Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers

The Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Irish Culture, specializing in teaching and demonstrating céili (Irish Folk) dancing.  They are one of the oldest Irish dance organizations in San Diego.

In 2010, as a grantee in ACTA's Living Cultures Grants Program, the Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers presented a series of workshops in the sean nós, or old style Irish step dance.  Performed to Irish traditional music, sean nós is older than the common form of Irish dance popular today.  Seen mostly at private and semi-private gatherings, its causal and physically undemanding mode of performance is broadly inclusive and encourages active participation in Irish cultural events.  Master artist Ben Power will teach members of the community in anticipation of the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day.  Their performances will in turn serve to reintroduce this extempore form of traditional dancing to the Irish community at large, reintroducing participatory celebration of Irish cultural identity.