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DANCE O ‘THE IRISH: Seven local APA students prepare for regional competitions | Culture & Leisure

 


Seven dancers at the McCafferty Academy of Irish Dance have learned a valuable lesson in perseverance amid the pandemic, according to their instructor, Lena Gladkova-Huffman.

After making adjustments to keep dancing safely, the group will be heading to the Southern Region Oireachtas Irish Dance Competition in Florida next week.

When March 2020 robbed them of a St. Patrick’s Day show, regular dance practices and competitions, and opportunities for commentary from the judges, Gladkova-Huffman made it her mission to show her dancers that nothing can stop. a passionate and planned person.

Of the seven, three have taken Irish dance lessons since Gladkova-Huffman began offering them nine years ago: Reece Cowart, 14, Shiloh Christian School; Mackenzi Harlen, 16, Tahlequah High School; and Lauren Mendenhall, 18, Connors State College. One is Huffman’s 10-year-old son Nikolai, who has danced Irish for half his life. Others who made the trip have also been engaged in art for years: Katelyn Hughes, 9, Shiloh Christian School, 2-1 / 2; Julianne Burns, 11, Tahlequah High School, four; and Ella Whisenhunt, 11, Greenwood Elementary School, five.

Competitive Irish dancing has a tiered progression system for each dancer. Gladkova-Huffman is a TCRG, which is the abbreviation of the Gaelic Teagascir Choimisiin the Rinci Gaelacha. This means that she is a certified Irish dance teacher affiliated with An Coimisin le Rinc Gaelacha.

“You start as a beginner, progress to novice, winner, championship level. At some point you become skilled enough to try for major events: the North American national championships and the world championships – the Olympic Games in the United States. Irish dancing, ”Gladkova-Huffman said.

“This is where you join a group of Irish dancers from Tahlequah. They try to compete among the best in the southern region of the United States for a chance to qualify for a major competition.”

On the basis of the results of these three days, the dancers hope to place or qualify for national and international competitions.

“Some people dream of being on the podium among the best in the region,” said Gladkova-Huffman.

Most of the local dancers have enjoyed many competitions, as well as the trips and people they have met over the years.

“I’ll be doing this as long as possible,” Julianne said. “I like to make friends. You are basically like family.”

Many dancers thrive on the social and bonding aspect.

Lauren said she struggled not to progress through the dance levels so she considered quitting. She spoke with her fellow dancers and they encouraged her to continue.

Ella said when she’s stressed out about getting better, she’ll call a friend who understands.

“When you go to feis [competition], you learn to be happy for your friends if they place themselves higher than you, ”Ella said. Irish made me much more confident. “

When the studio was closed, Gladkova-Huffman offered the option of continuing to practice Zoom videoconferencing; inspired dancers with workout challenges and bike rides; and researched options to get them back to the studio safely.

Along with the design of a cleaning plan, equipment was purchased for the studio. New rules were put in place to limit the number of participants and control who entered the studio. Masks are now an integral part of dance attire. They can be deleted for certain competitions and repetitions.

Huffman said they continued to give dancers what they always had – a safe and fun second home. The hard work and financial investments have paid off, she said.

The dancers returned to the studio in May and began training for the Southern Region Oireachtas event.

“The event itself was in question because in May, no one knew what might happen in December. The event moved from South Carolina to Florida, and changed its appearance from “a huge gathering of friends and family at a masked event. dancer and a parent with strict social distancing requirements, but it was. And so the dancers worked tirelessly with their teacher to make their dreams come true” , Huffman said.

The dancers trained in regular classes, trained with coach Kevin Burns on Saturday mornings, took private lessons, and took advantage of opportunities with virtual teachers from around the world. They returned to socially distant and masked competitions in September, and are now set to leave for Orlando on December 2.

Mackenzi said taking back lessons was relaxing.

“It gives me something normal. It gives me something to look forward to,” she said. “I love it. I love the environment and the people, and I love dancing.”

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