Two dancers from Arborg showcased their flare for Irish jigs and reels during performances at the Celtic Ireland Pavilion at Folklorama.
Eliza and Molly Stansell were part of a contingent of dancers from the Winnipeg-based Brady Academy of Irish Dance, which entertained the crowds at the cultural festival. The girls danced every show at the pavilion.
Eliza, 11, started dancing in the fall of 2017 and her younger sister, Molly, 8, followed suit in 2018, said their mom, Jenna Stansell. They’re seasoned performers with prior performances at Folklorama.
The girls were inspired to learn how to dance after seeing a television show that featured an Irish dancer.
“They got into Irish dancing after watching a show called the Wiggles when they were little. One of the girls on the show was an Irish dancer and they just loved it,” said Stansell. “We found the Brady Academy in Winnipeg and they’ve been loving Irish dancing ever since.”
Stansell said they make the trip to Winnipeg two or sometimes three times a week for practices.
Not only do the girls perform at events such as Folklorama, but they also take part in Irish dance competitions, called a feis (pronounced fesh).
“They dance at competitions but none of them are in Manitoba. So we have to do a lot of long-distance travelling for competitions that are held in Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Minneapolis,” she said. “This fall they’re going to Calgary to compete.”
The Brady Academy of Irish Dance was established in 1983 to teach students traditional reels, jigs and other dances and to provide them with an opportunity to showcase their skills at community events and take part in Irish dance competitions across western Canada. In addition to Winnipeg, the school has locations in Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Calgary. It’s the largest Irish dance school in Canada, according to its website.
Irish dance requires athleticism, precision and discipline to perform the intricate steps and jumps. Footwork is emphasized as Irish dancers don’t move their arms and hands.
Brady Academy – along with volunteers and dancers’ parents – hosts the Celtic Ireland Pavilion at Folklorama with the school’s dancers showcasing award-winning Riverdance-style footwork and choreography. Riverdance is a theatrical troupe that performs a blend of traditional Irish and modern dance. It rose to prominence in the 1990s and still tours around the world.
The two-week cultural festival wound up last Saturday after a two-week run.
“The Celtic Ireland Pavilion is pretty amazing, and it’s one of the pavilions that has the most sold-out shows,” said Stansell.
If Eliza and Molly are not competing at a major feis this fall, they’ll likely be performing at Arborg’s Culturama, which like Folklorama, showcases different cultures and their food and entertainment.
