Penk O’Donnell Irish Dancers
Enjoy Standing Ovation After Show
NORTH VANCOUVER – The Penk O’Donnell School of Irish Dance presented a sparkling evening of entertainment on January 16 to a near-capacity crowd at the Centennial Theater in North Vancouver.
“Celtic Rhythm” was another triumph for the top-ranked Irish dance school, featuring dancers from age four through to age 24.
Deftly choreographed by Deirdre Penk O’Donnell, the show featured Irish dance in both its traditional form and with a more modern interpretation.
From the beginner dancers who delighted the audience with their enthusiasm and excitement, to the championship dancers at the other end of the spectrum, many of whom are now ranked at the world level, the show displayed a professionalism and elegance rarely seen outside the professional dance world.
The standing ovation at the end of the two hour production was well deserved.
Local Vancouver band, the Mad Celts, rounded out the evening with a blend of musicianship and humour.
They captured the audience immediately, creating fun, high-energy interludes that perfectly matched the mood woven by the dance numbers.
“Celtic Rhythm” kicked off the start of a very busy few months for the Penk O’Donnell School, as they turn their attention to the All-Ireland Championships in Killarney, Ireland, in February, and the World Irish Dance Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, in late March.
Twenty dancers from the school have qualified to go to the World Championships in Glasgow.
Based on what we saw in the Centennial Theater on Saturday evening, these hard-working young dancers can expect great results when they take their “Celtic Rhythm” overseas.
For more information regarding the Penk O’Donnell School, visit: www.penkodonnell.com, or call (604) 921-0700.
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