WORLD CHAMPION DANCERS KICK UP
A BIT O' THE IRISH SPIRIT DURING ANNUAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL
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2/14/2011:
A full day of music and dancers featured at 5th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival at the Orange County Market Place
Costa Mesa, CA--- Three South Orange County based Irish dance schools, all of which have produced regional, national and international champions, will bring a bit of Irish and Scottish culture to the stage during the 5th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival on Sunday, March 13 at the Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa, the weekend swap meet at the O. C. Fair & Event Center. The Festival runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is included in admission.
Each school will perform twice on the Westside Stage during the day long celebration, with each academy in distinctive colorful costumes showcasing their styles of jigs, reels, and soft and hard shoe dance numbers.
Kicking off the dance numbers will be students from the Lake Forest Claddagh School of Irish Dancing performing at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The Claddagh School has eight schools throughout Southern California and one in Salt Lake City, Utah and is under the direction of Máire O'Connell- also a dancer-who moved from Galway, Ireland to California in 1978 to establish the company. Her school now boasts more than 100 North American championship Irish dancers in solo and team events as well as several international champions. The Lake Forest studio is under the direction of Katie Darlington, a credentialed teacher and championship dancer.
Next on stage will be students from the Aniar Academy of Irish Dance of Laguna Niguel with shows at 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. Theresa Thomas LaBlanc and Christine Byrne, co-directors of the Aniar Academy, are credited with bringing Irish dance to South Orange County. Established in 1995, the school has grown to over 150 students and has won numerous championship dancers.
Butler-Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dance of Mission Viejo will round out the Festival dancing with shows at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Considered one of the top Irish dance schools in the world, it was founded in 2003 as a result of a merge between the world-famous Butler-Fearon School of Canada and California, and the O'Connor-Kennedy School in California. Their students have won numerous titles, including North American, Great Britain, All-Scotland, All-Ireland, and World Champion. Several senior dancers with the school have toured with or are currently touring with shows such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
On another stage (ACE Stage presented by KSBR radio) electric cellist Marston Smith of Malibu will perform old Celtic favorites from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Smith uses a unique six stringed electric cello of his own design mounted on medieval battle armor to play what he calls songs of epic romanticism. He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, at Cirque du Soleil, in Las Vegas casinos and at several international jazz festivals.
Strolling entertainment includes Celtic attired stilt walker Joy Halverson of Mission Viejo from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Jeff Abbit of Irvine as Abbit the Average Leprechaun performing Irish magic and comedy from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Green mint ice cream and green lemonade will also be offered.
All entertainment is included with swap meet admission, which is $2, or free for ages 12 and under.
The Market Place, which features nearly 1,000 vendors each weekend, is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also included is an artisans and crafters area, fresh produce, used luxury car sales lot, an abundance of unique products and services, food products and much more in a massive outdoor setting.
Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.ocmarketplace.com or calling (949) 723-6660.
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