Students will perform as part of the Powder Mill School Variety Show March 6
Powder Mill School third graders Amelia Molloy and Annalise Peterson, fourth graders Camryn Anderson, Lilly Arnold, Gage Arnold and Gracelyn Castonguay, and fifth graders Marylou Bage and Henna Van Etten will perform an Irish jig in the school Variety Show March 6. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
SOUTHWICK – Students at Powder Mill School will showcase their talents during the annual Variety Show on March 6.
While many students have been honing their craft for years through dance or singing lessons, a small group of performers will showcase what they have learned in the past five weeks.
Principal Erin Carrier and teacher Chelsey Wilgus began an Irish Dancing Club specifically for students who wanted to be part of the show but were not sure what to perform.
After just a few weeks, the students were able to perform a beginner’s light jig, which Carrier said is the first Irish Step Dance she learned 40 years ago.
“I danced competitively for 12 years, then danced and taught as an adult,” she said.
Wilgus danced with Carrier as an adult and both women said they enjoy the cultural aspects of Irish dance.
“I was raised in the Irish culture and always loved it,” said Wilgus.
For Carrier, the club was also an opportunity to be with students because most of her day is spent with administration and staff.
“I don’t get a chance to interact with the kids a lot,” she said.
A combination of hard work and the luck of the Irish paid off for the dancers because both instructors were impressed with the progress of the group.
“They have different levels of abilities and they are all getting the steps and enjoying it,” Wilgus said.
Two of the eight members of the club take Irish dance at the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield, however, the other six members had never taken a lesson until last month. All the students claimed to be Irish.
“Well, everyone’s Irish for St. Patrick’s Day,” Carrier said.
The students agreed that they joined the club to “try something new” and all enjoyed the experience and said they would like to continue lessons.
Although the club was geared toward performing in the Variety Show, Carrier and Wilgus said they would consider hosting the club again.
“We may do it again – it’s a lot of fun,” Carrier said.
Irish Dancing Club members include third graders Amelia Molloy and Annalise Peterson, fourth graders Camryn Anderson, Lilly Arnold, Gage Arnold and Gracelyn Castonguay, and fifth graders Marylou Bage and Henna Van Etten.
The Variety Show is Friday at 7 p.m. at Southwick Regional School.
