Kyle Partin, center, wins the Mean Ghrad Award. Belisama Artistic Director Adrienne Bellis is at far right. Courtesy photo
Deena Rice, left), Elaina Bossert, center, wins the Ard Ghrad Award. Belisama Artistic Director Adrienne Bellis is at far right. Courtesy photoBID News:
Belisama Irish Dance traveled to Washington, DC in February to compete in the CRN North American Irish Dance Championships.
Fifteen Belisama dancers competed over three days, and all 15 won or placed in their solo dances.
Top awardees include Kyle Partin, who won the first-place award at Mean Ghrad, and Shannon Kossmann, Celia Kessler and Elaina Bossert, who all took first place in their Ard Ghrad Award and became Open Champions in their respective age groups.
Winning at this level moves them up to Craobh Ghrad, the highest level of Irish dance.
Kossmann also won first place in the North American Championship for her age group. Skye McDiarmid, Deena Rice and Sydney Schoonover placed highly in their Awards and Championships as well.
Six dancers in all are qualified to go the World Open Championships in Ireland in June 2013.
Other Los Alamos dancers who won or placed in their solo dances and Awards are Lauren Partin, Sydney Schoonover, Darcy Turin and Orli Shlachter.
New Mexicans can see all of Belisama’s National Championship dancers perform live in their 7th annual Rhythm of Fire St. Patrick’s Day concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15 at The Lensic in Santa Fe.
One night only, this performance will feature live Irish music by Jono Manson, Mark Clark, Adrienne Bellis and Maria Jones. Rhythm of Fire will also star Michael Patrick Gallagher, former World Champion and lead of Riverdance.
“We are thrilled to be performing at The Lensic in March, Artistic Director Adrienne Bellis said. “It is the place to be in Santa Fe to see a great show, and it’s exciting to be included in that energy! It’s also part of a well-known circuit of beautifully restored small theaters in the Southwest that I’ve always wanted to explore with the company. There’s something about having the experience of dancing in such a historic setting that is really special.”
Tickets are $20 at www.ticketssantafe.org or 505-988-1234 (discounts available.) The box office and theater are at 211 West San Francisco St.
