Kickin’ It Irish was created in 2013 to feature Championship dancers from O’Shea Irish Dance, to highlight amazing Irish traditional music talent in the Twin Cities, and to expose Minnesotans to the performing arts of Ireland. After ten years, there are several performers who have grown up Kickin’ It Irish!

Kickin’ It Irish stands without plot, but it does come with a history. This show’s story began in 1997 when Riverdance first came through the Twin Cities. It was hot off its New York and LA debuts, playing to royalty, presidents, and movie stars. Its heart-pounding rhythms and soulful melodies caught the attention of the world. Cormac was on tour at 19 years old. At 16, he’d been one of the original cast along with 21 others, 17 of whom were from his parents’ dancing school in Dublin.

Cormac and Natalie met while working on that show and moved here together in 2001. They started O’Shea Irish Dance when their eldest child was ready for her first steps. They built The Celtic Junction, establishing a center for Traditional Arts that welcomed The Center for Irish Music in 2009.

We are delighted to present this show, featuring World class competitive Irish dancers, including Regional and National Champions and several World Championship competitors, on stage backed by a top-flight international lineup of musicians.

It is a rich tradition of Irish music and dance that brings these incredibly hardworking and talented kids to this stage. Working with them is what keeps our hearts beating strong. This is the next generation of Riverdancers. Enjoy.

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Cast Photos