Dancers ready to dazzle in St. Patrick's Day events

By Laurie Gordon
BYRAM — The An Clar School of Irish Dance perpetuates the age-old art of Irish dancing by teaching it to young people. Around this time of year, the school is very busy, as the coming of St. Patrick's Day brings out a little “green” in everyone.
The school is the brainchild of owner and instructor Lexa Hickey. She opened the Byram An Clar in 2012 and has had dancers thrive in competitions and above all, have a lot of fun doing so. When it come to this month schedule, these Irish dancers have their own version of basketball's “March Madness.”
The An Clar dancers will march in both the Morris County Parade (this Saturday, March 11) and the Sussex County Parade (next Saturday, March 18) as well as do 19 performances between the school's two locations over the next two weeks. “We performed at the Irish Breakfast for the Sussex County Parade on March 4 at the Irish Cottage Inn and we also will be performing at several corporate events, senior centers (The Oaks in Denville & Bristol Glen,) Montclair Golf Club, Salt Gastropub, St. Jude’s Parish, and Hackettstown High School’s Multicultural Night to name a couple of them over the next couple of weeks,” Hickey said. They will also be performing with Danú on Sunday March 19 at the Newton Theater.
Of the parades and appearances in which her school participates come March, Hickey said, “As hectic as this time of year can be for myself and the dancers, I find it’s so important to keep this tradition alive. The dancers spend the entire year training for competitions and are in competitive mindset, it’s a welcomed change of pace I remember my years dancing and while I was very fortunate to have a very successful competitive career the things I look back on most is the memories from performances.”
She added, “When I meet up with my friends from dance the things we continue to talk about are those memories from all the performances. This is something I find extremely important to teach to my dancers, that in the future that yes you will look back at your dance career and remember your successes in competition but what they remember most is the memories that they have made with what become your lifelong friends. It gives me pure joy to be able to give my dancers multiple opportunities to perform not just during the month of March but throughout the entire year.”
When it comes to the parades, she said the biggest challenge is the unpredictable weather.
“There have been years it has been bitterly cold and snowing and other times unseasonable warm and sunny. For both parades keeping an eye on the weather forecast is key because depending on the weather I have to make the final call if the dancer will wear their costumes or if I opt to have them wear the school apparel. Regardless though the dancers and myself enjoy the parades because it’s different from what they do all year with competitions and other performances.”
This year in each of the two parades there will be roughly 25-30 dancers marching.
Irish dancing is a big deal. Students put in many hours and if they work hard, the dedication pays off. For instance, An Clar dancer, Ainsley Clinton, who trains three days a week at the Byram studio and other days at the An Clar Albany studio qualified for the World Championships at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Oireachtas in November 2016. She will be competing in Dublin, Ireland next month.
Hickey got her start Irish dancing in Wharton, and went on consistently to place in the Top 5 at the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas (7 consecutive times in 1st place), and numerous Top 10 and Top 5 placements at the North American Championships, Great Britain Championships, All-Ireland Championships, & World Championships; her highest & most memorable placement being 3rd at the 2008 World Championships in Belfast. In April of 2009, Hickey auditioned for Riverdance and received a spot in the 15th Anniversary tour with the Boyne troupe.
An Clar provides a positive, fun environment for children to learn about the Irish culture through Irish dance. Classes will help improve a child’s confidence, balance, and stamina while providing structure and discipline. Students are given quality instruction in the basics and traditions of Irish Dance through solo and ceili dancing.
MORRISTOWN ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
This Saturday, head East on Route 80, then South on Route 287 to Morristown for a St. Patrick's Day Parade and festivities. It's this parade's 38th year and it kicks off with Iat 10:15 with music by “The Blarney Session” followed by Introductory Ceremonies. A welcome by the Mayor and his wife will follow then at 11 am, Drew University's Doctorial Candidate, Kelly Morgan, will talk about “Irish Americans in WW 1.” More music and Irish dancing will follow with the parade kicking off at 12 noon.
SUSSEX COUNTY ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
The Sussex County Parade will be held down Spring Street, in Newton, and will start at 11:30 am next Saturday, March 18. Former Franklin Mayor Dr. Paul Crowley will be this year's Sussex County St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal. Crowley traces about 95 percent of his family history back to Ireland. Dr. Crowley is a graduate of St. Mary’s School (Nutley), Essex Catholic High School, St. Peter’s College and Rutgers School of Dentistry. He has resided in Franklin Borough for 36 years with his wife, Carol.. Throughout the years, Dr. Crowley has volunteered on many community boards and organizations, including 8 years as mayor and is a member of Immaculate Conception parish. Dr. Crowley is a dentist and also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve. This will be the 14th year for the parade in Sussex County.