On Saint Patrick’s Day, Mar. 17, the Millersville University Department of Campus Life celebrated the holiday by bringing the Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance to campus to demonstrate their skills.
The dancers took stage at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Memorial Center, alternating until the finale, when all the dancers joined. The final two performances also brought in live violin music, played by one of the dancers as she performed. Following the performance, members of the audience were invited to join the dancers in an instruction session for Irish dancing.
“It’s just important to spread the joy and happiness of the world and help everyone find what they’re good at,” said 13-year-old dancer Jase, who has been performing Irish dance for ten years.
The Lancaster branch of the Ireland-based Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance started in 2015 with Esther Pujol, a nationally competitive Irish dancer. She performed at Carnegie Hall and with Grammy award winners Eileen Ivers and Natalie MacMaster. She began teaching Irish dance classes at the age of 20, before spreading knowledge of her studio starting with close family and gradually spreading the word further over the Internet.
“[Irish Dancing] is a very unique and intricate kind of dancing with a lot of parts to it. A lot of things you have to do correctly and good.”
Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance, according to their website, offers classes for students starting at the age of five and also offers adult classes. The school gives learners opportunities to participate in competitions and public performances like the one done at Millersville University.
