Three local youth kicked up their heels and did their community proud at the CRN North American Open Irish Dance Championships in Pittsburgh last month.
Luke Prusina, Eva Espenell, and Ella Kalinowski were joined by Morden Danceworks instructor (and Luke’s mother) Cathy Savage at the Feb. 17-19 event.
Prusina swept all his events, placing first in the Bunghrad (Level 1) Reel, Bunghrad Slip, and Bunghrad Light Jig to become an U18 North American champion.
Espenell, who earned her North American champion rank at last year’s competition, placed first in the Ullmhuchan (Level 2) Slip and Meanghrad (Level 3) Hornpipe events and second in both the Meanghrad Reel and the Ullmhuchan Heavy Jig. She ultimately earned a second-place award in the Ullmhuchan U18 category.
Kalinowski finished first in the Ullmhuchan Single Jig and second in the Ullmhuchan Heavy Jig. She received a seventh-place award in the Ullmhuchan U15 division.
It was a great weekend of dancing, says Prusina, 14, noting it feels “pretty good” to have aced all his events and earned the champion title.
He’s been dancing since he was in Gr. 3.
“I enjoy it. I find it fun,” he says of what keeps him in it. He encourages other kids to give Irish dancing a try if they’re looking for a new challenge that could help them out in the other sports they’re involved in. “It’s fun and if you play soccer it’ll make your kick a bit better.”
For Espenell, 16, it’s the uniqueness of Irish dance that has had her practicing it since she was eight years old.
“It’s just something different,” she says. “I like the people that I meet while I’m doing it at the competitions. Everybody’s always so friendly and it’s nice to get to know new people with the same interest.”
Seeing the kids grow in their abilities is a great reward for Savage, who has been teaching Irish dance locally for years.
“Each year I see the dancers improve and advance to the next level. As a teacher, it is amazing to see their progress,” she says, noting the big draw of this form of dance is how, when you get it right, “it feels like you’re flying across the stage.”
The studio currently has about 45 Irish dancers of all ages, roughly half of which dance competitively at events here in Manitoba (the next one is in Winnipeg in June) and further afield at international competitions like the North American Open.
“They did amazing,” Savage says of Prusina, Espenell, and Kalinowski. “Eva was dancing level three for the first time and Ella was dancing level two for the first time. And Luke, with his big win, has made it out of Level 1 and moves up to Level 2 for everything now. I’m so incredibly proud of them all.”
You can enjoy the skills of the Danceworks Irish Dancers at their upcoming Irish Ceili. It takes place at the Kenmor Theatre in Morden on Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
“It’s a showcase for our Irish dancers,” Savage says. “All five classes will be dancing in it.”
Also performing will be musician Tom McDermott, also known as The Irish Cowboy.
Admission is $10 at the door, with proceeds going to support Danceworks.
“We’re trying to get a new floor for the studio where we practice downstairs,” Savage explains.
“It’s just a great night out and it’s open to everyone.”
