BIG APPLE ROSE OF TRALEE CAITLIN McNEILL TO REPRESENT NEW YORK CITY AT THE ROSE OF TRALEE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL IN AUGUST 2011
BROOKLYN NATIVE WAS CHOSEN AS A FINALIST AT THE REGIONAL SELECTION IN PORTLAOISE ON JUNE 6
New York, NY & Portlaoise, Ireland, June 6: Caitlin McNeill, of Brooklyn, New York, was crowned the 1st 2011 Big Apple Rose of Tralee at the Hudson Theatre in Times Square on March 27, 2011. Tonight, at the final round of the Rose of Tralee Regional Selection in Portlaoise, Ireland, Caitlin was chosen as a finalist and will now go on to represent New York City at the Rose of Tralee International Festival. The Festival will be held from August 19-23, 2011 in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.
About Caitlin McNeill: Caitlin McNeill, 21, is a Brooklyn, New York native. Caitlin recently graduated from St. Joseph's College, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree, Summa Cum Laude with a double major in Child Study and Speech-Language Pathology. Caitlin plans to attend graduate school in the fall of 2011 to pursue a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She has been deeply rooted in New York City’s Irish community from a very young age. Caitlin studied Irish Step Dancing since the age of 10, and has shared her love of Irish dance and music by performing all over the U.S. She danced at Town Hall, The Duke Theater, on The Today Show, Fox and Friends, and at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall. Caitlin has also been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine. Over the past five years, she has been dedicated to helping educate young people in New York City by offering classes in schools, libraries, and daycare centers where she teaches not only Irish Step Dancing but its history. Caitlin has ties to Ireland through her great-grandparents who hail from Counties Kerry, Cork and Mayo. She enjoys going to traditional Irish music sessions, meeting new people, and getting up to do a few steps an informal, fun atmosphere.
Upon receiving her title, Miss McNeill said, "I am extremely proud and honored to represent my Irish heritage, as well as New York City, as the Big Apple Rose of Tralee. This title will give me the opportunity to meet many great people, form long-lasting memories, and embark on a journey that will provide me with an experience of a lifetime. As the Big Apple Rose of Tralee, I plan to reach out and leave a positive impact on the lives of others, not only throughout this year, but for many years to come. I am confident I will successfully fulfill my duties as the Big Apple Rose of Tralee and will do my very best to represent New York City in Ireland!”
Press release – 7th June 2011
IT was lucky number seven for the Roses representing Down, Laois, Roscommon,
They were selected from 28 Rose contestants who took part in the Irish Regional Final of the Rose of Tralee which was held during a five-day fun-packed festival in Portlaoise.
In all, 51 Roses took part in the event which included American, British, European/Middle East Regional Selections at the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Joining the Irish Centres in Tralee will be 16 Roses from the rest of the world –
The General Manager of the Rose of Tralee, Oliver Hurley, congratulated every one of the Roses who represented their communities with great distinction this weekend.
“As an organisation, we have been overwhelmed by the calibre of each lady who has represented her centre with dignity and grace throughout the five days in Portlaoise. We look forward to welcoming all 51 Roses to
Nine more Roses will travel to Tralee for the Festival in August – Kerry,
The Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from the 19th to the 23rd August with the new Rose of Tralee being crowned in the Dome on Tuesday 23rd August. Full details of the 2011 Festival and the Roses are available from www.roseoftralee.ie.
This is a spectacular tribute to a group of performers that have the vision to connect to multiple cultures and touch the hearts of many, through their music, song, rhythm and dance. They took to the stage in the Lincoln Center, New York last week alongside performers Dave Eggar and Deoro to give an original, fresh and exciting show. As Jason said himself it was as electric for themselves as it was for the audience.
Hammerstep was founded in 2009 by Jason Oremus, Lead Riverdancer from Australia and Garrett Coleman, a two time World Irish Dance Champion, from Pittsburgh PA.The dancers strive to "overcome cultural and socioeconomic difference through a nuanced integration of historically rebellious forms of urban movement," such as tap and Irish dance. Hammerstep integrates Irish step, tap and hip hop dance forms and presents them through cutting edge choreography, lights and sound in a way that reinvents the typical dance show experience for an audience. They have certainly achieved their goal. Looking at their performance you realize that it certainly is something different and ELECTRIC. They WOW'd the mostly standing room only audience......... The lines around the corner that had a sneak peak through the window will have to come back to their next...... not to miss appearance, soon to be announced. Congratulations to S.J. Velasquez for this phenomenal video documentary and look at the behind the scenes footage and preps for the show.
Hammerstep: Road to Lincoln Center from S.J. Velasquez on Vimeo.
What began as a couple of Irish dancing guys touring with Riverdance became a movement that infuses dance forms and crosses cultural boundaries.
Co-founders Jason Oremus and Garrett Coleman, joined by a team of the world's best Irish step, tap and hip hop dancers, debuted their Hammerstep stage show at New York City's famed Lincoln Center in May 2011. Follow the guys behind the scenes to get an inside glimpse of a performance revolution in the making.
You remember : 'Sneaky Steppers', a Hammerstep street level project, designed to ambush the public through DANCE and cheeky entertainment. ...
We were privileged to enjoy their entertainment last summer in NYC before going back on Tour with Riverdance and making a mark on the World for themselves.
With their new show "Hammerstep", they are breaking ground and opening up the fusion of dance and music to a much broader audience.
From their Flash Mob project in Australia, to their humble commitment to giving back to the communities in South Africa, the boy's are back in town......
Last Sunday Chris Naish, Jason Oremus, Parker Hall, Garrett Coleman, and Joe Dwyer 'Sneaky Steppers' performed a Hammerstep street level project and gave us a sneak preview of their show at the Irish Arts Center's 10th annual NYC Irish Dance Festival a highlight of "Summer on the Hudson".
In another special two-date engagement, Grammy nominees Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer return to the Atrium, at Lincoln Center NYC......
this time with a new mix of creative minds with Hammerstep. This Target Free Thursday features the full theatrical version of this new program featuring
the New York debut of new works and technology pioneered by Hammerstep.
Dave and the ensemble will bring traditional music and innovative live beats with hip-hop flair together with Hammerstep’s evolved take on Irish step dance.
Hammerstep is a young dance troupe comprised of award winning dancers from the worlds of Irish step and hip-hop. From traditional roots spring
innovative new sounds and moves,
integrating technology with dance and and putting live musical performance in a whole new light.
Dave Eggar and members of his ensemble have performed and toured with artists like Josh Groban, Evanessence, Ja-Rule among others.
Dave was recently nominated for a Grammy Award for his arrangement and composition of ItsBynne Reel on Kingston Morning which was previewed at Lincoln Center last spring.
Hammerstep was founded by Jason Oremus and Garrett Coleman. Boasting awards from National to World Championships and leading roles in Riverdance
the pair have a vision to overcome cultural and socioeconomic barriers by looking at their art form in a new way. Fusing Irish step with tap and hip-hop, sound and light,
they reinvent the dance show experience.
New York City Irish
Press Release
A brand new dance show has sparked interest from Australia to Japan to England and has
finally landed in New York City! Hammerstep, the first touring show of its kind, strives to
overcome cultural and socioeconomic differences through a nuanced integration of historically
rebellious forms of urban movement. This groundbreaking show integrates traditional Irish
step, tap, and hip hop dance forms and presents them through cutting edge choreography,
lights, and sound in a way that reinvents the typical Irish dance show experience for an
audience.
Hammerstep’s entertaining yet thought-provoking movement not only elevates dance to a new
leve,l but strives to spark social change in the process. As products of the urban environment
themselves, Hammerstep’s founders use urban spaces as the inspirational grounds for
exploring new movement and for staging social and political commentary.
Hammerstep, created and directed by two-time World Champion Irish step dancer Garrett
Coleman and former lead of Riverdance, Jason Oremus, will make its official US premier in
May with two performances. The group will conduct a family-oriented and interactive
performance on May 7 at 11am, followed by a May 12 performance at 8:30pm in the Lincoln
Center Atrium. They will be accompanied by world-renowned performer and Grammy award-
nominee, Dave Eggar and his band. Both performances are part of Lincoln Center’s Target Free
Thursday series and are free to the public. The versatile dance performances will showcase
some of the best talent from New York and around the world and should not be missed!
Ninth Annual Irish Arts Center NYC Irish Dance FestivalSunday, May 2, 1pm-8pmRiverside Park South
Pier I at W 70th StreetCome out to the pier to enjoy a day of great Irish dancing!Led by Artistic Director Niall O’Leary, TCRG, ADCRG, the Festival will once again kick off the Summer on the Hudson series at Riverside Park South! This celebration of Irish dance and culture is not to be missed, featuring performances from top Irish dance companies from the New York metropolitan area, fun everyone-out-on-the-floor dance for children and adults, music sessions, Irish language classes, a singing circle, children’s face painting and a lively evening-ending céilí for all!Come with or without your dancing shoes - the entire day is free and open to all!FULL BAR and food with special Irish Dancer Menu!TIME MAIN STAGE – Area 1
1:00pm Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance (Performance)
1:15pm Children’s Céilí Dancing: everyone out on the floor!
1:45pm Keltic Dreams (Performance)
2:00pm Niall O’Leary Fun Dance (Non-competitive Solo Dancing)
Learn some Irish Step-dancing moves, suitable for beginner-intermediate Irish dancers! All ages!
3:00pm Petri School of Irish Dance (Performance) featuring their World Champion dancers!
3:15pm Donny Golden Fun Dance (Non-competitive Solo Dancing)
Learn some Irish Step-dancing moves, suitable for beginner-intermediate Irish dancers! All ages!
4:15pm Donny Golden Dancers (Performance)4.30pm Niall O’Leary Irish Dance Troupe (Performance)4:45pm Adults Ceili / Set Dancing: everyone out on the floor!
5:45pm Darrah Carr Dance (Performance)
6:00 pm-8:00pm Céilí: Set and Céilí Dancing for All: everyone out on the floor!TIME TENT 2
1:15pm Irish Language Conversation Circle
2:00pm Traditional Irish Music Session – All Welcome!
3:30-4:15pm Irish Song Circle Workshop with Louise Walsh
4:45-5:30pm Panel Discussion with special guest Riverdance composer Bill WhelanTIME TENT 3
1:00pm-4:00pm Children’s Face Painting
1:00pm-4:00pm Arts & Crafts for KidsMusicians:1.15pm-4pmKevin McHugh Uilleann Pipes4pm-8pmCleek Schrey and Rhys JonesMulti-instrumentalists Rhys Jones (fiddle, banjo, guitar) and Cleek Schrey (fiddle, piano)perform American and Irish traditional music that spans continents and centuries.They perform dance music that has been set free from the traditional rules.
