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World Championships to be held in Philly

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Last year, the World Irish Dancing Championships, which attracted over 4,000 dancers and thousands more spectators, was held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Ireland. The event, which saw many talented dancers descend on the city in the north of Ireland, was deemed a huge success, not only because of its smooth running, but also because of the positive effects it had on the city’s economy.
This year, the 39th Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne will take place over eight days, from April 5 to 12, at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
Said Jennifer DiPasquale of the Clann na Cara School of Irish Dance, “This is a big deal to say the least. You could see at our regional qualifier in November the number of dancers who practiced extra hard this year to earn a spot for this year’s Worlds because not only will it be so much easier for them to not only attend, but [also] to have family and friends come to watch them compete.”
The world championships have mostly been held in Ireland since they began in 1970 — with the exception of the a times when it was held in Scotland.
“This is really historic,” said DiPasquale. “The week-long event should bring in a huge number of spectators to see some great dancing. “It’s great exposure for Irish dancing in America,” she said, adding that the event is a great opportunity for dancers to make and maintain global friendships.
“Whether it’s chatting with the girl in front of you in line to dance, or swimming in the hotel pool with a family you met from England, it’s a great chance to make friends and, for dancers who attend the World Championships regularly, it’s a chance to reunite with their overseas friends from years past.”
The closing date for team entries has now passed. The deadline for entries from solo dancers is Jan. 19, 2009.

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