Dancing Days in Ennis



 

Dancers from Dinan School Corps photo Declan Monaghan



Greystones ladies stepping out

Pat Mac

Brock Maguire in the Great Hall

What a hotspot of eurhythmical activity, the Banner county town was yesterday.   In the Hall of Scoil Chríost Rí.  6th class were busy putting the final touches to their presentation of the Haka  and out on the Gort Rd  Ennis Educate Together NS, Fatima di Lucia was busy preparing her group of dancers for  their forthcoming performance at International Day Fair. In the Old Ground Dick O Connell  was guiding dancers through their paces at the second Foinn Seisiún.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the stunning show presented by the Dinan School of Ballet on the Glór Stage.  The show was a delightful series of  dances in a broad range of styles with classsical ballet at the core  in a presentation of  story of the Wizard of Oz . The costumes were  in a dazzling range of colours with no sparing of  sequins and glitter and the performers ranged from tiny tots to experienced mature performers. The backing tracks included songs from the film interspersed with other numbers in an  eclectic range of styles . I really enjoyed the tap numbers and  we loved the marriage of classical ballet complete with psychadelic purple and green tutus to Me No Speak Americano, a number which itself combines different genres.  Siobhán Sexton in the role of Dorothy  had  a very graceful  stage presence and had the tough job of opening the show with a solo turn.

Foinn Seisiún with Frank Custy at Fleadh Nua Ennis



MC and Dance Master Dick O Connell

I called in  to the Old Ground Hotel to catch some of the late afternoon Fleadh Nua activity . I expected to find a few visiting musicians ploughing through some dance tunes in a corner of the bar . I was pleasantly surprised to see the upstairs room full of an audience of all ages  young and old. I went along to see the legendary teacher Frank Custy in action and both he and Fear an Tí, Dick O Connell  guided the aftenoon of music mixing dances with slow airs and songs calling on the individuals in turn.





Stepping Out

 

The wonderful dancing feet of Stephanie

We had  amongst other numbers the Boys of Barr na Sráide ,  a slow air on the uilean pipes, a lovely unaccompanied  duet  from husbad and wife duo. There were mazurkas sean waltzs and polkas . The highlight for me was the sheer exuberance of Stephanie from Bodyke with her steel capped dancing shoes . What a great noise she made on the wooden floor.  I was delighted to meet Frank Custy  himself and Catriona from Sixmilebridge Folk Club  and Phil Jameson from Norh Carolina . I recognised some faces from a visit to last years Fesival Club Fleadh Nua 2010  and had a chat with Margaret from The Netherlands who was on a return visit..  The presence of an Asian camera crew added an exotic air to the procedings.  It was like an old fashioned party and Dick O Connell did an excellent job as MC.    The central venue is great and I love the time 4pm  to 6pm is very good slot. You can nip in after work and on the way home for tea. 

Post session interviews