Learning traditional steps

Vegas school teaches Irish dances

Butler Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dance instructor Shelly Locklier helps Katelynn Canale with her form, April 23. Photos by Jim Miller/VIEW From left, Nicole Blubaugh, Katelynn Arndt and Miranda Hales work on their dance routine at the Butler Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dance, April 23. Advertisement

Stepping onto the hardwood floor, the girls become excited, because they know they're about to soar. The transformation begins to take place in each of them as they change into their poodle socks and ghilles, soft dance shoes, from their sandals and tennis shoes. Smiles creep even wider as they begin to stretch and practice their moves. Dance instructor Shelley Locklier begins to lead the class in a warm-up, and the transformation is complete -- they are dancers again.

The Butler Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dance caters to students of all ages and skill levels, from beginner to those interested in competition. On a Monday evening, young dancers gathered for a class at the Threshold Dance Studio, and they showed each other what it takes to be a dancer. Classes are held at this school, 4780 W. Harmon Ave., Suite 10, on Mondays, and at the Summerlin Dance Academy, 1181 S. Buffalo Drive, Suite 130, on Wednesdays.

Kendra Taylor, a fairly new student, said that she had practiced Irish dancing for "maybe a year." The young lady practiced right along with the other girls, of which there were about 10.

"She's trying to learn the reel," classmate Analiese Bernhard said of Taylor. The reel, a basic Irish step dance, is measured in two-four time. Taylor and classmate Katelyn Canale practiced the new routine with their instructor, while the more advanced girls perfected their moves on other dances.

"It's a fun class where the kids get to learn culture and tradition," Locklier said.

Bernhard, who is 6, has been Irish dancing for four years. Her favorite sequences are the reel, treble jig and single jig.

Lauren Petrosky, also 6, has been dancing since she was 3. Petrosky enjoys entering Irish dance competitions and often places in the contests. "I get first place in some of them, and second in some," she said of her competition history.

One of the more advanced dancers, Nicole Blubaugh, also competes in the Irish dance competitions, or a feis as they are called. Blubaugh, 24, has been practicing the Irish dancing for "about 10 years."

"I saw it at a St. Patrick's Day parade, and I wanted to learn," Blubaugh said. "I really like it. The steps are great."

Blubaugh, who admittedly "is more in it for the competition," recently placed third at the preliminary championship level during the Golden State Feis in San Francisco. Preliminary championship is the second highest level in the world of Irish dancing, according to Blubaugh.

Instructors Vinny O'Connor and Locklier take turns teaching the dance students each Monday and Wednesday, and practices at the dance school range from one to two hours, depending on students' skill level and competition schedule. O'Connor also is one of the owners of the school, which has been operating since 1999, and flies in once a week from San Francisco to teach the girls.

"In Irish dancing, we're one of the largest schools," Locklier said. "We have classes all over California and Canada."

"We work on drills, specific movements, and we break apart dances to work on problem spots," Blubaugh said. "But it's mostly just practice. We've got quite a spread of levels here."

For all that practice, students wear comfortable clothing, usually a T-shirt and shorts, but for competitions or performances, female students get all glammed up.

"We have a school uniform. It's black and it has designs on it," Petrosky said.

"The designs are acrylic knots," said student Cicely Bunker. "They're red, white and yellow."

The uniform is a traditional dress that Irish dancers wear when they perform. The students also wear an Irish wig when in front of a crowd, which usually features a head full of ringlets.

The Butler Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dance feels more like a family than anything else, when watching the girls interact. One student, Katelynn Arndt, 13, helps keep the younger girls quiet and shows them how to be respectful during class.

"We're kind of all just one big happy family," Arndt said.

For more information on classes at the Butler Fearon O'Connor school, call 270-3932 or visit www.fearon-oconnor.com.