“My father was born in Ireland, so I am second generation Irish. It was important to me to portray this in these Irish dancing images with references to many aspects of many Celtic heritage throughout, including crowns, capes and belts with layering and textures of fabric in a performance as well as my tradition Irish dance ghillies. Many of the images also include professional dance wear specifically meant to move in including jazz shoes, point shoes and barefoot.
My Irish dancing heritage dates back to Ireland when my grandmother, Jackie Kennedy, began running her dance company in 1951 when she was a ballerina.
The historical significance of Irish Dance dates back to the 1700s. There was a formal acknowledgment of Irish Dance in Ireland, however before that during the oppression, Irish dancing was completely banned in order to remove Irish culture from the lives of the people there including sport, language, music and song.
Therefore, Irish dancing became the defiance of the very rich and it is this Irish heritage that holds an unstoppable connection to my heart. Kennedy Dance Company represents a culmination of my deep family roots to Ireland and the contemporary American, French, Indian and modern aspects of my dance training and teachings today.”
~Carolyn Culea, owner of Kenney Dance Company in Milwaukee, WI.
