Students dance their way to cultural understanding

A new class at the Recreation Center offers students a unique way to exercise, have fun and learn about another culture at the same time.

Sally Wright, assistant director of recreational sports, said the Recreation Center has always tried to incorporate new and different kinds of classes into its programs. The new Irish dance class is the first of its kind being offered at the university.

“We’ve got a number of different styles of dance or dance genres that kind of represent different cultures and different forms,” she said. “It really adds to the menu of options that we have in terms of being able to expose the students to something new and something different, which is always good on a college campus.”

Alanna Ni Nhiochain, the class’ instructor, said she started dancing in Ireland when she was 4 years old. She said she came to America to teach Irish culture and language in the university’s English department.

 “This dancing has just sort of suited me always in life,” Nhiochain said. “It’s just something I’ve always loved. It’s a lot of high energy as well so it’s a great way to keep fit.”

Ni Nhiochain came to Carbondale in August from Leixlip County Kildare, Ireland, on a cultural exchange scholarship.

The scholarship requires her to teach Irish culture and language classes in the English department.  She said she sees teaching Irish dance as a natural extension of teaching Irish culture.

“Basically, every town in Ireland has at least one Irish dancing teacher,” she said. “I felt that there was a gap that people weren’t teaching this.”

Ni Nhiochain brought her idea to Wright, who agreed that the class would be a good opportunity for students.

“She approached me and I thought that it would really add to the menu of options that we have in terms of being able to expose students to something new and something different,” Wright said.

The class teaches the basics of both ceili and set style Irish dancing.  Ni Nhiochain said both styles are similar but have distinct differences.  She said that ceili dances are usually danced in groups of three or four.

Ni Nhiochain said the point of the class is to have fun.

“It’s not solo dancing so it’s a great way to make friends,” she said. “It’s something that’s pretty easy to pick up and you don’t need a lot of coordination to get this.”

Kathleen Richards can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 262.