Celebration features traditional dancing

By JILL JACOBS
Collegian Arts Writer

St. Patrick's Day may have already come and gone, but for those with some leftover spirit, do not fear. There will be an afternoon of traditional Irish song and dance from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

Led by Father Fred Byrne, director of campus ministry of the Penn State Catholic Community, the event will feature live music by Aran, an Irish band from Johnstown. The cost of the event is a free-will donation.

Byrne's aim in planning the event is to promote the importance of the traditional folk culture of one of the largest ethnic groups in America. Many people can trace their roots to Ireland, he explained.

"This type of event helps people get in touch with their roots. And it's a lot of fun --sort of like Irish aerobics," he said.

For many people St. Patrick's Day signifies a time for debauchery and "license," or a sense of freedom because of the occasion. They tend to forget the true significance of the holiday -- to honor the saint who brought Christianity to Ireland, Byrne said.

This type of event honors St. Patrick in more of a significant manner by celebrating Irish culture. The highlight of the afternoon will be instruction in various Irish folkdances by Byrne, including The Haymaker's Jig, The Siege of Ennis, the Rince Morh, a circle dance, and The Walls of Limerick.

"Irish folkdance is very interactive and social," he explained, "it is very similar to American square dancing, which actually has Irish roots."

The Haymaker's Jig, for instance, is the forerunner of the Virginia Reel, a dance that many American students learn in elementary school, Byrne said.

"There will be a combination of performance and audience participation," he said. "Everyone will be involved."

Anybody who knows the dances, is interested in learning or just wants to come out and have some fun is welcome, Byrne said.

Dave Zelis (junior-premedicine), a member of the Newman Catholic Association, attended the event last year.

"It gave us a chance to learn dances from the Irish culture and also gave us a great chance to have fun with our friends and participate in something we never did before," he said.

Byrne has always had a great love for Irish dance and is very eager to share this love with students, he said. He coordinated the first such event last year, which elicited a positive response from the students. This prompted him to continue the event this year. Byrne hopes to make the event a regular tradition in the future, he said.