Celtic Cats always land on their feet

Irish step dancing is no small feat. This is why on Dec. 3, UVM Celtic Cats held a workshop and feedback session in the Davis Center.

The Celtic Cats beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate and advanced level dancers all met with Sean Fahy, a top-ranked Irish step dancer, to work on basic drills and receive feedback from a fresh perspective.

Zack Warshaw, a member of the Celtic Cats and close friend of Fahy's, said that the Celtic Cats flew him in from England with club money to have this opportunity.

"Irish step dancing has really grown as a sport," sophomore and advanced dancer Sarah Kate Peterson said. "Each song is a minute to a minute and a half and it's like you're doing a full out sprint. It's very aerobically challenging; it requires huge amounts of stamina."

"It's not something you see every day and it makes me feel more Irish," senior and intermediate member Casey Manning said.

Peterson said she started Irish step dancing at the age of 8, which is considered late in the realm of Irish step dancing — most dancers begin at 4 or 5.

Warshaw said that he began at age 9 and taught himself the basics before joining an Irish step dancing school.

"People get really into it," sophomore member Carolyn Boudreau said. Celtic Cats accept new members at the beginning of each semester, even people who have never tried it before, she said.

The Celtic Cats practice to perform Ceili, or group dances. Festivities include eating and teaching the community simple steps so they can participate.

Ceili comes from a Gaelic word meaning party or gathering, Peterson said. Historically, after church on Sunday, friends and family would gather to have friendly dance competitions.

"I know in the Irish school system Irish step dancing is part of gym class, [but] it's a personal choice," Warshaw said. Some students continue to become more serious with it, others never do it again, he said.

Today the world of Irish step dancing can be very serious, he said. To compete, the dancer must be taught by a certified teacher.

In order to be certified, teachers must undergo a rigorous three-day exam which is only held a few times a year and costs around $1,000, he said.

"It definitely attracts that type of person: people who tend to be precise, anal," Peterson said.

The only thing a dancer can do to help improve their Irish step dancing is to practice Irish step dancing, Warshaw said. "Some people do weight training but they find it doesn't help that much."

Someone who is in good standing and might do well in competition could spend up to three hours a day, five days a week, practicing in the studio, he said. Then there are additional hours of teaching when the student becomes advanced.

Injuries are as common in Irish step dancing as in any other sport, he said. "I have been personally very lucky, [I] haven't really had anything serious, [like] sprained ankles, sprained Achilles," he said. "I've broken all of my toes at least once. If I were to have a major injury it would be apocalyptic — I would have to have my leg amputated or something."

After graduating college, Warshaw looks forward to touring in shows. Once at the professional level, anyone can audition for a show and get in, he said. The steps are the same, the only thing that changes is the routine.

Next semester on March 18, the Celtic Cats will be holding a Ceili in the Davis Center. Even though the club has only been in existence for three years they get about 150 audience members at the event, Peterson said.

Anyone could Irish step dance if they wanted to, Warshaw said.

"I don't think everyone can be successful at it; it does take some amount of natural talent — their body or mind was just made to do this. Some people don't have natural talent but if they work like a dog they can make it," Warshaw said.