BLUE ASH — Now that eight teen-age girls from the McGing Irish Dance School are headed to Ireland to compete in the World Irish Dance Championships, their real work begins.

Ceili dancers Mary Kate Reilly (left) and Brianna Blahnik are on the team traveling to Ireland next spring. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        The Ceili (pronounced KAY-lee) Team dancers, who range in age from 13 to 16, need to raise $20,000 by mid-December to compete April 13-20, 2003, in Killarney along with 60 other teams representing eight countries (including 10 teams from the United States).

        The teens, who must pay for airfare, lodging and food on the trip, have earned $1,500 since July in performances at events from bridal showers to Tupperware parties.

        They have danced as a team for five years, and all have been dancing since age 5. They are used to hard work, practicing as a team at least 15 hours per week.

        “To go to Ireland, a team must be among the cream of the crop,” said their teacher, Mary McGing Duckworth, founder and owner of the 400-student school in Blue Ash.

        “I'm confident in these girls because the team has good chemistry and has competed well in other competitions.”

        Last month in Boston, for example, the team finished eighth in a field of 32 at the North American Irish Dance Championships.

HOW TO HELP

To donate or to request a performance ($150) by the Ceili Team of the McGing Irish Dancers, e-mail friendsofirishdance@zoomtown.com or friendsofirishdance@yahoo.com or call (513) 451-6133 or (513) 683-9705. They will perform Sept. 28-29 at the Celtic Festival at Coney Island in Anderson Township.

        Team members are Maggie O'Donald, 13, of Landen; Rachel Stegeman, 15, Covedale; Megan Kenny, 15, Loveland; Jenni Mehl, 15, Blue Ash; Aiden Williams, 15, Mariemont; Mary Kate Reilly, 15, Westwood; Brianna Blahnik, 16; West Chester Township; and Hannah Kuenneke, 15, Delhi Township.

        Although the school has sent solo dancers to the world championship, this is the first McGing-sponsored team that will compete in the event's 25-year history.

        Ceili is a 100-year-old, high-energy Irish dance.

        The teens will perform a cross-reel Ceili dance, a 2 1/2-minute routine that consists of movements similar to American square dancing.

        The girls cannot stop moving during the routine and must remain perfectly synchronized.

        “The kind of camaraderie these girls share involves doing everything together,” said Marilyn Stegeman, Rachel's mother.

        “They're best friends who are willing to pass up school parties and other after-school events so they can dance. At this level, they literally sleep, eat and breathe performing.”

        The girls share a goal of one day participating in nationally acclaimed stage productions such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, and becoming Irish dance teachers.

        “It's like gymnastics or ice-skating,” Mrs. McGing said. “If you commit to it, you have to do it every day at whatever cost to even get to this level.”

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