For Irish Dance Academy, It's A Year-Long Dream

Fedelmia Mullan Davis has spent four decades teaching Irish dancing. Tonight, patrons of the Middlesex County Fair will get a chance to check out her handiwork firsthand. The Davis Academy of Irish Dancing will perform at the fair on Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 7 p.m.

It’s the third year the Academy will perform at the annual event, which is one of the highlights the students look forward to each year. “The girls have always had fun and enjoyed the feedback from the audiences at the fair,” said Mary Ellen Ahr, class mom for the Academy’s Old Bridge/East Brunswick location.  “And after their performance, many of the dancers and their families stay and enjoy the rest of the fair.”

Old Bridge/East Brunswick is the more local of the Academy’s two locations with regard to the fair. “We have about 60 dancers in two locations,  Hillsborough and East Brunswick/Old Bridge,” Ahr said. “The youngest student is 5 years old and our senior dancer is (Mary Ellen’s daughter) Caitlin Ahr who is 21 years old.  She is looking forward to transitioning from an Irish dance student to becoming an Irish Dance teacher at the Davis Academy."

Fairs and exhibitions are certainly fun for the dancers, but it's only a portion of the Davis Academy experience. There’s also a highly competitive side to the world of Irish dancing.

“Competition is an integral part of the Davis Academy of Irish Dance,” Ahr said. “Local competitions, called feisanna are held almost every weekend.  Students dance solo competitions at these and choose how often and in which feisanna they want to participate.  Larger competitions also take place regionally, nationally and internationally. 

“Team dances, known as ceili dancing, is done at these as well as solo competitions.  Dancers who participate in these large competitions are at the top levels of dance: Preliminary and Open Championships.” 

Ahr notes that The Davis Academy has produced several champions across a range of regional, national, and international competitions.  “These include the Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition known as the Oireachtas, the North American Nationals, the All-Ireland Championship, the Great Britain Championship, and the World Championship,” she said.

At the end of the day, the true benefits of Davis Academy of Irish Dancing manifest themselves within the individual.

“My daughter, Caitlin, has been dancing with Mrs. Davis since 1997,” Ahr said. “Through Irish dance, she has learned about her heritage.  She has kept herself physically fit, and developed so many friendships with other dancers from around the country and overseas. 

“Caitlin has learned to be a competitor, accepting successes and losses with dignity and sportsmanship.  But, what I find the most remarkable is Caitlin's ability to step out onto a world-class stage and envelope herself in the dance with such poise and confidence.  That strength is something that she will maintain and continue to use to achieve success throughout her life.”

For more about the Davis Academy of Irish Dancing, visit them online at http://www.thedavisacademy.com/.

The county fair is being held at the 4-H Fairgrounds on Cranbury Road.