I had a great time dancing last month at the Maryland Irish Festival in Timonium, MD, with my friends Rebecca McGowan, Catherine Marafino Brice, and Kaitlyn Likas, accompanied by all-star musicians Peter Brice, Joey Abarta, and Matt Mulqueen. We showcased a variety of Irish dance styles to showcase the diversity with the form—including festival style, sean nós, the Molyneaux Blackbird, traditional hornpipes, and a two-hand reel, along with a waltz clog, a Cajun-inspired percussive dance piece, and Scottish highland dancing. We showcased a total of 14 dance pieces, so it was quite a show!
Last week I also called the annual Scooby Doo Céilí Ball after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. This is an annual Christmas ball hosted by the Scooby Doo Mansion in DC’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. The party was back in full force! Everyone was dressed to the nines and came ready to dance. I created a new céilí dance on the spot, the Scooby Doo Polka, to try to match their energy. It was a hit! The band was great, featuring Marty Frye on flute, Sarah Collins on fiddle, David McKindley-Ward on tenor banjo, David Greer on drums, and Matt Mulqueen on piano.
Happy holidays everyone!