The Carolina Irish Dance Association is having its Spring Showcase on Sunday in the Student Union from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. It is the group’s biggest event of the year and they will try to entertain students as well as teach them about something that very few people know about.
Most of the time when the group's dancers perform throughout the year, they do so as guest performers. This is the case when they perform at Admitted Student Day, Dance Marathon and various street shows.
The Spring Showcase, however, is distinctly different. It the only time during the year that the dancers are able to feature solo performances instead of only group ones, which allows for the show to be much more unique and diverse.
The showcase will feature a variety of different kinds of music as well as an a cappella dance performance. For some of the dances there will be accompaniment by a live fiddle played by sophomore Waverly Leonard, a member of the Carolina Bluegrass Band. Others will feature songs played over a loudspeaker which will range from traditional Irish music to Irish punk rock and pop music.
There will also be a performance by the UNC Walk-Ons, a co-ed a cappella group, which the dancers said will give them a chance to breathe and change costumes.
The dancers said that, through the variety of these performances, their distinct passion will remain constant.
“I really love the way that all of our dancers just have such a good time while we’re dancing," club Vice President Mollie Sullivan said. "It’s really something that brings people joy, and I think that’s really palpable and that the audience gets really into it.”
Another aspect that makes the Spring Showcase unique is that it is the only time the group is able to perform all of its dances. Not only do the dancers have more time since it is a solo performance, but they also are able to use their soft shoes as well as their hard shoes. Soft shoes are similar to ballet shoes, whereas hard shoes are similar to tap shoes and can be only used at venues that have a specific stage.
The performance will also help students learn more about Irish dance. The event’s emcee and some of the dancers will talk about the history associated with each dance, as well as some if its more technical aspects.
