World Irish Dance Championships

In many ways, Aine McGill is a typical 10-year-old. She has a favorite subject in school (geography), sings in the church choir, and is a recent devotee of singer Taylor Swift.

But the fourth grader from Ardara, County Donegal, is also a musical multiple threat: She plays piano, accordian, banjo, and tin whistle, and is one of only nine dancers from Ulster Province who qualified to compete in the World Irish Dance Championships which start on Sunday, April 5, in Philadelphia.

And, like most accomplished typical 10-year-olds, Aine has a proud mom, Bernie, who is quick to point out that her achievement is all the more remarkable because “Ulster has the best dancers,” regularly placing in the top three in the All-Irelands.

Aine and her family—Bernie, dad Padraig, and sister, Maired, 19, a Trinity College student—flew to the United States last week and are staying in Chestnut Hill with Padraig’s brother, Jim McGill, and his family. She’s been practicing for an hour and a half every day at the Irish Center (where the New Zealand competitors also went through their routines this week).

Even at 10, Aine is the consummate professional. When we asked her if we could film her doing some steps, she was happy to do it, but reluctant to simply demonstrate the generic jigs and reels, rather than the flashier choreography created by her teachers, three former dancers from the show, “Riverdance.”

“No world class dancer would just do those steps,” she whispered to her sister, Mairead, a former dancer who jokes that she’s Aine’s “personal trainer.”

But her routine, like that of her fellow competitors, is a closely guarded secret. Videoing a dancer’s proprietary steps carries stiff penalties, as anyone who has been set upon by angry feis judges or parents threatening to snatch the camera out of their hands knows well. “I had someone threaten to take mine even though I was just focusing on Aine,” says Mairead.

Aine, who started dancing at age 5, has had a swift rise to the top, propelling through four levels in two years of competition to achieve championship status. But, going into the World’s, she’s anything but overconfident. Wish her luck, but don’t tell her she’s sure to win. If you do, her eyes widen and she shakes her head. “Oh, noooo,” she says.

She’s definitely a typical 10-year-old. What does she like most about dancing? It’s all about the friendships. “I like the competitions,” she answers. “Because I like to make friends with the other competitors.”

UPDATE: 04/06.09

Aine placed ninth in the world in her age group during competition on Sunday, April 5.

Aine demonstrated a few steps for us. Check out the video.

One dancer-a-leaping: Bridget Egan.

For a few of them it was “Riverdance.” For others, an older sibling who was taking lessons. But for all seven dancers from the McDade School of Dance in Broomall competing as soloists next week at the World Irish Dance Championships in Philadelphia, Irish dance was love at first leap. In fact, the leaps—which make Michael Jordan look earthbound—is one of the things about Irish dance they love the most.

“It feels like you’re flying,” says Fiona Egan, 16, of Malvern. “It feels like you’re in the right place.”

Fiona’s sisters, Sinead, 13, and Bridget, 11, are also world qualifiers. They’ll be joined on the competition stages at the Kimmel Center and the Downtown Marriott by fellow McDade dancers Alex Reichl, 16; Fiona Fey, 10; Siobhan Doughtery, 14, and Ali Doughty, 15. I met with them a couple of weeks ago just before one of their practice sessions.

For some, it’s not their first Worlds, as the international competition is usually called. It’s Alex’s third, in fact. And while it’s a great honor to have the dance championships in Philadelphia—the first time they’re in the US—for the local dancers, it’s the only disappointment: No trip to Ireland this year. “I liked it when it was further away,” says Sinead. “Last time I got to go to Belfast.”

Fiona Fey, who’ll be attending her first Worlds, the experience is “a little nerve-wracking.” But she says it’s always that way before any competition “until you get up on the stage.”

“It is when you’re waiting in line,” offers Ali, “and the night before.”

But the dancers don’t have much time to think about let alone have nerves. They practice several hours a day, after school and on the weekends. For many, it’s all part of a very full schedule that includes school and community sports (and for 10-year-old Fiona, the paper route she inherited from her brother).

And the truth is, they don’t really see the competition as particularly competitive. “It’s not cut-throat,” says Fiona Egan.

“I’ve met such nice people and made some really good friends,” adds Ali. “It’s one of the things I like best about it.”

You can see these and about 6,000 other Irish dancers at the World Irish Dance Championships at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Sunday, April 5, at 5 p.m. for what is the largest ever Worlds, now in its 39th year. Mayor Michael Nutter and a Mummers group are scheduled to appear. See the details at the official website.

One of the highlights of the event will be an appearance by famed Irish dancer and choreographer Michael Flatley of Riverdance fame, who may have launched many of these kids on their dance careers.

Check out some practice steps from the McDade Dancers:

• Video 1
• Video 2