VIDEO: Twirling into St. Patrick’s Day with the magic of Irish dance

When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, you probably picture green beer, hearty Irish food, and everyone decked out in their best shamrock-covered outfits.

But there’s one activity that truly captures the spirit of Ireland: Irish dancing.

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Laura Minnock, a Saskatoon dancer originally from Ireland, first caught the dancing bug at a Folk Festival when she was just a kid. Now, after ten years of dancing, Minnock is gearing up to compete in the 2025 World Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin next month.

She knows just how much work goes into perfecting the craft. “There’s a lot of training involved,” she explained. “I have about 10 to 12 hours (per week) in the studio, and then I try to practice for about an hour every single day outside the studio.”

But it’s not all about the hours spent dancing. There’s a deep sense of community among Irish dancers. “I’m very close to my dance teachers, all my friends, and I’ve made so many friends through competing,” she shared.

Nicole Nienaber, co-owner and one of the instructors at River City School of Irish Dance, said that Irish dancing is more than meets the eye. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Ahead of competitions, Minnock and other Irish dancers go through an extensive preparation process. Getting ready for an Irish dance performance involves hours of effort.

“My mom does it. It takes about two hours to do the makeup and the wig,” Minnock explained. The large, curled wig is an essential part of the look. Styled to perfection, it adds volume and height, completing the dancer’s transformation.

Nicole Nienaber, co-owner and one of the instructors at River City School of Irish Dance, said that Irish dancing is more than meets the eye. “It’s definitely a difficult sport!”

It takes about two hours to do the makeup and the wig,” explained Laura Minnock, a Saskatoon dancer originally from Ireland. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Nienaber loves how Irish dancing brings people together, especially those of Irish descent. “I really love the cultural aspect of it. It’s nice to tie back to Ireland and celebrate with people who are like-minded,” she said.

Her school has dancers as young as three years old, and even adult classes to join in the fun. “People are looking to try something outside of the norm, and the cultural aspect of Irish dance resonates with so many people.”

While Irish heritage is certainly a common connection for many dancers, it’s not a requirement. “It ranges from either, yes, they’ve got Irish heritage, or they see us dancing, and they’re like, ‘That looks like something I want to do!’” Nienaber explained. “I have a bit of Irish heritage, but I’m also German, and we have a lot of dancers who don’t have Irish heritage. And that’s the nice thing about it— you don’t have to, but it’s a nice draw.”

Whether you’re Irish by descent or just drawn to the rhythm and culture, Irish dancing welcomes everyone to join in the fun.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk