Teen dancers take the lead in Athens Irish Dance performance

THE PLAINS — The Athens Irish Dancers invite public to this year’s Feochadán project, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this weekend.

“The Feochadán Project 2024: An Tús” will take place at the Athens High School Auditorium, 1 High School Road, The Plains. Showings will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and free for ages 3 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at athensirishdancers.com .

The Ohio Valley School of Celtic Dance and Culture, home of the Athens Irish Dancers, is a nonprofit based in The Plains.

In 1998, the group was formed when some residents met to learn Irish dance. Over the years, the group has performed around the area during St. Patrick’s Day, and became known as the Athens Irish Dancers. In 2015, the dance group officially became a 501©(3) nonprofit within the Ohio Valley School of Celtic Dance and Culture (OVSCDC).

The organization aims to make a difference and uplift the community. Team member and board member Jessica Fletcher hopes to continue the positive legacy of the group through the current dancers.

“OVSCDC’s mission is to provide a place for dancers ages 3 and up to build confidence, self-esteem and friendships through the art and performance of Irish dance,” said Fletcher. “We are also committed to increasing accessibility to the arts in our Appalachian region.”

Fletcher and many other members, including the dancers, have been working hard on their upcoming Feochadán project, which started in 2014. This project started with the senior dancers bringing an Irish tale to life through dance. Now, the group’s teen dancers carry on the tradition.

“The project is offered biennially, with all parts of production done by the dancers with mentorship as needed,” said Fletcher. “The story, choreography, costuming and outreach to the local community are all handled by the dancers. This project usually takes 18 months from start to finish, with team members developing a storyline based on Irish history or culture. They work to choose music, develop storylines, create all the choreography and make the costumes, with guidance from our adult directors.

“The magic happens when everything comes together, and we as directors get to see the joy of the Feochadán project members as they see their story come to life and experience how empowering the arts can be. This year, the project is called ‘An Tús,’ which means ‘the beginning’ in Gaelic. It tells the Irish creation myth story of Eiocha and her many children as they create the land and sea.”

This project is particularly special this year as it also marks the OVSCDC’s 10th anniversary.

“This 10-year anniversary celebrates OVSCDC thriving as a small nonprofit, thanks to support from donations from various local sources despite the many obstacles the pandemic caused,” continued Fletcher. “We are thankful to be here and be able to provide an artistic outlet to anyone who wishes to participate and find joy through dance.”

The organization has been a beloved place for many students and locals over the years. However, like many businesses and organizations, the OVSCDC faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic was a challenging time for a small nonprofit,” said Fletcher. “Between online classes, camps, and smaller classes, we were trusted with many immunocompromised dancers and individuals who needed to process the world through the arts. We were financially struggling for quite a while but received grant support from the Athens Foundation and Peoples Bank. We also partnered with a few community members to share our large studio space and offered online programming when possible.”

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the group of Irish dancers is excited to present their hard work at the 10th anniversary of the Feochadán project. All the shows’ profits will be used to fund the next project and for dance shoes, costumes and scholarships for the dance community.

Everyone in the community is encouraged to come out and celebrate the hard work and determination that have gone into the event.

“Come see what can be accomplished creatively by empowering teens to set their minds to achieving a creative vision from scratch,” said Fletcher. “Help us celebrate what the dancers have accomplished over the past 18 months and fill the seats so they can feel the appreciation and accomplishment of their hard work.”