Blackthorn Dancers
The Blackthorn Dancers, established in 1999, are a lively and
energetic Irish dance group. They are the only existing Irish dance group of
their kind within the Maritimes. The focus of this unique group is centered on
providing audiences with top of the line performances. They are not a formal
dance school but a performance group, which gives the dancers more flexibility
and the ability to focus their training solely on performances. The Blackthorn
Dancers blend together traditional Irish dance with a modern and unique twist
resulting in professional, engaging and highly entertaining dance shows.
Four main dancers, Deirdre Porter, Aisling Porter, Beth MacNeil and Erin MacNeil,
make up the core of the Blackthorn Dance group. These dancers have achieved
individual successes within both national and international competition. They
have all competed at the Championship level and ranked high in the Canadian
Eastern National Championships. Along with all of their outstanding successes in
national competition they also have attended and done well at the World
Championships in Ireland. The Blackthorn Dancers are comprised of world class
competitive dancers that possess the technical skills to create an outstanding
show.
The combination of skill level, upbeat energy and performance experience places
the Blackthorn Dancers in high demand. They have performed numerous shows at a
wide variety of venues. They have danced countless shows, including a Maritime
Christmas Tour in 2002, with the well known Maritime Celtic music group the
Barra MacNeils. Other famous local musicians they have performed with include
Natalie MacMaster, Richard Wood and Ashley MacIsaac. They have also danced with
Symphony Nova Scotia and at many important charitable events; such as the annual
Halifax Hooley and the annual Charitable Irish Dinner. In the summer of 2002 the
group was flown to Montreal to make an appearance in Cirque du Soleil’s
mini-series Solstrum. The most recent success of the Blackthorn Dancers is the
completion of a television special. It is a half hour special that features the
group and is scheduled to air on Bravo March, 2005.
"...the Black Thorn Irish Dancers, with sisters Ashlyn and Deirdre Porter and
Erin and Beth MacNeil performing a less formal style of the form, in shiny black
dresses instead of the ornately decorated outfits they'd wear in the second half
of the concert.
Moving deftly in criss-crossing patterns, they built up a locomotive rhythm with
their feet, with music and without, never losing their poise."
- Stephen Cooke, The Halifax Herald Limited
June 4, 2005
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