Dance away the fear...

"Thanks be to God we have a sense of humour, which helps," says Anna Rooney, commenting on the challenge of learning dance as a beginner. But it's not necessarily one particular God that Anna's referring to, as any number of Gods may well be watching when this multi-cultural dance troupe perform Doors Of Life Under One Umbrella for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Over 20 dancers are putting in ten or more hours a week rehearsing in the Backyard in Moynehall in preparation for getting on stage in front of an audience of thousands in August. They're all adults, all beginners to dancing and they're all living in Co. Cavan but the majority have only moved here in recent years. Where they've come from is important, too, as Good Relations Officer for Cavan County Council Jennifer Hill, coordinator Anna Rooney and dance teacher Lynn Jackson know. It is, in fact, the whole point of the project which is funded through Peace III under the Good Relations project and is to celebrate cultural diversity and promote good relations for all the different cultures now living in Cavan. Far from trying to overlook differences, they're making the most of them. Anna Rooney, who is one of the dancers as well as facilitator, explains how, with dance as their focus, those in the group are learning lots about each other. "It's not only about nationalities; it's different religions and backgrounds as well. People are getting to know about cultures they wouldn't otherwise be familiar with," says Anna. She points out that people with different customs, traditions and ways are not only meeting each other but dancing each other's traditional dance, which can be an eye-opener. "It integrates different styles of music and dance. Within each style of music we have one minute of very traditional music from the countries that are represented here. People from Poland, for example, won't only be doing Polish dance but will dance in other styles too, such as Indian and Arabian, so everyone is learning lots about these cultures and traditions, even from the way you stand and what you wear." Doors Of Life Under One Umbrella will be performed by the group at the official opening ceremony for Fleadh 2010 on Thursday, August 19, when the group will dance their way through the pageant that will make its way down to the Egg Market. They'll perform again on the Sunday evening, on the Peace III Gig Rig. Good Relations Officer, Jennifer, explains that promoting good relations among the different ethnic minority groups in the county and other target groups identified in Peace III plan is the goal. "I thought the medium of dance would be a brilliant vehicle for bringing people together to integrate ethnic minorities and the Irish community and with the Fleadh Cheoil being hosted by Cavan this year, it's a fantastic opportunity," says Jennifer. Eastern Europe, Iraq, India, Africa and Arabian countries are among those represented, by their native people and with their traditional dance. Experienced and well-travelled dance teacher, Lynn Jackon, explains: "There is music and dance to suit each country and one minute of traditional dance to represent that country. The whole thing will culminate under the green umbrella of Ireland, so we finish off with all being united in Ireland." Lynn is hugely impressed with the commitment of her students, who are putting in hours and hours of their own time learning the moves, as well as dancing their differences away at classes. "There's classical, hip-hop, salsa, African, Indian dance... There's a broad mix and they've learnt all these. "I think it's a major thing that they know that there's a show coming up, they're going to be on a stage and they're on their own!," says Lynn. "Children adapt to that and love that attention; for adults it's a slightly different thing, but they're taking it on board. It's the practising that I can't get over. They're taking it very seriously," she says. They also have a lot of volunteers besides the dancers and plan to have a further 50 dancers in the audience, who will help onlookers to join in. "People will be aware that it's not just us dancing, we want them to be part of us, part of one united, multi-cultural Cavan." They've also started making their own costumes from scratch, using recycled materials including CDs. "I think dance has got that energy and buzz about it," says Jennifer. "It's providing a platform for each one of these ethnic minority groups to be proud in who and what they are, to be proud of living in this country and be proud to stand up for their ethnicity and culture." For more events happening around the All-Ireland fleadh, see the Fleadh Focus in The Anglo-Celt every week.