeup and sparkles don't make the champion. It sure helps a dancer feel her best when on stage, though. 

Every girl dreams of dancing—and looking—perfect on the day of a feis. You feel like you could walk down the runway—and own it—once you put on that Gavin Doherty dress and your whole look has been assembled.

Unlike everyday life, when it comes to your makeup for big dance competitions, more is key. Here’s what to put where on the day of competition, like the upcoming 2012 North American Irish Dance Championships.

On your face and legs…We all hate it, but it is a word every Irish dancer has in their vocabulary: Bronzer. And it’s something we all need so we don’t look washed out on stage compared to our beautiful—and colorful—dresses. Two days before a big competition, grab your mom, sister or friend and have them help with evenly applying a coat of self-tanner to your legs. The day of, apply bronzer to your face first before any other makeup. And leave the foundation at home. It’ll give you a cake-like feeling and make you feel sweatier than you actually are.

On your eyes…Whatever colors your dress has on it, those are the colors off your eye shadow palette you should swipe across your lids. Use the main color of your dress as the base, brushing it across your entire eyelid. Then, take one of your secondary dress colors and apply it in your creases. Add a nice blast of eyeliner and a coat of mascara and you’ll have champion-ready eyes that will capture everyone…along with your dancing, of course.

---------------------
READ MORE:
A competitive Irish dancer's confession - I struggle with timing

Irish Dancers Cross Train with Ballet for Flexibility and Poise

For the love of Irish dancing - competition builds character
----------------------

On your lips…A nice pink lipstick really does wonders for any girl. Don’t like the texture that lipstick gives you? Any 12 or 24-hour gloss kit works as well, too.

On your tips…Every solo Irish dancer is obviously trained to bring her shoulders back and have perfect posture, meaning hands are hardly shown. Bright nail polish will look tacky—and sloppy—so remove all coats the night before taking to the stage. A major must for all doing ceilis!

Everywhere…Sparkles are a great way to complete your look, causing you to shine even more on stage. From sparkly eye shadow to a glittery powder, dust it everywhere so you match those glamorous rhinestones on your costume.

So go out on stage, and wow the crowd. Don’t forget to reapply as necessary between rounds for a fresh glow.

What are some beauty products you always pack in your feis bag? Let us know!

Article reposted from original 7/15/11 posting date.

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!

For the love of Irish dancing - competition builds character

Competition builds character and friends and fans for life!
Photo: Madisyn Finn

By Courtney Kaderbek, Feis America LLC intern 

One thing that makes Irish dancing unique is its competition-based opportunity. I do not know of any other dance form that requires its dancers to compete regularly against each other to advance to the next level. The Irish dance competition system has strengths and weaknesses, but it is the Irish dancers themselves who decide whether the constant competition is a good or bad thing for both their dancing and characters. Competition can build character or break it, and examples of both may be seen at any Irish dancing feis.

Competition can bring out the best or worst in a person. It is difficult to be a good winner and a good loser. It is hard at times to find the will to wish your competitors well, shake off a bad placement, or smile at the girl or boy who has just won first place. For Irish dancers who want to compete, it is very important to consciously choose to use these difficult lessons as opportunities to grow into a stronger, tougher-skinned, kinder person.

---------------
Read more:

Auditions for new Irish dance show at Nationals

An Irish dancer's confession: I struggle with timing

Songs to motivate Irish dancers for competition
----------------

Several months ago, I was not in a very good place with Irish dance. It took countless weeks of grudging dance practices and tiring competitions to make me realize that my goal of moving up to Preliminary Champion had caused me to lose my enjoyment of the fun atmosphere of Irish dancing competitions, as well as my love for Irish dance itself.

Irish dance trophies end up in a box.  Friends last forever!

Not only was the time spent dancing unpleasant, but I placed lower at competitions than I ever had before. My negative attitude was ruining my entire dancing life! That was when I made a decision. I decided that I would never allow anything – my competitors, the judges, my daily practice schedule, the fear of stamina drills – to steal away my love for Irish dancing. I determined to keep Irish dance, first and foremost, fun, which is something that can become difficult for the dedicated, passionate Irish dancer.

Now, at Irish dance competitions, I try to remind myself that the world will not come to an end if I do not win! Certainly I might not advance levels for awhile, but I will still be continually improving my dancing during practices and classes. I might not become an Open Champion anytime soon, but my turn-out will improve, my legs will snap sharper, my posture will stay more erect, and my love for Irish dancing will continue to grow and grow.

The result of this decision has been amazing. I found myself winning the battle against my petty nature, which used to avoid my competitors instead of wishing them well. I actually placed higher in my dances, and I dance at practices with a renewed purpose and vigor. I find myself more motivated to fulfill my biggest Irish dancing dreams than ever before…and now, more than ever, I truly believe it is possible.

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!

Perfect scores for 11 Irish dancers at Greater Buffalo Feis

Fiona Dargan and Triona Brown pose with their awards
in the Open Champion Girls under 16 competition from the Greater Buffalo Feis.
Photo courtesy Triona Brown

The Greater Buffalo Feis, a regional Irish dancing competition held June 2, 2012, attracts competitive Irish dancers and a panel of distinguished adjudicators from both Canada and the United States. Adjudicators were ADCRGs Jimmy Early, Gary Healy, Orla Kelly, Patsy McLoughlin, Philip Owens, Deirdre Penk O'Donnell, Luann O'Rourke, and Lisa and Karen Petri.

Eleven of 23 solo events yielded champions with perfect 300 scores, which means all three judges awarded each a first placement for that competition.  Of the 11 perfect scores awarded, two were Preliminary Championship events with a light and heavy round danced.  Perfect scores were awarded to Eastern Canadians Annie Pendlebury from Ni Fherraigh O'Ceallaigh (Preliminary Champion Girls under 15) and Nicole Finch from Gilchrist-Canavan (Preliminary Champion Girls under 17).

Perfect scores were also awarded to New Yorkers and Under 9 Open Champions Molly Kate-Brooks Smock from Drumcliffe (Girls) and Joey Marino from Rince na Tiarna (Boys). Three additional Rince na Tiarna Irish dancers - Emily McEwen (Open Girls under 12), Fiona Dargan (Open Girls under 16), and Evan Adams (Open Boys under 16) scored perfect 300s too.  Gannon Connors from Clann na Cara topped the Open Men under 18 podium with a solid 300.

From Canada in the Open Champion category, Miranda Lee from Goggin-Carroll won the Open Girls under 14 with a perfect score while Jaylene Kehoe and Patrick Grant, both from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Eastern Canada, scored 300s in the Open Girls under 10 and Boys under 12 categories, respectively.

------------------
Read more:

Interview with competitive adult Irish dancer from Canada

Take to the Floor Irish dance performance camp gearing up for summer

Irish dancers rock the South at Memphis Feis
------------------

Siblings Emily and Nyles Church from Reaney Academy
Pictured at Feis at the Falls 2011
Photo: S.J. Velasquez

Congratulations also to the Irish dancers who also won their competitions at the 2012 Greater Buffalo Feis:

Preliminary Champion under 8 and under 9 (Boys and Girls): Carson Einwechter from Doyle
Preliminary Champion under 10 Isabelle Hebert from Sue Fay Healy (Girls)
Preliminary Champion under 11 Laurenne-Victoria Tynski from Sue Fay Healy (Girls)
Preliminary Champion under 12 - Mackenzie LeBrun from Doyle (Girls)
Preliminary Champion under 13:  Gillian Whelan from Ni Fhearraigh-O'Ceallaigh (Girls)
Preliminary Champion under 14: Maggie Leon from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor (Girls)
Preliminary Champion under 16: Niki Louvelle from Faherty DeMenezes (Girls)
Preliminary Champion under 18: Brenna Gibbons from Brady-Campbell (Girls)
Preliminary Champion 18 & Over: Victoria Leahy from Goggin-Carroll (Girls)
Open Champion under 14: Miranda Lee from Goggin-Carroll (Girls) and Aaron Wolf from Bell (Boys)
Open Champion under 18: Alexandra Adams from Rince na Tiarna (Ladies)
Open Champion 18 & Over:  Mary Catherine Kulp from Clann na Cara (Ladies)

Full results are available at Feisweb.

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!

Irish dancers rock the South at Memphis Feis Irish dancing competition

Open Championship Girls under 16 Awards
at Memphis Feis 2012 with Champion Lydia Wilkens-Reed,
2nd Maire Amlicke and 3rd Aileen Markovitz

Post and photos by Courtney Kaderbek, 

Feis America LLC  intern

Memphis Feis, hosted by the Memphis Irish Arts Association, was held this year on May 27th at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. More than 230 Irish dancers representing 40 schools from 15 states and Canada competed in the gymnasium and presentation hall of the university.

Hundreds of Irish dancers spent a long, exciting day putting on their wigs and dresses, prepping for their competitions in the tiled hallway or gymnasium floor, visitng with friends, hovering around the corner reserved for competition scores, and dancing their hearts out onstage.

------------
Read more:

Competitions for adult Irish dancers in June

Clark Academy troupe heading to Las Vegas for America's Got Talent VIDEO

Inaugural Murray Academy feis great success PHOTOS
------------

I had the opportunity to ask several competitive Irish dancers this important question:  "What is your very favorite thing about a feis?" I received numerous answers from Irish dancers of all ages and competition levels, but never received the same answer twice!  Every dancer I interviewed loves feiseanna for a different reason, and yet, I think that most dancers can relate to every one of the replies!

Kristin, a Preliminary Champion, answered, “The challenge.” Margaret, a Preliminary Champion, said with a sheepish smile and total honesty, “The sparkles!” Emma, a young Novice/Prizewinner, replied, “The awesome!” Piper, an Advanced Beginner/Novice, said, “The competition!” Nancy, a Novice, answered bluntly, “The medals!” These answers together seem to perfectly sum up the reason why we all love feiseanna!

Preliminary Championship Trophy Special 15 & Over at Memphis Feis 2012
with 1st place Aurora Averill, 2nd place Moira Henderson and 3rd Kiera Welch.

During my time at Memphis Feis, I enjoyed the Irish dancing competition largely because of the friendliness of fellow dancers. When a dancer is standing in line waiting to compete, there is little that can break the tension better than chatting and laughing with a friendly rival. It is a soothing reminder that we can be, in fact, friends, and we can build each other up instead of just viewing each other as rivals for the coveted gold medal. The character that comes from competing is lost if a dancer cannot look a fellow competitor in the eye and treat her with respect and courtesy.

I had the privilege to chat with one such girl during my last competition at Memphis Feis. We spent several moments discussing the anxiety of standing in line waiting for a competition to begin, our mutual habit of refusing to glance at the score-boards until every competition has been danced (for fear of losing our nerve), and our dread of competitors who discuss scores while waiting in line to compete. We treated each other as friends, not rivals, and when we were finished with our dances, we reunited near the score-boards, congratulated each other on our medals, and said good-bye until the next competition. It was a great reminder that one of the most valuable things about feiseanna is the special opportunity to make friends with Irish dancers from all over the country.

Memphis Feis 2012 was a truly enjoyable competitive Irish dancing experience with great organization, great stages, and very friendly Irish dancers!  Special thanks to Mary McGinty, ADCRG, for her assistance and courtesy.

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!

Inaugural Murray School Feis great success - championship list

Open Championship Girls under 13 Top 5
with podium topper Clare Murray Macritchie
Murray Academy Feis
Photo courtesy Natalie Grant

The Murray Irish Dance Academy, from New Hampshire, hosted its first Irish dancing competition on Sunday, May 20, 2012.  Parents and dancers from across New England were quick to send kudos to Anne Murray Macritchie, TCRG, on the Irish dancing school's first feis.  Three random comments on the feis' webpage tell it all:

"Thank you--job well done.  Especially liked all the little touches - from the bright green poster boards to lead us in off the highway and greeters at the door offering to help us get settled and especially the concerted effort to start on time!"

"The awards were really great and so were the people who helped out.  Loved the musicians in the large gym.  We hope to be back next year - GREAT JOB!"

"Nice venue, easy to get to, incredible organization and on time, signs everywhere... Anne you definitely set the bar for all future feis to follow!"

------------------

Read more:

Who doesn't love crystal awards? Ask these Irish dancing boy champs!

Fun Irish dance summer camp themes

Irish National Irish Dancing Championships top team results

-------------------

Preliminary Champion Girls under 13 Madysin Finn from O'Shea-Chaplin and friends
Murray Academy Feis
Photo courtesy Madysin Finn

Seven Murray Academy dancers earned the top spot on the podium, with strong dancers from Brady, Bremer, Dunleavy Shaffer, Lenihan, McInerney and O'Shea-Chaplin rounding out the Preliminary and Open Champions.

Two Preliminary Champions - Bridget O'Connor from Murray and Ainsley Welch from Brady - scored perfect 300s in the Boys & Girls under 8 and 9, and Boys & Girls under 10 events.  Other Preliminary Champions were Brynn Golden - Dunleavy Shaffer (under 11), Deirdre Kelly - Brady (under 12), Gabrielle DeSisto - Murray (under 13), Caitlin Lynch - McInerney (under 14), Madisyn Finn - O'Shea-Chaplin (under 15), Bridget Forbes - Lenihan (under 16) and Conor McTavish - Brady (16 & Over).

Sydney Paine, Open Champion Girls under 17
with fellow Dunleavy Shaffer dancers
at Murray Academy Feis 2012
Photo courtesy Sydney Paine

An astounding SEVEN Open Champions also clinched perfect scores!  Congratulations to Brady's Maeve Williams (Girls under 12), Bremer's Siobhan O'Neill (Girls under 16) and Billy Petrocelli (Boys under 14), Murray's Kate Babcock (Girls under 14) and Caroline Mega (Ladies under 18), and O'Shea-Chaplin's Parker Armstrong (Boys under 16) and Kevin McCormack (Boys 16 & Over).

Other Open Champions were Maeve White - Brady (Girls under 9 and under 10 combined), Emily Varga - Murray (Girls under 11), Clare Murray Macritchie (Girls under 13), Harper Mills - O'Shea-Chaplin (Girls under 15),  Sydney Paine - Dunleavy Shaffer (Girls under 17) and Madeline Muench - Murray (Ladies 18 & Over).

Congratulations to the Murray Academy and all the volunteers who helped to make this one of New England's most memorable spring Irish dancing competitions!


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!

All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion Slemon Clinches Irish National Title: Saturday Boys Results 5

Sean Slemon
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Boys 9-10
Photo courtesy Annette Foley Slemon

Sean Slemon, the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion for Boys 9-10, claimed the Irish National Irish Dancing Championship title Saturday in Dublin.  Slemon, who dances with Rinceoiri na Riochta in the Munster Region of Ireland, was followed by his friendly rival Jack Lynch from Ui She.  Lynch placed 2nd at the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships.

Top 5 Boys 9-10
Champion Sean Slemon from Rinceoiri na Riochta in Munster Region
2-Jack Lynch from Ui She in Leicester Region
3-Cathal Doughan from Gleann Oir in Munster Region
4-Thomas Colangelo from McCafferty in Ulster Region
5- Ryan Miskelly from Brennan Miskelly McCormick in Ulster Region

------------
Read more:

Irish Nationals girls solo results Saturday

Top 7 favorite videos of Irish dancing boys and men

20 questions with a South African boy Irish dancer

------------

In the Boys 10-11 competition, Ronan McKiernan topped the podium.  McKiernan, placed 3rd at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships and 5th at the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships.  Placing 2nd at the Irish Nationals, Ray Shanahan  from Kiely-Walsh tied his 2nd placements at both the 2012 Worlds and 2012 All Irelands.  Adam McGhee who placed 3rd was also in the Top 5 for this age group at the 2012 Worlds.


Top 5 Boys 10-11
Champion Ronan McKiernan from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue in Ulster Region
2-Ray Shanahan from Kiely-Walsh in Munster Region
3-Adam McGhee from Coleman in Connaught Region
4-Ciaran Rodden from McConomy Bradley in Ulster Region
5-Christoper Reaney from Coleman in Connaught Region

Eoghain Murphy
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Boys 16-17
Photo courtesy Eoghain Murphy

Eoghain Murphy, the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion for Boys 16-17, placed 3rd at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championship after Champion Caolan McKeating-Lynch and 2nd place Richard Murray.  Murray, from Higgins also took 2nd place at the Irish Nationals and 3rd at the All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships in 2012.  Michael Gardiner, who came in 4th in Dublin Saturday, was also in the Top 5 for all three major 2012 Irish dancing competitions.

Top 5 Boys 16-17

Champion Eoghan Murphy from Mona Ni Rodaigh in Ulster Region
2-Richard Murray from Higgins in Munster Region
3-Eoghan O'Neill from Siobhan McDonnell in Connaught Region
4-Michael Gardiner from Hession in Connaught  Region
5-Matthew Gillespie from Hession in Connaught Region

Congratulations to all who qualified and placed at the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships!


Stay tuned for more results from the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships Sunday competitions right here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog.

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!

World Irish Dancing Championships Doherty ladies defending champions - top ten results

Sinead Carson from Doherty
2012 World Irish Dancing Champion Ladies 17-18
Photo Janine Taggart

Sinead Carson and Niamh Taylor from Doherty in Ireland defended their World Irish Dancing Championship titles - and it was not the first time for either of these amazing Irish dancers, who also hold multiple consecutive All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship titles, including 2012.

Sinead Carson, the 2012 World Irish Dancing Champion for Ladies 17-18, has held her position at the top of the podium since 2009. There were 129 female Irish dancers from 8 countries registered for this year's competition which is taking place all week at Belfast's Waterfront. Carson beat top World qualifiers from Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Hungary, Ireland, Scotland and the United States. 

Niamh Taylor with John Lonergan
both are 2012 World and All Ireland Irish Dancing Champions
Photo courtesy John Lonergan

Niamh Taylor, the 2012 World Irish Dancing Champion for Ladies 18-19, who won the Worlds in 2007 and 2008 reclaimed her title in 2011. This is her fourth World Irish Dancing Championship win.

-------------

Read more:

World Irish Dancing Championship Results Sunday

New England's Melissa McCarthy Clinches World Title

Irish and American Share World Irish Dancing Championship

-------------

2012 World Irish Dancing Championship

Top 10 Ladies 17-18: 

1 Sinead Carson Doherty 

2 Alana Pearson Ceim Oir 

3 Jessie Leach McGahan-Lees 

4 Sinead Malone Caroline Greene

5 Kate Kaneko Peter Smith USA

6 Ceili Moore Aisling 

7 Olivia Graydon Maguire-O'Shea 

8 Kevinah Dargan Rince Na Tiarna USA

9 Catriona O'Neill Doherty 

10 Eadaoin McGinley Croghan-Greene 

Top 20 Ladies 18-19: 

1 Niamh Taylor Doherty 

2 Caroline Gray McGahan-Lees 

3 Alesandra Doughty McDade-Cara USA

4 Maggie Eileen Doyle Trinity USA

5 Jasmine Withers Kenny 

6 Clodagh Roper Domican 

7 Lindsay McBride Ni Fhearraigh O'Ceallaigh Eastern Canada

8 Bobbie Trotter Carey 

9 Tori Lopez Comerford USA

10 Taylor Kerrane Petri USA

The Doherty School of Irish Dancing was founded in 2001 by Gavin and Seaneen Doherty and has studios and classes in Belfast and Derry in the Ulster Region, Ireland.  Since that time, Doherty has experienced tremendous success in international major Irish dancing competitions for both solos and teams.

For up-to-the-moment commentary, visit Feis America on FaceBook! Top 10 results, photos and interviews will be added here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog frequently all week as well.

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

New England's Melissa McCarthy from Harney Academy clinches World Irish Dancing Championship

Melissa McCarthy
2012 World Irish Dancing Champion Girls 15-16
Photo: McCarthy Family

Melissa McCarthy climbed to the top of the World Irish Dancing Championship podium Tuesday with the quiet confidence of the young lady who won her first North American National Irish Dancing Championships in 2011!  The 15 year-old from Harney Academy in Massachusetts beat 2012 All-Ireland and 2010 and 2011 World Irish Dancing Champion Ann Paige Turilli from New York in the Girls 15-16 competition at Belfast's Waterfront.  McCarthy is also an eight-time New England Regional Irish Dancing Champion, having competed twice in the under 8 event.

Turilli, the 2012 All-Ireland and 2010 and 2011 World Irish Dancing Champion, placed second.  Mackenzie Mahler, from the Blakey School in Western Canada rounded out the Top Three.  So far, this is the only competition at Worlds that has seen three North Americans in the Top Three!

Melissa McCarthy, 2011 North American Irish Dancing Champion
with friends Tayler Nunes and Grace Schiller from Harney Academy.
Photo Feis America LLC

Liam Harney, TCRG, ADCRG, was overjoyed with his Irish dance student's win and to the delight of his friends and fans, performed a little victory dance on stage.  Harney himself is a two-time World Irish Dancing Champion, having won the Junior Men's event in 1984 and the Senior Men's event in 1987.

Harney said, "I always knew I would be happy to have a student win the Worlds but I had no idea that I would be this happy.  I have been hit with a wave of proud and happy emotions that seem to be with me each day when I wake up!  It's true, she did it!  Melissa actually did it! She's a World Champion!"

World Champion teacher and student!
Melissa McCarthy with Liam Harney, TCRG/ADCRG
Photo: McCarthy Family

According to Harney Academy, "It is Liam's dynamic style and positive attitude that has propelled the students of the Academy into world-class distinction.  His personal commitment and spirited personality invigorate and fuel the schools' dance programs.  His skills as a choreographer coupled with his extensive performing arts background transcend the school and immerse students [with] progressive and traditional dance numbers."

------------

Read more:

Brogan McCay defends World Irish Dancing Championship title

Feising in the Desert with the Bracken School

Irish Dancers Cross Train with Ballet

------------

Melissa McCarthy is grateful to her teachers Liam and Sally Harney, with whom she has been dancing since age four.  She says, ""It was just so amazing and I couldn't have done it without the help and support of my teachers and friends!  I was so glad to be up there with my two other North American girls... all the girls up there are amazing!"

Stay tuned for the next installment... more articles and results every day here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog!  Follow daily commentary on Feis America's Facebook page for up to the moment World Irish Dancing Championships results and progress.

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like Feis America Magazine on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

World Irish Dancing Championships Quinn Defends Title Top 10 Boys 13-14 Results

Defending World Irish Dancing Champion Jack Quinn
with #2 Owen Luebbers and #3 Jordan McCormack
photo Alannah Lynch

At the World Irish Dancing Championships hosted by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha in Belfast this week, the Top Three Boys 13-14 confirmed that they belong on the box with three spectacular rounds of Irish dancing before a panel of seven international adjudicators.  The Worlds stage is not new to any of them, and their competitive records speak for themselves.

The Top 10 in this competition included exceptional competitors from Australia, England, Ireland and the United States of America.  Coincidentally, four of the Top Ten are named a variation of Conor!

----------------
Read more:

Irish and American share World Irish Dancing Championship title

"Jig"'s John Whitehurst reclaims World Irish Dancing Championship

John Lonergan clinches 5th All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship
----------------

Jack Quinn from Scoile Rince Uí Shé in County Leicester, Ireland claimed his third consecutive World Irish Dancing Championship Monday in the Boys 13-14 event.  Quinn also holds the All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship for his age group since 2010 and the Oireachtas Rince Laighin regional title.  He won the Great Britain Irish Dancing Championship in 2011.

Owen Luebbers from the Broesler School of Irish Dance in New Jersey, placed second, and is the current North American National Irish Dancing Champion for Boys under 13, having won every year since 2009. Luebbers also is a six-time mid-Atlantic regional champion.

Jordan McCormick, who placed third, is from Lambe Academy of Irish Dance in County Connaught, Ireland.  McCormick consistently places second after Quinn at both of these major Irish dancing championship events, having won the All-Ireland title in 2009.  McCormick is also the Oireachtas Rince Chonnact regional champion.

2012 World Irish Dancing Championships
Boys 13-14 Awards
Photo Rhiannon Gilvarry

Top 10 Results for Boys 13-14

2012 World Irish Dancing Championships

Champion Jack Quinn - Uí Shé, Leicester, Ireland

2 - Owen Luebbers - Broesler, New Jersey, USA

3 - Jordan McCormick - Lambe, Connaught, Ireland

4 - Curtis Long - Doherty, Ulster, Ireland

5 - Nathan McGhee - Coleman, Connaught, Ireland

6 - Conor Norton - Aaron Crosbie, Southern England

7 - Conor Reagan - Inishfree, New York, USA

8 - Conor Rodgers - Doherty, Ulster, Ireland

9 - Connor Patrick Sullivan - Petri, New York, USA

10 - Jonty Moore - Aisling, New South Wales, Australia

For up-to-the-moment commentary, visit Feis America on FaceBook! Top 10 results, photos and interviews will be added here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog frequently all week as well.

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

Brogan McCay from "Jig" Defends World Irish Dancing Championship

Brogan McCay brings home the gold again
from the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships!
Photo Dance.Net

The 42nd World Irish Dancing Championships, hosted by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, started March 31st and runs through Easter Sunday, April 8th.  An estimated 25,000 competitors, teachers and fans of Irish dancing have enjoyed four days of solo and team competitions thus far.  Monday's competitions included Boys 12-13 and Girls 12-13, to the delight of thousands in attendance at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

--------------------

Read more:

Irish and American share World Championship title Girls 13-14

"Jig"'s John Whitehurst reclaims World Championship title Boys 12-13

Win Tickets to Riverdance's Final Performance on Irish Central

---------------------

Brogan, who dances with  Scoil Rince McConomy Bradley in Derry, Ireland, defended her 2011 World Irish Dancing Championship title Monday in the Girls 12-13 competition.  The Worlds title is the capstone in a streak of wins for McCay in 2011 which includes the British National Irish Dancing Championship and All-Scotland Irish Dancing Championship titles.

Brogan McCay, Girls under 12
2011 All-Scotland Irish Dancing Champion
Photo courtesy Claymaker52

Brogan McCay swept Irish dance enthusiasts around the world off their feet in Sue Bourne's highly-acclaimed documentary "Jig" with these few words: "My name is Brogan McCay and I'm ten years old and I'll be going to the Worlds for the very first time".  For the first time ever, the public is given a glimpse into the journey to what is virtually the Olympics of Irish dancing through the eyes of  champions like McCay and  her friendly-rival, Julia O'Rourke from the Petri School in New York.  In the film, O'Rourke wins the 2010 World Irish Dancing Championship title with McCay taking second place.

Brogan McCay starred in "Jig" the documentary film about the 2010 World Irish Dancing Championships.
Photo:Wellpark Productions

Brogan McKay said, "I love my teachers from Scoil Rince McConomy Bradley!"

And suffice it to say, they surely love Brogan too!

For up-to-the-moment commentary, visit Feis America on FaceBook! Top 10 results, photos and interviews will be added here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog frequently all week as well.

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

Irish and American share World Irish Dancing Championship title

Co-Champions Cyra Taylor and Melanie Valdes with their teachers
2012 Girls 13-14 World Irish Dancing Championship
Photo courtesy On The Feis

Cyra Taylor from Scoil Rince McConomy Bradley in the Ulster Region, Ireland defended her 2011 World Irish Dancing Championship title Monday, with one caveat.  Taylor, also the 2009 World Irish Dancing Champion (then as a McConomy student), shared the podium for the Girls 13-14 title with Melanie Valdes from the Petri School in New York.  Tied at a score of 700, the friendly rivals were reunited as it were, having shared the All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship podium in 2011.

Cyra Taylor, 2011 World Irish Dancing Champion
Photo Feis America LLC

Taylor recently claimed the 2012 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship for Girls 13-14, her third All-Ireland title since she first competed at the event in 2008.  She also has only ever placed first or second in the World for her age group since she was eligible and qualified to compete starting 2009 and has won nearly every major competition she has ever entered.  Taylor, the youngest of three girls, started dancing at age three and never looked back, according to her mother, Gina Taylor in an article in the Belfast Telegraph.

Melanie Valdes, who clinched the prestigious North American Feis Commission's Minor Belt in 2011, first competed at the All-Irelands and Worlds in 2009.  Often placing 2nd to Taylor's 1st at major competitions (2009 Worlds, 2008-2009-2011 All-Scotlands), Valdes won the 2010 All-Scotland Irish Dancing Championship, beating Taylor for the first time.

---------------

Read more:

John Whitehurst from "Jig" Reclaims World Title

World Irish Dancing Championships Girls 11-12 Top 10 Results

A Look Back at 2011's Top North American Male Irish Dancers

----------------

Both Taylor and Valdes are multi-time regional and national champions.  Valdes holds the North American National Irish Dancing Championship for her age group since 2009; Taylor reigns as the Ulster Region and Great Britain Irish Dancing Champion as well as the British National Irish Dancing Champion for several years.

On Facebook, Taylor said, "So happy!!  Can't believe I have won the Worlds four years ina row!!  I couldn't have done it without my two fabulous teachers Elan and Rosetta [McConomy-Bradley]!"

Melanie Valdes, 2012 World Irish Dancing Co-Champion
Photo: Gil Valdes

As many who know the girls well have said, they clearly inspire each other - and the other dancers in their competitions - to dance the very best on every occasion.  The joy they have shared in past achievements is simply the icing on the cake of a unique friendship between two outstanding young athletes.

2012 World Irish Dancing Championships

Girls 13-14 Top 10

Co-Champions Cyra Taylor from McConomy Bradley, Ulster Ireland

 and Melanie Valdes from Petri, Mid-Atlantic New York

3-Meghan Bonner from Bonner-Cannon, Ireland

4-Rohan Bole from Caroline Greene, Scotland

5-Ruby-Mae Anthony from Glendarragh, England/Wales

6-Jessica Everitt from Sean Eireann McMahon, England/Wales

7-Taylor-Lee Keating from Cowhie-Ryan, Ireland

8-Katelyn Babcock from Murray, New England USA

9-Caroline Cofoid from Mulhern, Mid America USA

10-Ciara Loughran from King, England

For up-to-the-moment commentary, visit Feis America on FaceBook! Top 10 results, photos and interviews will be added here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog frequently all week as well.


Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

World Irish Dancing Championships Sunday "Jig's" John Whitehurst from Carey reclaims title

2012 World Irish Dancing Champion John Whitehurst
with Beth Monaghan - Carey Academy England
Photo: Susan Gaynor

John Whitehurst reclaimed the World Irish Dancing Championship title he won in 2010 Sunday, to the delight of Jig The Film fans and Irish dance enthusiasts everywhere.  The young Irish dancer from Carey Academy in England won hearts and admirers with his story on getting to the 2010 World Irish Dancing Championships.  Under the expert tutelage of 8-time World and All-Ireland Irish Dancing Champion John Carey, ADCRG, and with the support and sacrifices of his loving family, Whitehurst is living the dream of every competitive Irish dancer.

Eye on the prize! 
2012 World Irish Dancing Champion John Whitehurst
with McKenzie Francis Langford Hodgson - Carey Academy
Photo: Susan Gaynor

Whitehurst also holds the All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship title for 2010 and 2011; he did not compete in 2012.  Gerard Byrne, from McNelis-Cunningham in Ireland, was the 2011 World Irish Dancing Champion for Boys 11-12 when Whitehurst placed 2nd.  Byrne is now the 2012 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Champion for Boys 12-13. Whitehurst was also the 2010 North American National Irish Dancing Champion for Boys under 11.



Enjoy this all-star video of the 2010 North American National Parade of Champions which features Patrick Mello from Harney, World and All-Ireland Champion John Whitehurst, Owen Luebbers from Broesler, Macauley Selwood from The Academy, Nathan Dale from Mullane-Healy-O'Brien (now Mullane-Healy-Godley), World and All-Ireland Champion Drew Lovejoy from McGing, World and All-Ireland Champion Joe Bitter from Carey; Lorcan Balfe from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Eastern Canada and Peter Ryan from Smith-Houlihan.

For up-to-the-moment commentary, visit Feis America on FaceBook! Top 10 results, photos and interviews will be added here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog frequently all week as well.

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!