By Emily Von Buttlar
Executive Features Editor
Junior Harper Haase’s interest in Irish dancing first sparked after seeing the dance first-hand.
Haase began taking lessons when she was seven years old and started partaking in competitions at eight. Originally, she wasn’t planning on competing, but her mindset changed after her teacher encouraged her to compete. Haase currently competes and takes lessons at “Debarra” in Manhattan Beach. While she lived in Vermont, she danced for Heather Morris School of Dance, whose performers piqued her interest in Irish dancing during a show. Although Haase’s dad’s family is Irish, she is the first Irish dancer in her family. Her parents encourage her to pursue the hobby.
“[Irish dancing] was something kind of new, and I think they like the cultural aspect of it and watching it,” Haase said. “It’s super fun to watch.”
Haase also practiced ballet when she was around four years old along with jazz and hip-hop. According to Haase, she decided to stop practicing these styles of dance to focus on Irish dancing instead. Despite her long dedication, Haase does not plan to continue competing through college, but may continue to take lessons. Over the 10 years of her dedication, she has participated in over 50 competitions.
“I definitely love performing and competing,” Haase said. “ I never really lost interest in [Irish dancing]. I feel like with ballet it got kind of slow sometimes and with the other styles of dance, I just wasn’t [as] passionate about [them].”
Haase participated in her first feis Irish dance competitions when she was eight years old. Although dancers more commonly start with smaller competitions, Haase’s teacher entered her into the New England championships where she placed second. In late November, she competed in the Western Region Oireachtas in Arizona with two types of Irish dances, SlipJig and TrebleJig.
“I didn’t think I would have placed as high as I did for it being my first competition, so I was super excited,” Haase said. “The most memorable competition was about two months ago; it was the first competition that everyone from my school was competing at, which made it a family-ish moment.”
According to Haase, having everyone from her school be at the St. Ambrose feis and congratulate her on her first-place win was very memorable as only a couple dancers from each school usually go to each feis. Competitors in the even-numbered age group compete with Reel and Hornpipe, whereas competitors in the odd-numbered age group compete with SlipJig and Treble Jig. They begin to learn these dances in January and end in March, leaving the rest of the year for the perfection of their steps.
“For now, it’s something that I would prefer [to] focus on on my own, but if there are people that want to learn, they could definitely reach out to me,” Haase said.
The solo dresses used for competitions are made by Lucy Emmanuel, but they can also be bought used. Debarra now uses Emmanuel for most of their dress making, despite Emmanuel’s residency in England.
“The judging is super subjective; if you have an older judge and you have more modern steps, then they won’t like that as much,” Haase said. “You can be first one day and last the next day, which is super unpredictable.”
Haase’s steps are more modern yet still incorporate some traditional aspects as her teacher, Tara Barry-Phalen, likes to experiment with new moves and rhythms. Competitors are judged on whether or not their feet are turned out and if they’re legs are together. In hardshoe dances, the judging is more focused on the beats made.
“Getting back into the studio is the best thing you can do,” Haase said. “Not really focus on what the outcome was because you can’t really change it, and focus on your next competition.”
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