Spring Break
Dance'Worlds' hits Philly
Lydia Hryshchyshyn
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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This competition held historical significance in the Irish dance community and was a notable honor for Philadelphia because it was the first time the competition has ever been held in North America. The week-long event welcomed dancers from over 400 schools scattered across five continents and was proof of the globalization this art form has experienced.
"Worlds" brings together the very best amateur Irish dancers for solo, ceili, figure and dance drama competitions. Anyone wandering into the Kimmel Center during the week would have most likely been surprised at the bustle of activity as dancers practiced their steps, changed costumes, competed and received awards.
The competition kicked off the night of April 5 with opening ceremonies and a parade of countries. The 32 flags displayed, including the U.S., Ireland, Mexico, Taiwan and Hungary, represented countries with registered Irish dance schools and was a stunning demonstration of how nationality and heritage play little importance in the study of Irish dance. Philadelphia added its own spirit and culture to the evening with a rousing performance by the Mummers. Dancers joined them onstage and created a wonderful blend of excitement that carried through the rest of the competitions.
The majority of "Worlds" was spent on the solo competitions, and participating in these events is one of the greatest achievements a dancer can reach. Gender and age group break up competitions and males can expect to compete with approximately 50 dancers while females are in groups of upwards to 150 dancers. Seven judges watch as two by two, dancers perform their hard shoe steps in the first round and their soft shoe steps in the second round. The intensity was palpable as dancers did everything in their power to execute steps to perfection.
It was not unusual for dancers to bump into one another or slip and fall - an audible gasp came from the audience every time a dancer hit the floor. The top dancers in each group were recalled for a final round and after this, they were ranked. Simple recalling at "Worlds" is a huge accomplishment and dancers yelled with excitement when they heard their numbers read for recalls.
Additionally, there were ceili and figure dancing competitions at the end of the week. In ceili dancing, groups of dancers perform traditional routines that are similar around the world.
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