Hilton High School Junior, Jude Hare, will be participating in the World Irish Dancing Championships in Montréal, Québec, Canada. The competition will be held Sunday April 2 through Sunday April 9, 2023, with over 6,000 participants from all around the world. Worldwide, only 1% of Irish dancers have the honor of competing in the World Championships. The event is organized by The Irish Dancing Commission with the goal of promoting Irish dance and use of the Irish language.
Jude is 17 years old and has been dancing for the past ten years. He started dancing in honor, and in memory of Noel Parcells, a 10 year old girl from Hilton whose life ended tragically in September of 2011. Jude’s mother Michelle Hare said, “During the summer months after her parents divorced, Noel and her mother stayed in our home, with our family. Noel loved everything St. Patrick’s Day and all things green, actually she loved all the holidays. We feel it is a fitting tribute to her memory.”
Jude struggled in the beginning with his dancing. “Jude is autistic,” Michelle said, “In his autism he is very contrary. He struggles with the social aspects of being around people. When he first started dancing he kept his head down, and sometimes even walked off stage. Eventually that stopped happening. The audiences cheered him on so big that over time, it built his level of confidence, which helped him with all endeavors in life. He learned to be confident, and that he has the ability to accomplish what he sets his mind to.”
Beginning Irish Dance studies at seven years old is considered a late start. In the beginning of his dance studies, Jude was in classes where he received recognition and participation trophies. He told his mother that he wanted to learn with all the other dancers. Although transitions are quite difficult, he now successfully performs solo, and within groups of dancers of all ages. He has developed the ability to adapt on demand.
During his Irish Dance studies, Jude excelled at the six accomplishment levels of the dance form, moving through them quite quickly. Levels include: beginner, advanced beginner, novice, prizewinner, preliminary championship and open championship. With each level comes additional dance privileges.
The costumes that dancers wear are part of a progression in higher levels. Jude now proudly wears a costume that he designed himself. Michelle said, “Jude’s outfit is three years old and he still loves it. It it a custom design that came from Jude’s imagination. The boys are much more fortunate than the girls that dance in that most girls change dance dresses each year. Dresses range in price from $300 to $3,000.”
As dancers advance in competition and are given solo roles, they are permitted to wear a costume of their own design and colors.
Years ago, the traditional dress for competition was your “Sunday Best” clothes. Over time, ornately embroidered dresses became popular. Today, even more ornamentation is used on girls’ dresses, with rhinestones, sequins, and other embellishments. Most women and girls wear a wig, a bun or hairpiece for a competition, but some still curl their own hair. Costumes are deeply integrated into Irish dance culture. Many feature traditional elements of classic peasant wear adorned with Celtic designs. Some costumes feature lace or embroidery patterned after designs in the Irish Book of Kells.
Most men wear a shirt, vest or jacket, tie and black trousers. As the men progress through the levels of achievement, they are also given the choice to design their costumes.
The history of Ireland is also the history of Irish Dance. The roots of the dancing comes from the Celts and the druids, early inhabitants of Ireland. Traditional Irish dance is performed solo, or in groups of up to twenty or more trained dancers. In Ireland, Irish dance is part of social dancing, formal performances and competitions. Known for intricate foot work and a stiff upper body, Irish dancers do not move their arms or hands so that footwork is prominent. Musical instruments like the Irish Bodhran (drum), fiddle, concertina, accordion, Uiliean pipes, Celtic harp, tin whistles and banjo form the background of Irish dance music
Jude excels in many of the arts. In middle school he taught himself how to play a piano. His mother said, “I had an old keyboard in the closet. I heard music coming from his room. It was Jude playing and composing songs on the spot. He has never had a music lesson. He can play any instrument he picks up. When we go to Pittsburgh there is a piano at the place where the dance competitions are held. Jude plays the piano all day long. He just zones out and plays songs that come out of his head, he draws a crowd around him to listen. Each year at the competition when people recognize him, they ask him to play the piano for them. He just shines when he performs.”
Jude attends dance classes seven hours a week, plus when he is preparing for a performance, additional weekly private one hour lessons are scheduled. He studies at the Rochester Academy of Irish Dance, 1598 Penfield Road in Rochester. Jude performs 100 hours a year dancing at community events, libraries, nursing homes, and public and private performances. It is volunteer, and all throughout the year.
For more information on the World Irish Dance Championships 2023 visit www.ornc2023.com
Photos by Karen Fien
