Anne Arundel Performers Win Big In Irish Dancing Contest, Advance To World Championship

GREENSBORO, NC — Four Irish dancers from Anne Arundel County advanced to the North American and world championships after winning honors at a regional competition earlier this month.

Isabella Renzi of Severna Park took home first place in the U11 girls division. Annabelle Baker, also of Severna Park, placed second in her class. Alexandra Barnet of Davidsonville and Leila Frederick of Crofton additionally earned spots in the North American and world contests.

The quartet moved on after their performances at the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America Southern Region Oireachtas. That competition was held in Greensboro, North Carolina during the first week of December.

The world contest is slated for this spring in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The North American championship will follow this summer in Montreal, Canada.

The performers all take classes at the McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance. The school offers lessons in Millersville and several other towns across the DMV.

“It’s hard to believe this is the first time Izzy has competed on the big Oireachtas stage,” said John Lawrence Morgan, a teacher at the academy. “Last year, she prepared to compete but suffered [an] injury and had to pull out just weeks before the competition. She’s been thinking about that for a year. When she stepped on the stage, I knew she was going to be fabulous.”

Three other dancers from the McGrath Morgan Academy also won first place in their groups. Those victors are:

• Ciara Foley: The U9 girls champion from Burke, Virginia
• Aisling Reynolds: The U13 girls champion from Manassas, Virginia
• Jessie Welgos: The U15 girls champion from Boyds, Maryland

“I am very proud of all of the hard work of these dancers and am looking forward to [taking] them to compete on the national and world stages," Morgan said.

More information about the McGrath Morgan Academy is available at mcgrathirishdance.com.

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