Jordan Lukas Grubidge of Coon Rapids became interested in Irish dance when he saw a friend at school practicing. Jordan, who is 7 years old, studies Irish dance with O’Shea Irish Dance and also studies at the Center for Irish Music (playing harp and whistle). Jordan is a dedicated student, attending classes a few times a week, practicing every day and he tells us that “I stretch a lot.”
Jordan reinforced his interest in Irish dance by spending a long time sitting by the musicians at his first feis and watching the dancer’s feet. He tells us “This is when I really started to love Irish dance and music because I saw it come together and it was really beautiful.” Soon after, he began his study of Irish music at the Center for Irish Music. Jordan is delighted with his dance teachers at O’Shea; he tells us that Miss Natalie O’Shea has “helped me learn my basics and understand how my muscles work together in my dancing” and that Cormac O’Se’s choreography helps him “do what I love best – showing off my fancy moves.” He says that his teachers believe in him and encourage him to do his best all the time. His recommender tells us that he is intense in his study of Irish dance – taking advantage of ‘free time’ to do extra practice and spending extra time at major competitions to watch the ‘big kids’ – “and during the breaks in their dancing, he would stand up and try out some of the fancy moves they would make.”
Jordan has shared his dancing in community – participating in his school talent show and cultural night, dancing at Irish Fair and IMDA’s Day of Irish Dance as well as being part of O’Shea’s holiday shows. Jordan is already an active volunteer, helping at the Center for Irish Music’s Éigse gala and being part of Irish outreach events throughout the year.
Jordan used his IMDA Educational Grant for training and for travel expenses for Nationals in Vancouver, BC. He tells us that he enjoys traveling to majors, where he gets to watch and learn from great dancers across the country. He tells us “Every time I dance, my love of the sport and the Irish culture grows and grows.”
The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to help this dedicated young dancer continue to pursue his goals.