PEORIA — Each year, March means the first day of spring and a bevy of St. Patrick’s Day deals at local bars and pubs. But for Erin Rockhold, the third month of the year doesn’t necessarily mean a pint of Guinness with corned beef and cabbage — it means jigs and traditional Irish music.
Rockhold owns the Isle of Erin Irish dance studio in Peoria, where she also serves as creative director. Naturally, March is the busiest time for her dancers.
“We put on a show, and I educate the people sitting in front of me what it’s like to be an Irish dancer,” Rockhold said.
The studio has grown since it opened eight years ago, and Rockhold now teaches a variety of Irish dance classes for students just beginning to learn, as well as those looking to compete at the national and international levels.
“I just love dancing — the feel of it, the music,” said Annaliese Springer, who has been dancing at Isle of Erin for more than five years. “It’s taught me so much, like hard work, effort, perseverance.”
Springer, 20, said Irish dance provides her with an emotional tie to her grandfather, who had Parkinson’s disease and passed away when she was younger.
“When I started Irish dance about five years ago, studies started coming out saying how we can use Irish dance for therapy for Parkinson’s,” Springer said. “I always think of my grandpa when I dance now. ... That therapy side of it is something I want to invest in in the future.”
Rockhold’s longtime friend and dance companion Angie Gin also helps teach lessons. She said she was influenced by the popular 1990s dance shows “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance” when she was growing up.
“I just enjoy it,” Gin said. “I didn’t want to give it up, I’m not going to give it up.”
One of Rockhold’s favorite aspects of Irish dance is the way she sees it empowering her young dancers — specifically the girls.
“I’m very body-positive and self-positive,” Rockhold said. “I compare all of the people I have at my dance studio to flowers. Just because a daisy, a sunflower and a rose look different, smell different, they bloom at different times of the year ... it doesn’t mean they’re not flowers and that they’re not beautiful.”
Jessi Guzman, 21, said people she meets often don’t believe Irish dance should be considered a sport. But she’s even more empowered when she has the chance to show them the skill and endurance it takes to be an Irish dancer.
“When I say I Irish dance, people think it’s weird,” Guzman said. “But when they see me Irish dance, they always say, ‘That’s so cool.’”
To Rockhold, the reward comes in being able to make what she loves accessible and fun for anyone in the central Illinois area.
“My mother cleaned toilets so she could afford for me to take Irish dance lessons,” Rockhold said. “That’s the main reason I teach Irish dance. My goal is to level the playing field for all those kids so those parents don’t have toilets to clean. ... Everyone should be allowed to dance if they want to.”
Dancers from the studio will perform in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Downtown Peoria, which kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday. Later that day, they will also perform at 2:30 p.m. at the St. Augustine Manor, 1301 NE Glendale Ave., as well as at 6 p.m. at the Fox Pub & Cafe, 7800 N. Sommer St.
Isle of Erin Irish dance studio is located at 1227 W. Glen Ave.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20180316/right-time-of-year-to-dance-irish-jig
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