To appreciate the rigors and physicality of Irish dancing, you really need to get close to the action and performers. You can feel the thunderous steps ... witness flawless routines executed with breathtaking grace ... the bright faces of the dancers framed with shining locks of flailing hair.
Cashel-Dennehy Irish Dance School in Milwaukee boasts membership of over 300 families and close to 400 students. That's about 800 leaping legs and about the same number of motionless arms.
Kate Walrath is the choreographer and dance master for the school and has been involved with Cashel-Dennehy more than 20 years. That figure becomes even more startling when you realize she's only 30. Some creative recruiting on the school's part was key.
"My older brother Michael wanted to dance; I did not want to," Walrath confesses. "I was 7 and we lived in Hartland. It was a half-hour drive to classes, and my Mom said I had to come along. So, I came and met Mr. Dennehy, and he said since you're here, hop in line. I think there were five or six kids in the first class, the first class for beginners."
After a 20-plus-year association, Walrath has apparently found something she can identify with. "I always like my mother's expression of the Irish culture. She said Irish music itself is very energetic and it's very interesting," Walrath says. "When you have dancers involved with great music, you can personify what people feel and otherwise can't do. People see us dancing and appreciate it as something they can't do."
Walrath believes Irish dancing is a celebration of a culture. It can be perceived as an illustration of what it means to live an Irish life. When you watch children perform Irish dance, you can't help but think of the practice and effort involved, despite the fact they make it look effortless when they are on stage. The practices can be grueling, but more often than not, the students ask for seconds.
"Kids enjoy the weekly challenge of it. It's not just about being the best competitive dancer, it's having as much fun as you can within your culture," Walrath explains. "You learn to like performing. Nursing homes are especially fun for the dancers. The older women and men appreciate your dresses. It makes you feel special when you're a kid."
And anyone who can slip into a dance shoe is welcome.
"We have two families that come from Minnesota, we have families from Chicago, from Racine. The biggest portion of our class comes from Wauwatosa and the North Shore area."
Walrath says membership at the school has largely grown by word of mouth. One or two kids took dance classes and went back to their school and talked about their experiences. After Cashel-Dennehy performed at the schools, the kids were hooked.
Karen Prendergast is a parent of a dancer, and former president of the board at Cashel-Dennehy. She's also a big fan of Walrath's efforts.
"I think she's great. She's kept Cashel-Dennehy the way it was when I got there. It was much smaller then, and it's a very challenging job as there are over 400 dancers at this time," says Prendergast. "When I was working at the board level and the community level, I recognized how hard it could be to keep families a priority at the school." According to Prendergast, Walrath has definitely pulled that priority off.
Parents seem to be involved at virtually every level of the school's activities. "There are as many different parents as there are kids," Walrath says.
"Some parent involvement you love because they're in it for the right reasons. Kids are having fun, or they're enjoying their children's success. Some parents realize their kids won't make it at the competitive level," Walrath says empathetically.
Irish dance often carries the stigma of being a wealthy person's hobby. Walrath explains that slapping a puck around a rink is as costly as dancing, if you were inclined to compare prices. "I don't think it's much more expensive than if you were involved in hockey. It's basically how far you want to take it. You don't have to be wealthy to do the shows. You have to buy a costume and shoes, which can be pricey, but it doesn't need to go much farther."
Kids and adults can take classes and choose not to participate in competition. They can use it as a form of exercise. They don't need to perform, although most of them choose to.
There are some unforeseen benefits associated with this kind of training. Walrath says it helps students be quick on their feet in more ways than one. "I think competition teaches them they have to work hard to get some things. It teaches them to win and to lose. Shows demand they learn to think quickly."
Cashel-Dennehy and Irish Fest have become fairly synonymous in Wisconsin. "Irish Fest is a wonderful place to be seen. The crowds are great. They're there because they love the culture, interested in the culture," Walrath says.
It's always a very receptive crowd and the kids love it. They can't wait for it; it's their favorite time of the year. Summer means Irish Fest, and Irish Fest means good times. It's an entire weekend of just being stars."
Walrath says in regards to putting on a show, Irish Fest is the crowning achievement of the year for Cashel-Dennehy. It also marks the end of the year. The staff and students get a couple of weeks off after Irish Fest, and then it's back to work.
According to Walrath, the association of Cashel-Dennehy and Irish Fest is a match made in heaven. "It isn't just alcohol and green beer," Walrath explains. "It's the fact that Irish music is fun, and it has a good beat. There's a lot of depth to Irish Fest. A lot of festivals will have the same band, or the same stage for two days, where Irish Fest works hard to get Irish rock, Irish traditional, Irish singing, comedians, new age plays." If those presentations don't appeal to you, there is always the alcohol and green beer."
Walrath says Cashel-Dennehy is more than just glamour and glitter. "There's always more to it, it's not just competition or shows. There's teaching, there's a method of learning, and there is always another aspect to it."
The myths about Irish dancing are quickly dispensed at Cashel-Dennehy. "It's not all 'Riverdance,' it's not all 'Lord of the Dance.' I think a lot of people believe all dance schools do the same step," Walrath says with a trace of concern. "They think we learn the same thing. It's similar to other dances, but each dance master creates their own step."
Performers and schools will often use the same music, but the signature on the performance is always unique. In this instance, the autograph belongs to Kate Walrath.
