A feast of Reels, Jigs & Hornpipes from Ireland
Thrilling rhythms of Irish Dancing with traditional tunes
Fiddle, flute, pipes, whistle, bodhran, accordion, guitar & vocals
School Assembly Program
Led by dancer choreographer Máire Clerkin, A Gaelic Gathering was originally created in 2007 for World City, the Music Center’s acclaimed family series at Walt Disney Concert Hall, where it was a smash hit. The six-artist ensemble was developed into a school performance program by funding from the Barbara & Sheldon Pinchuk Fund, with assistance from Barbara Leonard at the Los Angeles Music Center. For students who have never attended a live performance, this riveting assembly can be a transformative experience. Teacher and student feedback has been tremendous. Appealing to all ages, this popular group of dancers and musicians perform lively Reels, Jigs and Hornpipes to excite and educate in equal measure.
The music and dance is interspersed with a spoken cultural background narrative, explaining the instruments' origins; describing the dances; the meaning of the songs; the history of figure and stepdancing which link to many other folk traditions. The program includes interactive rhythm games and participatory singing and dancing. It adheres to California Content Arts Standards.
Sticking with the Standards while Entertaining and Interacting
Artistic Perception
Identify wind, string & percussion instruments; analyze dance movements; learn new vocabulary Creative Expression
Participate in an Irish Dance to live music onstage! Join in lilting to an Irish song! Historical and Cultural Context
Meet the artists from Ireland, England & USA with diverse backgrounds, traditions & roles Aesthetic Valuing
Respond to a live performance with observation and description; discuss your reactions Connections, Relationships, Applications
Discover the relevance of dance and music to our lives; enjoy health and social benefits
The Artists - we have a talented pool from which to draw:
Máire Clerkin - Artistic Director from London, dancer, choreographer. Teacher / Adjudicator with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha; writer-actor, performer of one woman show; founder of UK theatre companies The Hairy Marys, Clerkinworks. Directs drama projects for Irish Dance academies nationwide. Teaching Artist with Los Angeles Music Center and Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Joey Abarta - musician from Los Angeles. Uilleann piper, whistle, and bodhran player currently performing in Limerick, Ireland, following 2nd place triumph on pipes at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2009. International credit: year long Disney residency in Japan.
Michael Patrick Breen - dancer from Ireland and England. He is an actor, Irish dance teacher and choreographer; team titles in Irish Regional and four U.S. National Championships; Southern California Men's Championships.
Helen Donnelly - dancer from Los Angeles. Former Open Champion from the olden days before wigs. Performed extensively with the band Ciunas and appeared at the Ford Amphitheatre and the Queen Mary; she is currently studying for her TCRG Irish Dance Teacher's exam.
Jennifer Keogh - dancer from Dublin, Ireland; silver medalist All Ireland finals, lead dancer Tribute to Maureen Potter, RTE television, Dublin. Qualified masseuse and makeup artist.
Jimmy Murphy - musician from California, guitar, mandolin, vocals. Traditional Irish guitarist, he performs, teaches, and plays in sessions throughout the greater Los Angeles area. International residencies in Japan for Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios.
Kira Ott - Music Director from Southern California, musician, fiddle, vocals and dancer. Performed at the Ford Amphitheater, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, and the CTMS Solstice festival where she taught fiddle workshops; numerous festivals in Ireland.
Frank Simpson - musician, native of Dublin, Ireland, is an award-winning musician who enjoys performing the colorful tradition of Irish music on wooden flutes and whistles. Durfee Foundation Master Musician Fellowship, 2006; Wind Instruments Director for Solstice Festival.
Moira Smiley - musician, vocals, accordion, from Vermont: works internationally as composer-vocalist; leads visionary vocal band, Moira Smiley & VOCO; travels the world as a soloist in early & traditional music and creates new work with dance, theatre & film.
A Gaelic Gathering is available for school assemblies, concerts, recitals and parties. The group can also be hired in tandem with Máire Clerkin's school workshop programs in Traditional, Rhythmic & Creative Irish Dance and Irish Dance Drama.
Máire Clerkin - Artistic Director from London, dancer, choreographer. Teacher / Adjudicator with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha; writer-actor, performer of one woman show; founder of UK theatre companies The Hairy Marys, Clerkinworks. Directs drama projects for Irish Dance academies nationwide. Teaching Artist with Los Angeles Music Center and Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Joey Abarta - musician from Los Angeles. Uilleann piper, whistle, and bodhran player currently performing in Limerick, Ireland, following 2nd place triumph on pipes at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2009. International credit: year long Disney residency in Japan.
Michael Patrick Breen - dancer from Ireland and England. He is an actor, Irish dance teacher and choreographer; team titles in Irish Regional and four U.S. National Championships; Southern California Men's Championships.
Helen Donnelly - dancer from Los Angeles. Former Open Champion from the olden days before wigs. Performed extensively with the band Ciunas and appeared at the Ford Amphitheatre and the Queen Mary; she is currently studying for her TCRG Irish Dance Teacher's exam.
Jennifer Keogh - dancer from Dublin, Ireland; silver medalist All Ireland finals, lead dancer Tribute to Maureen Potter, RTE television, Dublin. Qualified masseuse and makeup artist.
Jimmy Murphy - musician from California, guitar, mandolin, vocals. Traditional Irish guitarist, he performs, teaches, and plays in sessions throughout the greater Los Angeles area. International residencies in Japan for Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios.
Kira Ott - Music Director from Southern California, musician, fiddle, vocals and dancer. Performed at the Ford Amphitheater, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, and the CTMS Solstice festival where she taught fiddle workshops; numerous festivals in Ireland.
Frank Simpson - musician, native of Dublin, Ireland, is an award-winning musician who enjoys performing the colorful tradition of Irish music on wooden flutes and whistles. Durfee Foundation Master Musician Fellowship, 2006; Wind Instruments Director for Solstice Festival.
Moira Smiley - musician, vocals, accordion, from Vermont: works internationally as composer-vocalist; leads visionary vocal band, Moira Smiley & VOCO; travels the world as a soloist in early & traditional music and creates new work with dance, theatre & film.