Name: Hope Gallagher
Year: Junior
Major: Communications, PR Concentration
Minor: Music Industry
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Relationship status: Just celebrated my one year anniversary with my boyfriend Patrick!
When did you start Irish dancing? Why?
I started Irish dancing when I was eight. My mom wanted to get us kids more in touch with the Irish side of our culture, and I had seen it in St. Patrick’s Day parades. I always thought it was cool and wondered how they moved their feet so quickly. I hated my first lesson, though. Good thing I stuck with it!
How much time does it take to learn one routine?
It depends on what kind of step or routine you’re learning. A competition step will take 15 minutes to learn the choreography, but will take at least a week of practicing and listening to the music before you can do it full speed–longer if it’s a hard shoe step. A performance routine [group] takes four to six weeks to learn.
What goes into a performance? (Costume, makeup, other dancers…etc.)
For a performance, only the basics are needed for the group: black skirt and shirt, white poodle socks, shoes (around $80), and simple stage makeup. You rarely see a solo Irish dance performance. Culturally, group dances are more entertaining and one rarely sees a solo performed for that purpose. However, competitive Irish dance is kind of ridiculous when it comes to the supplies needed. You need a fake tan on your legs so that the stage lights don’t wash you out ($30), a full wig ($120), two pairs of shoes (up to $180 a pair), a custom-made dress from Ireland (up to $3,000) and heavy stage makeup so the lights don’t wash your face out. Aside from the expensive equipment, the hours practicing are the real work. I used to put in 20 hours a week. A lot of people end up home-schooling because it’s so intensive.
When did you help start the JMU Irish Dance Club? Why?
I, along with three other JMU students, started the club at the beginning of this school year. The greater Irish dance community is connected and involved, so we knew that there were a ton of Irish dancers at JMU. If we were missing the sport that we devoted our lives to in high school, the others must be too. We view this as a great chance to spread our love for the sport and Irish culture with the JMU community. Most U.S. colleges have Irish dance clubs and we were starting to get jealous.
How many people are in the club right now?
We have close to 25 people, I think. Most have never danced before, which is really cool. We hope to teach as many people as possible!
If someone was interested in joining, what would they have to do?
Just show up to a meeting! Look us up on BeInvolved and email someone, or ask to join our Facebook page, JMU Irish Dance Club. We meet Mondays from 7-8 p.m., and no experience is necessary.
You mentioned teaching Irish dance outside of JMU. How much time and commitment does that take?
I teach two hours a week at Dance & Company in downtown Harrisonburg, and spend another two hours a week choreographing and creating lesson plans for my classes.
How many girls/guys do you teach?
In high school I taught around 300 students under the Boyle School of Irish Dance. Here in the ‘Burg I teach 10-15 students. There are more boys involved than you would think, and Irish dance actually used to be an all-male pastime. Now it’s majority female.
Have you ever had the opportunity to perform in Ireland?
My junior year of high school I was lucky enough to compete in the 2012 All-Ireland Championships in Dublin, Ireland. My dad came with me, and it was the experience of a lifetime. I was one of 12 Americans in my age group, two of which were close friends of mine. It was so special to explore my culture on a deeper level while surrounded by people I love, and who I knew were appreciating the experience as much as I was.
Will you continue to dance after graduation?
I already have stepped back from competing, but I would love to continue dancing after graduation, even if just for exercise. I have also toyed with the idea of getting my official Irish dance teacher’s license (TCRG). Not necessarily to be a teacher, but so I have something to show for all my years of work.
What advice would you give to those who have never taken dance or to those who had a late start?
Probably the same advice I would give about any hobby: step out of your comfort zone. Don’t take failures to heart, don’t be afraid to ask for help and if you don’t love it, don’t do it.
What’s your most memorable experience as an Irish dancer?
I have had so many great experiences, and while a lot of those involve competing around the U.S. and Ireland, my fondest memory of my dance career is when I won the in-school competition in 2012. My competitors were my friends and peers. When you train with the same people every day, you see how hard they work and how good they are; you learn to respect them as dancers and as people. Alongside them in class you tend to focus on your flaws and their highlights. Being able to compete against the people I respected most was an honor. Winning was the ultimate flattery.