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11/19/2019 11:00 PM

Westbrook Dance Academy Irish Step Students Win New England Championships


Briella Dean of East Haddam (left) and Olivia Hartmann from Clinton (right) were crowned as New England champions after putting forth some excellent performances at the Rince Tuatha Nua New England Championships in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Dean and Hartmann were competing on behalf of the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance at Westbrook Dance Academy. Photo illustration courtesy of Westbrook Dance Academy

Olivia Hartmann of Clinton and Briella Dean of East Haddam, members of the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance classes at Westbrook Dance Academy (WDA), competed at the Rince Tuatha Nua New England Championships in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on Nov. 2. Hartmann and Dean came home as New England champions after placing in every event at the championships.

Hartmann and Dean competed against dancers from participating schools throughout New England at the meet. Hartmann competed in the Intermediate U-14 Division, where she placed second in the jig, reel, treble jig, and hornpipe, as well as in the traditional set: St. Patrick’s Day.

Dean competed in the U-11 Division, finishing first in the reel, second in the jig, third in the treble jig, and second in the St. Patrick’s Day traditional set.

In the championship event, Hartmann and Dean once again competed by dancing to 32 bars of music in the reel, jig, and treble jig. Hartmann won the overall title of Third Place U-14 Intermediate New England Champion. Dean claimed the overall title of Fourth Place U-11 Intermediate New England Champion.

Hartmann and Dean then competed in a two-hand traditional Ceili dance, which was a two-person group dance choreographed by their teacher, Casey Krane of Westbrook. After being bumped up to a higher age group, Hartmann and Dean exceeded expectations by winning the title of First Place U-17 Two-Hand Ceili New England Champions.

For more information on WDA, contact 860-664-4308 or westbrookdanceac@aol.com or visit www.westbrookdanceacademy.com. For more information on the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance, email KTMulkerin@aol.com or visit mulkerinirishdancers.com.