[caption id="attachment_71742" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Members of the Darrah Carr Dancers entertaining the large crowd. "]
Irish dance has been enjoying a period of renaissance for some years now and the popularity of the form seems set to continue through the coming summer judging by the turnout for, skills and abilities on display at the recent opener in the Irish Arts Center Summer on the Hudson series at Pier 1, Riverside Park South in Manhattan.
The gathering was the eleventh annual New York City Irish Dance Festival and an attendance estimated at 7,500 enjoyed performances from Donny Golden Dancers, Niall O'Leary Dance Troupe, the Hagen School of Irish Dance - including with two recent World Champion dancers - the Keltic Dreams dancers from the Bronx, Darrah Carr Dance and the Niall O'Leary School of Irish Dance.
Music for the performances was provided by Martin O'Connell on button accordion, Conor McGuirk on piano, and Steve Holloway on percussion.
The artistic director of the festival was Niall O'Leary, while the programming and production was carried out by Irish Arts Center.
Other activities on the day included arts and crafts for kids, Irish craft vendors, face painting, a traditional arts tent, sean-nós dance workshop, céilí workshop, set dance workshop, and an Irish language circle.
The summer program is made possible, in part, by funds from Gibbons P.C., the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and New York State Council on the arts, a public agency.
For details on all upcoming festival events go to www.irishartscenter.org.
