Details
FREE (reservations encouraged)Date(s)
Sun, May 6, 2018
1:00pm
Contact
Box Office
888-616-0274
boxoffice@irishartscenter.org
Phone hours:
10am-6pm, Monday-Friday
In person:
Opens 60 minutes before the performance on show days
Location
Please note this event is NOT at Irish Arts Center.
Venue:
Riverside Park South
Pier I at W 68th Street
New York, NY 10023
Overview
RAIN OR SHINE!
In the event of rain, the festival will take place in the sheltered basketball court area behind Pier I.
Curated by Niall O’Leary TCRG, ADCRG
We return to Riverside Park South to kick off the Summer-on-the-Hudson series and celebrate all aspects of Irish dance and culture. Enjoy a day filled with free performances from top Irish dance companies and learn the difference between sean-nós, céilí, and step dance with opportunities for all to join in.
Performers include festival favorites Donny Golden Dancers, Niall O’Leary Dance Troupe, Darrah Carr Dance, and Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance, plus special guests. With music and Irish language lessons, children’s crafts, face-painting, and more, this is one for the whole family to enjoy.
Free and open to all!
2018 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
MAIN STAGE
Live Music All Day
Matt Mancuso (of the Eileen Ivers band, on fiddle and guitar), Annmarie Acosta (keyboards and accordion), Seagda Coyle (button accordion), and Tara O’Grady Band.
1pm Aherne Sheehan School of Irish Dance
Music by Matt Mancuso (fiddle) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards).
1:30pm Céilí Dancing!
Everyone out on the floor to learn some traditional group dances! Music by Matt Mancuso (fiddle) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards).
1:55pm Percussive Dance Jam
Everyone out on the floor for a step-about led by Niall O’Leary. Music by Matt Mancuso (fiddle) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards).
2pm Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance Performance
Music by Matt Mancuso (fiddle) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards and accordion).
2:30pm Niall O’Leary Fun Dance: Celtic Tap Improv
Join in and learn! Music by Matt Mancuso (fiddle).
3pm Donny Golden Dancers Performance
Music by Seagda Coyle (button accordion) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards and accordion).
3:30pm Andrew Vickers Percussive Dance Performance
Music by Seagda Coyle (button accordion) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards and accordion).
3:35pm Interview with and Performance by Melanie Valdes
1st place in the “Ladies under 20” category at the World Irish Dancing Championships of 2018. Music by Seagda Coyle (button accordion) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards and accordion).
3:40pm Percussive Dance Jam
All percussive dancers invited to join in! Led by Andrew Vickers. Music by Seagda Coyle (button accordion) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards and accordion).
3:45pm Donny Golden Fun Dance
Everyone out on the dance floor! Group dancing for all ages. Music by Seagda Coyle (button accordion).
4:15pm Darrah Carr Dance Performance
Music by Tara O’Grady Band.
4:35pm Evening-Ending Céilí, Part 1
Everyone out on the floor for some fun and easy group dances! Music by Seagda Coyle (button accordion) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards).
5:40pm Niall O’Leary Irish Dance Troupe Performance
Music by Seagda Coyle (button accordion) and Annmarie Acosta (keyboards).
6pm Evening-Ending Céilí, Part 2
MUSIC & LANGUAGE TENT
1:15pm Traditional Irish Music
2:15pm Irish Language for Beginners
3:15pm Irish Song Circle
CHILDREN’S ARTS & CRAFTS TENT
1-5pm Face Painting
1-4pm Arts and Crafts
STEP RIGHT UP! TENT
Ask a professional Irish dancer anything you’d like to know!
Try on Irish dance shoes or a traditional costume and take a picture,
strike a pose!
Please note: main stage schedule is subject to change.
Funding for the 17th Annual NYC Irish Dance Festival is also provided by the Charles Lawrence Keith & Clara Miller Foundation and the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
Our Supporters
Irish Arts Center programs are supported, in part, by government, foundation, and corporate partners including Culture Ireland, the agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide; public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and the New York City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; Howard Gilman Foundation; Tourism Ireland; the Jerome L. Greene Foundation; the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation; the Charina Endowment Fund; the Ireland Funds; the Shubert Foundation, Inc.; the Arnhold Foundation; the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; the Irish Institute of New York; the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, New York; Northern Ireland Bureau; Invest NI; CIE Tours; M&T Bank; the Dead Rabbit; the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate of Ireland in New York; and thousands of generous donors like you.
