Irish Dancer From Anne Arundel Wins North American Title, Qualifies For World Championship

MONTREAL, CANADA — An Irish dancer from Severna Park recently won the North American title for 11-year-olds. She will now compete in the world championship in spring 2023.

The winner, Isabella Renzi, began dancing when she was 9 after attending a trial class with her sister.

“I wanted to start taking classes right away,” Renzi said in a press release. “I loved the style of dance. It seemed like a lot of fun.”

Renzi takes lessons at the McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance, which has a studio in Millersville.

“It’s incredible to think that Izzy only started with us two years ago,” said John Lawrence Morgan, who is one of Renzi's instructors. “Her work ethic is exceptional. Her attention to detail and ability to refine her dances are testament to her success.”

Renzi previously took home the under-11 girls' title at the Southern Region Oireachtas in December 2021. She also won several local competitions called feiseanna.

This time around, Renzi had to beat 80 dancers to claim the North American title. Each competitor performed one dance with soft shoes and another with hard ones. The judges recalled the top half of each division for a solo set dance.

The North American Irish Dance Championships took place from July 1 through July 5 in Montreal, Canada. The event featured dancers from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

“The competition was filled with really talented dancers, and I just wanted to go out there and dance my best,” Renzi said. “I have the best teachers in the world, and I’m so thankful to them for helping me prepare for such a huge competition, and for their continuous faith in me. They are always pushing me to achieve my goals, and winning NANs was a dream come true.”

The Anne Arundel County native was also on the 20-person drama team that earned first place for its performance of “The Belle of Belfast.” Morgan choreographed this dance drama about a storm that destroyed a school's roof and led a teacher to compete in a beauty pageant to win the prize for being the “Belle of Belfast.”

The drama team also won the Oireachtas, or regional, championships in 2018 and 2019. The squad claimed the North American title in 2018 and 2022. It scored the world prize in 2019 and 2022.

“I was so happy for this drama team completing its final performance of ‘Belle of Belfast’ in Montreal,” Morgan said. “Now they can say they are regional, world and now national champions. Effectively, once again winning the ‘grand slam’ of titles.”

Along with its Millersville studio, the McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance has locations in:

• Bethesda, Maryland
• Damascus, Maryland
• Frederick, Maryland
• Falls Church, Virginia
• Fairfax Station, Virginia
• Charleston, South Carolina

Thirteen of Renzi's teammates at the McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance also qualified to compete in the world championship. Those other dancers are:

• Aisling Reynolds, 1st place, girls under 14
• Jessie Welgos, 2nd place, girls under 16
• Annabelle Baker, 3rd place, girls under 14
• Meghann Mullarkey, 4th place, girls under 18
• Ciara Foley, 6th place, girls under 10
• Patrick Gareau, 6th place, boys under 17
• Gabrielle Brown, 8th place, girls under 11
• Reilly Savage, 8th place, girls under 15
• Shawn Dongieux, 9th place, boys under 19
• Bridgette Hettinger, 9th place, girls under 10
• Kendall Smith, 14th place, girls under 15
• Rory Kipp, 15th place, girls under 15
• Kate Doherty, 16th place, girls under 11

The World Irish Dancing Championships are scheduled for April 2, 2023 through April 9, 2023. That event will also be in Montreal.

Related: 4 Irish Dancers From Anne Arundel Advance To World Championship