Steps in Time: The History of Irish Dance in Chicago

by Kathleen M. Flanagan

Overview

In this first detailed history of Irish dance in the Irish diaspora, Kathleen Flanagan gives a fascinating account of the art form in Chicago, the city that is currently one of the global centers for Irish dance practice. From the first appearance of step dancers at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition to the emergence of world-renowned Chicago performers and choreographers such as Michael Flatley and Mark Howard, she depicts the teachers, schools, and performances that contributed to making Chicago an international center for Irish dance. Flanagan takes the reader on a journey that is distinctly Irish yet unmistakably American. Surrounded by and intersecting with a unique and complex set of cultural and political influences, Irish Americans in Chicago took the lead in innovations within the dance form that eventually led to such groundbreaking productions as “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780981492414
Publisher:	Macater Press
Publication date:	03/04/2010
Edition description:	1
Pages:	174
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Kathleen M. Flanagan is associate professor of theater at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. She is a teacher of Irish dance certified by Irish Dancing Commission, Dublin.

Table of Contents

Illustrations ix

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 5

1 First Steps: The Formation of Irish Dancing Clubs and Schools, 1893-1909 5

The World's Columbian Exposition 5

The Gaelic League 9

The Irish Music Club of Chicago 10

Dancing Clubs and Contests 12

Encouraging the Child Dancer 16

Irish Dancing Takes Shape 19

2 Keeping Time: Early Performances, Competitions, and Feiseanna, 1910-1929 23

The Feis as Stage Spectacle 23

The First Modern Feis, 1912 28

The Gaelic Juniors 32

The Gaelic Feis, 1913 33

The McNamara School 35

The End of an Era 39

3 Step About: Chicago Promotes National Connections, 1930-1952 45

The 1933 World?s Fair Irish Village 45

Pageant of the Celt 55

The Shannon Rovers 58

The Mummer's Club 63

Pat Roche and the Harp and Shamrock Club 64

Commercial, Parish, and Community Sponsors 69

First Chicago Feis, 1945 75

The Chicago Feis, 1946-1952 77

Remembering Pat Roche 88

4 New Steps: Expanding the Boundaries, 1953-1989 93

Irish Dancing Teachers Commission of America (IDTCA) 93

The New Style 96

Chicago Goes to Ireland 99

The Dennehy School 101

New Competitions, New Teachers 103

Irish Dancing Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA) 104

Certifying Teachers 105

The Midwest Oireachtas 107

Adult Ceili Dancing 110

Chicago's First World Champion 112

Chicago's Irish Day 116

A New Generation 119

5 Staging New Traditions: Beyond Competition 121

Michael Flatley 121

Trinity Irish Dance Company 124

Innovation in Irish Dance 128

Trinity and Sean Curran 130

Appendices

A Overview of Irish Dance 135

B History of Irish Dance Costume in Chicago 139

Notes 147

Index 155

Editorial Reviews

Flanagan has constructed one of the few local histories ever written on any form of dance in diaspora. This fusion of the global and the local is of relevance not only to those interested in Irish dance, but also to dance history and performance studies in general.”—Moe Meyer, Series Editor, University of New South Wales, Sydney


“Kathleen Flanagan has long been a teacher and advocate of Irish dance and one of the most important voices to share the history of Chicago’s role in the development of this beautiful art form.”—Mark Howard, founder and director of Trinity Academy of Irish Dance


“Flanagan’s book is meaningful, insightful, and a significant contribution to the field of Irish dance history. No other city, either in Ireland or North America, has been so well documented. It is a valuable resource for dance enthusiasts and researchers alike.”—John Cullinane, retired historian of Irish dance, University of Cork

From the Publisher