Posted on Mar 17, 2022
A 15-year-old Black dancer has become a rising star in the competitive world of Irish dancing
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In kindergarten, Imani Johnson’s friends would show off their dance moves on the playground: nimble steps and taps that made a pleasant patter on the ground. This was Johnson’s introduction to Irish dance.
At home, Johnson watched YouTube videos of dancers and imitated their stiff arms and light-footed hops. She was so enthusiastic and persistent that in third grade her mother signed her up for lessons. The YouTube practice paid off: “Everyone told me I was a natural,” Johnson said.
Now 15, Johnson, an Atlanta resident, is one of the best Irish dancers in the country. She placed second in her age group at the U.S. nationals in 2021, won her group in the Southern regionals in 2018 and 2019, and has won more local competitions than her mother can count.
At home, Johnson watched YouTube videos of dancers and imitated their stiff arms and light-footed hops. She was so enthusiastic and persistent that in third grade her mother signed her up for lessons. The YouTube practice paid off: “Everyone told me I was a natural,” Johnson said.
Now 15, Johnson, an Atlanta resident, is one of the best Irish dancers in the country. She placed second in her age group at the U.S. nationals in 2021, won her group in the Southern regionals in 2018 and 2019, and has won more local competitions than her mother can count.
A 15-year-old Black dancer has become a rising star in the competitive world of Irish dancing
Posted from nbcnews.com
Atlanta
Dancing
YouTube
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SP5 Dennis Loberger One Hell of a Cardio Workout! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9KkbU4yStM
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Still, some people outside the dance community aren’t as accepting of the new stars. When Morgan Bullock, a Black Irish dancer from Virginia, went viral on TikTok in 2020 for her dance video choreographed to Megan Thee Stallion and Beyonce’s "Savage" remix, some commenters accused her of cultural appropriation. The then-20-year-old college student shot back by describing her years of dedication and practice.
Though many students are white, “I would say probably over 70 percent of our dancers have no Irish connection whatsoever,” said Emma Burke of Atlanta Irish Dance by Burke Connolly, the dance school Johnson trains in. “I think that’s true for a significant portion of Irish dance schools around the world. A vast majority of it is people who’ve just fallen in love with the dance form.”
Johnson has served as inspiration for younger dancers of color. “I’ve had people come up to me and be like … 'You motivate me to keep dancing because it reminds me that there are people who look like me,’” she said.
Her success hasn’t come easy, though. As a self-described “perfectionist,” Johnson trains hard. In addition to attending group Irish dance classes, she also takes private lessons, and for several summers she’s flown to upstate New York for Camp Rince Ceol, an Irish dance camp. At a recent practice in the Burke Connolly dance school, you could see the rigors of performance. Girls and boys sweat and puffed under the command of guest teacher Claire Regan, a former "Lord of the Dance" performer whose FitJig workshop whips dancers into shape with stamina and strength exercises."...
..."Still, some people outside the dance community aren’t as accepting of the new stars. When Morgan Bullock, a Black Irish dancer from Virginia, went viral on TikTok in 2020 for her dance video choreographed to Megan Thee Stallion and Beyonce’s "Savage" remix, some commenters accused her of cultural appropriation. The then-20-year-old college student shot back by describing her years of dedication and practice.
Though many students are white, “I would say probably over 70 percent of our dancers have no Irish connection whatsoever,” said Emma Burke of Atlanta Irish Dance by Burke Connolly, the dance school Johnson trains in. “I think that’s true for a significant portion of Irish dance schools around the world. A vast majority of it is people who’ve just fallen in love with the dance form.”
Johnson has served as inspiration for younger dancers of color. “I’ve had people come up to me and be like … 'You motivate me to keep dancing because it reminds me that there are people who look like me,’” she said.
Her success hasn’t come easy, though. As a self-described “perfectionist,” Johnson trains hard. In addition to attending group Irish dance classes, she also takes private lessons, and for several summers she’s flown to upstate New York for Camp Rince Ceol, an Irish dance camp. At a recent practice in the Burke Connolly dance school, you could see the rigors of performance. Girls and boys sweat and puffed under the command of guest teacher Claire Regan, a former "Lord of the Dance" performer whose FitJig workshop whips dancers into shape with stamina and strength exercises."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SGT (Join to see) Memories of Growing Up in Cincinnati, OH. Old German Nuns Busting My Chops for Playing with the "Irish". Now in Cincinnati that could Mean Several things, The Nuns would Never Use the N Word but there is a Term "Black Irish", So Yeah I rather Liked Hanging with the Irish Kids and Black/African American Kids and of Course One of My Favorite Rock Artist when I started Out as a Spook was Truly a Black Irishman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC6Cgb8nHwk
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