By Jojo Hoffman
Staff Writer
Through seven years of competing, Costa freshman Emma Moore’s toddler dream of Irish dancing has now turned into a serious passion.
Practicing three to four days a week at The Kelly School of Traditional Irish Dance in El Segundo, Moore has qualified for competition at both the regional and national levels. She competes as a solo dancer as well as part of a ceili dance team, which is a group of two, three, four, eight or 16 people dancing in complete unison.
“I love Irish dancing because I think it is fascinating and out of the ordinary,” Moore said. “Plus, it’s a challenge to learn a bunch of fast and complex steps with your feet.”
Originating in Ireland, Irish dancing is a type of folk dance that is centered around stiff posture and rapid foot and leg movements. Moore said that the elaborate costumes dancers wear, including crazy wigs, poodle socks and distinctive, heavy dresses, are almost as important as the dance itself as they are a huge part of the tradition, dating back hundreds of years ago.
“I am in awe that Emma competes in Irish dancing,” Moore’s mother, Carol Celentano, said. “To be able to blend athleticism, mental focus and dedication to make dancing with only your feet, with your body and arms completely still, look easy is incredible.”
Moore was initially exposed to Irish dancing when her preschool, American Martyrs, hosted a group of young Irish dancers on Saint Patrick’s Day. After becoming captivated by this dance form, Moore started with recreational classes and then began competing at the age of seven.
“Emma is successful in Irish dance because she is committed and driven to do her best,” Moore’s Irish dance coach, Carol Pirsztuk, said. “Over the years, Emma has had to persevere through rigorous workouts and master intricate steps, yet she never gives up.”
Throughout Moore’s Irish dancing career, she has placed in the top 10 in preliminary champion competition, the highest dance level at a feis; at Hidden Valley Feis in San Diego; the Lucky 7 Feis in San Jose and the Phoenix Halloween Feis. She also placed fourth in Hornpipe at the Southern California Halloween Feis. Her eight-hand Ceili team placed in the top 15 at the Western Regional Championships.
“Doing well in a competition is nice because I know that I worked hard enough to get a good placing,” Moore said. “I do not expect to do well at every competition, so when I do place well it feels really great.”
In a typical championship level competition that Moore competes in, dancers perform two hard shoe dances as well as one soft shoe dance. The hard shoe dances involve bulky shoes that are similar to tap shoes, while the soft shoes involve shoes that are similar to ballet or jazz shoes.
“Personally, I like both shoes for different reasons,” Moore said. “The hard shoes are fantastic because of the sound and rhythm they make. On the other hand, I appreciate the soft shoes because of how light and airy they can make you feel.”
Through Irish dance, Moore said that she has developed sportsmanship, persistence and fitness. In addition, she said she has made lifelong friends that all share a common cultural bond.
“When Emma takes the stage, she is a confident, powerful and graceful dancer, and you cannot take your eyes off her,” Pirsztuk said. “Emma will continue to rise in competition in Irish dancing because she has what it takes to be successful.”
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