Local Irish Dancers Make Their Mark at Competition in Orlando (PHOTOS)

Grace Hanson

Some local dancers are moving on to world and national competitions after qualifying at the 2014 Southern Region Oireachtas in Orlando last month.

According to a news release, 35 dancers from Scoil Rince Ni Dubhthaigh (SRND, also known as the Duffy School of Irish Dance) took part in the dance competition which featured dancers from 14 states, the District of Columbia and Mexico. Of the SRND dancers competing, 32 participated in team dances, 15 did solos and 11 did traditional sets.

Grace Hanson of Brookeville, placed 7th in the Girls Under 10 competition and qualified to compete in the 45th World Irish Dancing Championships to be held in Montreal, Canada, March 25-April 5.

Four students also qualified to compete at the 2015 North American Irish Dance Championships, July 2-6, 2015, in Providence, R.I. They include:
• Claire O’Halloran of Gaithersburg, Md. (21st place in Girls Under 12)
• Emily McFadden of Gaithersburg, Md. (32nd place in Girls Under 12)
• Lauren Hurt of Gaithersburg, Md. (30th place in Girls Under 11)
• Katherine Sohn of North Potomac, Md. (34th in Girls Under 11)

In addition, an eight-hand team comprised of Caitlin Crews, Fiona Gallagher, Lucy Garretson, Grace Hanson, Lauren Hurt, Cassidy Kennington, Emily McFadden and Katherine Sohn won 1st place in the Girls Under 12 competition.

“I am proud to have had these exemplary young ladies and gentlemen represent our school and our community in this prestigious event,” said Erin Duffy Martorano, TCRG and owner of SRND. “I am thrilled with their results and we are all excited to begin preparing for the World and National Championships later this year.”

Full results for the SRND dancers follow:

Solo Dances
Girls Under 14
• 52nd – Kathryn O’Halloran

Girls Under 12
• 21st – Claire O’Halloran (National Qualifier)
• 32nd – Emily McFadden (National Qualifier)
• 56th – Cassidy Kennington

Girls Under 11
• 30th – Lauren Hurt (National Qualifier)
• 34th – Katherine Sohn (National Qualifier)

Girls Under 10
• 7th – Grace Hanson (World Qualifier)

Traditional Set
Under 12
• 12th – Lucy Garretson

Under 11
• 15th – Allison Saenger
• 21st – Fiona Gallagher

Under 10
• 2nd – Lily Garretson

Under 8
• 6th – Reese O’Halloran
• 11th – Camryn Flaherty
• 14th – Jessica Welgos

Teams
Girls 4 Hand Under 12
• 8th – Grace Hanson, Lauren Hurt, Cassidy Kennington and Katherine Sohn
• 11th – Caitlin Crews, Lucy Garretson, Ella Hanson and Emily McFadden

Girls 4 Hand Under 10
• 10th – Camryn Flaherty, Lily Garretson, Eileen Lee and Jessica Welgos

Mixed 4 Hand Under 15
• 9th – Riyan Christensen, Rebekah Hall, Maggie Scheibel and Maeve Smith

Mixed 4 Hand Under 10
• 11th – Spencer Goldberg, Lauren McGrath, Alexandra Nagy and Cadyn O’Halloran
• 12th –Rowan Marks, Neve Norris, Reese O’Halloran and Brennan Smith

Girls 8 Hand Under 12
• 1st – Caitlin Crews, Fiona Gallagher, Lucy Garretson, Grace Hanson, Lauren Hurt, Cassidy Kennington, Emily McFadden and Katherine Sohn

Mixed 8 Hand Under 10
• 3rd – Camryn Flaherty, Lily Garretson, Spencer Goldberg, Lauren McGrath, Eileen Lee, Alexandra Nagy, Brennan Smith and Jessica Welgos

Scoil Rince Ni Dubhthaigh, commonly known as the Duffy School of Irish Dance, was founded in 2007 and has approximately 100 students ranging from age 3 to adult. Classes are held at the school studio in Gaithersburg as well as in Clarksburg. For more information, visit www.duffyirishdance.com.

About Sonya Burke

Sonya Burke is the Multimedia Manager at Montgomery Community Media (MCM). You can email story ideas at sburke@mymcmedia.org or reach her on Twitter @SonyaNBurke.

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