Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers
Irish folk dance
The Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Irish Culture, specializing in teaching and demonstrating céili (Irish Folk) dancing. They are one of the oldest Irish dance organizations in San Diego.
In 2011 and 2010, as a grantee in ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program, the Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers presented a series of workshops in the sean nós, or old-style Irish step dance. Performed to Irish traditional music, sean nós is older than the common form of Irish dance popular today. Seen mostly at private and semi-private gatherings, its causal and physically undemanding mode of performance is broadly inclusive and encourages active participation. Master artist Ben Power taught members of the community in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Their performances in turn brought this extempore form of traditional dancing to the Irish community at large, reintroducing participatory celebration of Irish cultural identity.