Hello! My name is Kira Young, and I am currently studying abroad at University College Dublin (UCD) in Ireland. I am an exercise science and dance major, which means I am dancing all the time at home, from technique class and the CTAD dance concert to my extracurricular dance teams. One of my biggest fears about studying abroad was not the workload; it was that I would not be able to engage in dance. This fear was quickly put aside as Ireland has given me opportunities to engage in movement, while in tandem, allowing me to indulge in their culture through three distinct dance styles.
During orientation week, I was delighted to find an introductory cèilidh for international students. A cèilidh is a type of Irish social dance which emphasizes community engagement and having a good time! When you arrive at the event, they throw you straight into a set of people, lined up and down a big hall. On the microphone, there is a caller who tells you what movements to do in Gaeilge, the Irish language. The hall is filled with energy by musicians playing traditional instruments such as a melodeon, bodhran, and tin whistle. My favorite part of this experience was that I was immediately able to meet new people, hear traditional music, and connect with the native language. While I do not know many words in the Irish language, I now know that “airleacan” means advance or move forward, and “scoir” means retire or move backward.
Another dance form I was able to dip my feet into was Irish step dance through the UCD Dance Society. This society hosts weekly classes and runs a competitive team for Irish dance, emphasizing the importance of this form of dance in Irish culture. In class, we learned an introductory reel. What surprised me most is how physically demanding this style is on the body. From constantly being on the balls of your feet to the incredibly small and fast steps, this form of dance requires a high level of strength, coordination, and stamina.
The third form of dance, and by far my favorite I have learned, is Sean-nós. Sean-nós directly translates to “old style” and is the oldest traditional Irish dance style, predating any type of Irish step dancing you may be familiar with. This type of dance is performed individually and is solely composed of complicated, percussive footwork while the upper body is relaxed, unlike the more rigid Irish step dancing you often see in competition. What makes this style of dance extremely captivating is, most of the time, the performers are improvising steps alongside a musician who is reacting to the steps as they perform. This creates a unique dialogue between the dancer and the musician and the music and the movement. In class, I was able to learn a few basic steps and attempt to string them together, grounding myself in traditional Irish tunes.
By engaging in these diverse, cultural forms of dance, from the social cèilidh to the grounded Sean-nós, I have been able to combine my passion for dance with the culture of Ireland to create a true, immersive education, and as they say here, some good craic (good times)!
Kira Young
Fall 2025
GW Exchange - University College Dublin
Milken Institute of Public Health
Exercise Science & Dance Double Major