By Alicia Burke

Think back to one of the times you have been at Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, or possibly a pub where Irish music was playing. Perhaps someone in the crowd broke out into full freestyle Irish dancing, or an interpretation of it. Or perhaps this describes you! 

The enthusiastic lilt of jigs and reels evoke this response in many people, and for some, they take the frenzy to the next level and learn how to become full-fledged Irish dancers. The good news is that it is possible for people of all ages, shapes, sizes and levels of experience to pursue Irish dancing correctly. 

It is hard not to notice the younger dancers that freckle the face of the Summerfest grounds during Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, which this year runs from Aug. 16-19 (www.irishfest.com). The young, mostly female dancers are often sporting the curly-haired wigs while waltzing about in their performance costumes and wearing the traditional lace-up soft dance shoes, known as ghillies. 

What one may not realize, is that some of these young dancers have their parents in tow, who themselves are also Irish dancers. They may primping and priming right along side of their children also feeling the anticipation of their next performance at the Fest. 

Steve and Melanie McCauley, of Wauwatosa, who are both in their 40s, have three daughters who have been dancing alongside their parents with the Glencastle Irish Dancers. 

Bridget Jaskulski opened Glencastle School of Irish Dance in 2000 and now has a steady stream of adult students. Capitalizing on more than 30 years of dance experience, Jaskulski always wanted to open her own school. She sought to follow her dreams while maintaining the flexibility and balance required while raising her family. Jaskulski asserted that such family emphasis drove the success of her school. Jaskulski enjoys the great success of dancers of all ages in performing in both solo and teams. 

Jaskulski began her own Irish dancing career at the age of seven with the Shamrock Club Irish Dancers. She then spent 18 years at the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance as both a student and instructor. She competed in local, regional, national, and world competitions. In 1997, Jaskulski attended the World Championships of Irish Dance in Galway where her team received a gold medal. A year later, she returned to the World Championships where she competed as a solo dancer. In 1988, she earned her TCRG (Irish dancing instructor) certification. 

Jaskulski, whose maiden name is Smith, and her husband William have two children: Colleen, 13, and Nathan,10. Colleen Irish dances, sings and plays basketball and baseball. However Nathan doesn't Irish dance, being more into football, baseball and basketball.

Glencastle is a small town in Co. Mayo where Jaskulski’s great-grandparents were raised. She chose this name for her school as a tribute to her heritage. On the back of the girl dancers’ capes is the Glen Castle crest, which is the image of what the Glen Castle used to look like. Jaskulski needed to get permissions from the town to to use the design for the school’s costumes. 
 
 

The McCauleys got the idea to learn Irish dancing at Irish Fest several years ago when watching their niece dancing with Glencastle. Melanie always wanted to dance and Steve was enthusiastic and supportive, so they decided to enroll. The couple thought the fun and involvement with their kids, the joy and pleasure the Irish culture brings to them, as well as the incredible exercise, would make it a great family activity. Steve reflected that the important thing was the opportunity to spend time with Melanie and to share their activity with the entire family. 

Susan Leverenz, another adult Irish dancer, learned to Irish dance at a studio in Wisconsin’s scenic Lake Country. She decided to try Irish dancing four years ago at the age of 44. She was inspired by her godchild who dances at the McMenamin Irish Dance Academy in Milwaukee. Leverenz said she was getting tired of going to the gym and wanted to try something she always enjoyed watching. Not only was dancing a physical challenge and a nice change in her workout routine, but it was also mentally challenging to learn all the necessary steps. 

Both Melanie McCauley and Leverenz had helpful dance experience. However, Steve, although always been athletic, had no formal dance training. He laughed that his was "an individual style" dancing all those years while following the Grateful Dead. But now, he places well at contests. 

Not everyone who participates in Irish dance classes wants to compete, but the McCauleys enjoy that aspect. "We practice at Glencastle is about once a week during the school year," said Melanie. Classes focus on learning the basic steps, while earning solo material is separate and requires additional practice. This allows students to prepare for events and learn show skills. Many students want to participate and perform at Irish Fest, which requires a great deal of practice since those performances might have as many as 36 adults performing on stage at one time. 

Hours of rehearsing partnered with with immense coordination and skill is required. In addition to scheduled practices at the school, the McCauleys recommend practicing at home. They have set up a dedicated practice space in their finished basement with a hard floor, two walls of mirrors, previous dance awards posted for motivation and encouragement, and of course, the disco ball! That’s a definite "must-have," especially with three dancing daughters, they both laughed. 

In addition to Irish Fest, adult and youth students of Irish dance can compete at feiseanna events. Feis (singular) or feiseanna (plural) are traditional Gaelic arts and culture events that feature music and dance. There are many Milwaukee area feiseanna where dance schools send groups for set dancing as well as individual competitors in solo events. Steve has successfully placed first in the reel and second in the jig in local contests. 

There are other ways to get involved at a feis as well. Leverenz does not compete because she is not affiliated with a formal Irish dance school. She enjoys volunteering at the events and working as a stage monitor, indicating that it was a great way to get absorbed into the Irish culture and community. 

Since male dancers wear kilts, Melanie laughed and said, as a result, "Steve gets different attention than I do." As with any hobby or sport, costs are involved. If the student chooses to perform, a Glencastle costume must be purchased. Men need, yes, a kilt, as well as a uniform shirt and socks for a total estimated outgo hovering around $250. Women’s elaborate dresses are more expensive, featuring the embroidered, custom-done Glencastle design. The design was derived from the Book of Kells, on display in Trinity College Library in Dublin. A woman’s dress costs approximately $600. 

The men wear a soft jazz shoe and the women wear ghillies direct from Ireland at $45-50 for a pair. If the student wants to move into the more advanced hard shoe, which produces a loud, percussive sound, a pair costs at least $125. Once the initial investment is made in the costumes and shoes, the costs taper off. It is rare that an adult grows out of their costumes, unlike the younger dancers. But the jazz and ghillies shoes do wear and need to be replaced occasionally. long with the costumes, the adult classes at Glencastle cost $10 per session. 

The McCauleys’ friends and family enjoy seeing Steve and Melanie dancing at Irish Fest and at other competitions and performances throughout the area. Leverenz, who has always had diverse interests, said that her friends and family were surprised but also very supportive of her Irish dancing. They are more impressed with the fact that she successfully started Irish dancing at this stage in her life. 

"I’ve always wanted to do this since I was a child," said Leverenz. So she did not let her age or inexperience with Irish dancing stop her. Instructor Jaskulski said that that, like Leverenz, many of her adult students always wanted to Irish dance when they were young and now have the opportunity to give it a try. 

Currently, Jaskulski has about 60 adults enrolled in her program, with around 30 interested students for this fall classes. She does not take more than 25 students per class because she wants her teachers to be able to provide attention to each individual. Glencastle keeps a waiting list and begins filling up the following sessions. Students are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. 

The Glencastle adult students perform a great deal, which gets the school name out in the community. Students have thus become Jaskulski’s best advertising and she also receives a lot of interest during Irish Fest from potential students. The dancers perform at retirement homes, schools, bars, fundraisers, and of course, throughout the Milwaukee area on St. Patrick’s Day. 

One of the statements on Glencastle’s website asserts, "We strive to instill the qualities of Family, Respect, Self-Confidence and Fun to each and every dancer that enters our classroom." Jaskulski stands behind this statement in her actions and approach to her school. She said that what works for Glencastle were the "families within the school [who] are good about supporting each other at shows and competitions. It is the families themselves that provide the support structure." Glencastle also has parent/child performances, which demonstrates this support on stage during shows. 

If Irish dancing is in your future, consider the advice of those who are doing it. "If you are bound and determined to get it, you do!" asserted Jaskulski enthusiastically. Her goal is to set all of her students up for success and support them through whatever level of involvement they achieve. Jaskulski summed it up well when she reflected on what she defined as success, "What is dream day in Irish Dance? Having enough hours to run the school. Most teachers would say winning the world’s [championship]." 

Leverenz recommended visiting a school or class to see other adults practicing or to consider going to a ceili at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center in Milwaukee if interested in a social style of Irish dancing. She also suggested taking a class at the Irish Fest Summer School to see what the dance is all about. 

Melanie is enthusiastic about encouraging other adults to join an activity that she loves, saying with assurance, "Dancing is for all ages, shapes and sizes. Do not be intimidated at all." "Get out and try it," echoed Steve, "Everyone starts at a beginning level. You must have patience and realize it is supposed to be fun." 
 
 
 
 

For more dancing details:  Glencastle Irish Dancers, Inc. Bridget Jaskulski www.glencastleirishdancers.com info@glencastleirishdancers.com 1126 S. 70th St., Suite 116B West Allis, WI 53214-3151 Phone: 414-258-0443  Glencastle Adult Dance Schedule @ Irish Fest: Friday, 7:15 p.m., Old Style Stage Saturday, 3:45 p.m., Celtic Rock Stage Sunday, 11:15 a.m., Miller Stage  ICHC Ceili Dancing. First Friday and third Saturday of every month Instruction begins at 7:30 and dancing begins at 8 Cost: $3-7. www.ichc.net 2133 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee Phone: 414-345-8800