Stepping Up and Stepping Out
Cara Hallahan is a St. James native who will be stepping up to Canada – well she’ll actually be flying but she will be stepping out onto the stage to compete in the World Irish Step dancing competition in Montreal Canada this spring.
“I recently competed at the Regionals and came in 14th qualifying me for the world,” said the vibrant twenty-two year old.
A recent graduate of Geneseo, she is presently an education in the Terryville Elementary School in Port Jefferson. She says right now it’s only a substitute position but the adores the school and kids and would love to work there permanently. “I push into the classroom, but I am extremely open and supportive of the push-in concept,” she explained.
Hallahan is one of three children, however, her siblings don’t share her love of Irish dance. “My sister took it for one year but it didn’t capture her interest, she’s and artist and very musical,” she continued. The young dancer said the entire family is enormously proud of her work. “My mom was sobbing tears of joy in the audience when I qualified for the World Competition,” she shared.
The dancer said this was a life-long dream come true. She has been dancing from the age of six and she says it was a dream come true for the whole family. “Everyone was thrilled to pieces, they watched me work for it, training four day a week two hours a day and then practicing on my own,” she explained.
Irish Step Dancing has long roots and gained enormous popularity here in the states when the Riverdance team galvanized Americans of all backgrounds with sold out shows around the country and then the world.
Irish step dance is a style of dance with its roots in traditional Irish dance. It can be performed solo or by troupes. Two types of shoes are worn; hard shoes, which make sounds similar to tap shoes, and soft shoes, which are similar to ballet slippers. Dancers stiffen their upper bodies while performing quick, intricate footwork. Costumes are considered important for stage presence in competitive Irish step dance. There are several levels of competition available for both individuals and groups.
An Irish step dancing competition is called a Feis (but pronounced FESH). There are old tales that date Irish step-dancing back to Pre-Christian Ireland.
Dancers are known for their intricate hair styles, however, because of the enormous time and cost of getting a girl’s hair done in customary fashion, most purchase the traditional style wigs. The costumes are equally festive and costly.
Irish step dancing began to become popular in the states as Irish immigrants arrived and it is said the first classes were given in Philadelphia.
Hallahan is over the moon excited about the World Competition but is very committed to her rigorous training until April. “ It’s all ability, doesn’t matter where you are from just bring your best competition,” she added. She said there are competitors from Africa England, Scotland, Canada and of course Ireland. “I’m going to do my best, be my best; really I’m just so honored to be in the Worlds,” she laughed.
Hallahan says this event is like the Olympics for her and her whole family will be attending including her boyfriend and two best friend from college. From the Smithtown Today News we say Good Luck or depending on the dialect of your region of Ireland we say: