The Irish Have Landed -- Adults And Kids Step Right Up To Irish Dancing

For some Irish Americans, especially on the East Coast, Irish step dancing has always been a way of life. Starting at age 4, children put on their soft shoes or tapping boots for weekly lessons. In their teens they traveled to regional and national competitions. If they are highly talented and dedicated, they might make it to the world competition in Ireland.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world knew next to nothing about Irish dance.

In 1994, Irish champions Michael Flatley and Jean Butler changed all that with "Riverdance." Suddenly everyone wanted to try it. The sold-out audiences for Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" at KeyArena last month mimicked in the aisles the hops and skips that had just spurred them to a standing ovation.

Some of those same audience members would call Seattle's Irish dancing schools the next day to sign up. Local teachers report that demand has doubled. Most of the seven schools listed here have expanded their schedules of two or three classes a week and added classes for adults.

"There's some who expect an instant payoff," says teacher Robert Hailey, who started dancing at age 4 and became a top competitor. "They want you to teach them the dances from `Riverdance,' not realizing how many years it took those dancers to be able to achieve that. But the majority come in and love it and stick with it."

Hailey's school, Scoil Rince Slieveloughane - pronounced skul-rinka-sleeve-lock-kane - is growing rapidly. (It translates to Hillside Lake School and is named after his family seat in County Clare.) Hailey holds classes in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and North Bend and says there is a growing demand on the Eastside.

"I start out beginners in soft shoes, teach them how to own their body, timing and music, and how to dance in an Irish presentation," he says. This presentation involves a still upper body with all the action in the legs and feet. In the classes Hailey holds at Dance On Capitol Hill - a multi-discipline dance studio - most of his students already are accomplished tap dancers and are able to go straight to the Irish dancing boot, a heavy shoe with fiberglass taps.

To teach competitive dancing you need to be certified by An Comisiun le Irenci Gaelacha, a governing body of Irish dance. It sends representatives from Ireland to Los Angeles and New York every year to examine and certify teachers. "If you're dancing for the sheer enjoyment of it, you can go to any teacher," Hailey says. "But it's helpful to know that the certified teachers have passed exams in dancing, music and teaching."

The commission of Irish dance also regulates regional, national and international competitions. In 1999 the Western Regional Championships will be in Seattle. "There will be hundred and hundreds of dancers," says Hailey. "What's important about these regionals is that it qualifies the dancers to go to the world competition in Ireland."

The Comerford School of Irish Dance has successfully sent students to the world competition. Teachers from the Vancouver, B.C.-based school give weekly lessons at the Seattle branch. Two members of the Comerford School have been offered contracts by "Riverdance."

Another certified teacher, Mary Doonan, has been teaching Irish dance in Seattle for 20 years. She says her classes have always been full thanks to word-of-mouth, but now she's hearing from a new audience just discovering the dance form.

Northwest Irish Dancers is an uncertified school that does not focus on competition at all. "We talk about the spirit of the dance, and teaching and sharing that spirit," says Jenny Opincarne. Her group is sponsoring daily dance camps for children and adults that will finish Friday with a grand "ceili" - pronounced kay-lee, Irish for "celebration" - at St. Edward Catholic School in South Seattle.

Until this year Northwest Irish Dancers had only adult dancers, but now has added classes for children. "We started teaching adults in the '90s," says Opincarne. "Traditionally that wasn't done, but with the demand arising from `Riverdance' and `Lord of the Dance,' many schools are now offering adult classes. We had eight members in our performing company, Northwest Irish Dancers, last year, this year we have 22, and more and more people are interested in joining."

Perhaps one of the most unexpected successes is the Haran School of Irish Dance. Deirdre Abeid, who is of Irish descent and competed in Irish dancing as a child, started her school in Rice, Stevens County, population 1,200. She has 45 students, drawing from Rice and nearby Colville, population 5,000. She has turned down 35 since Christmas. Several qualified for the Western Regional Championships in Vancouver, B.C. She took 10 children to Ireland last year on money they raised making a quilt and putting on a St. Patrick's Day festival attended by 450 people.

"Oh, yes. `Riverdance' and `Lord of the Dance' have increased the interest," says Abeid. "But for those of us who have been doing it long before, we'll still be here after it wanes. It's a joyful way to dance. And people who take it up find a love of it themselves."

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It's Irish

Ceili: (kay-lee), it's Gaelic for a celebration. A ceili for the end of the Celtic Arts and Dance Camp will be 7 to 9:30 p.m., St. Edward Catholic School, 4212 S. Mead St. Musicians with instruments, free; others, $3.

Celtic Arts and Dance Camps: sponsored by Northwest Irish Dancers. Adult camp was last weekend; children's camp continues through Friday, with some classes still open. At St. Edward School. Costs: ($15 to $55). No experience necessary. Information: 206-285-7186.

Frank McCourt, author of "Angela's Ashes": won this year's Pulitzer Prize for biography and a National Book Critics Circle Award. Will be here March 9, 1998, as part of the Seattle Arts & Lectures series. Information: 206-621-2230.

"Riverdance": at the Paramount, May 20-23.

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Irish dancing classes Prices range from $10 to $15.

Adult and children's classes: Comerford School of Irish Dance. 206-935-3225 Gavaghan Irish Dancers, 206-774-3782 Hailey's Scoil Rince Slieveloughane, 206-325-0874 Northwest Irish Dancers, 206-285-7186 Haran School of Irish Dance, 509-738-2664 Doonan Irish Step Dancers, 206-743-0204

Children's classes only: Tara Academy of Irish Dancing 206-286-6619