While some only celebrate Irish customs once a year, Irish dancers pay tribute to the country’s culture year-round through one of its most famous art forms.

The McNulty School of Irish Dance is one of the largest Irish dancing schools in the suburban Chicago area, and currently hosts about 450 dancers from all over the state as well as Iowa and Wisconsin. McNulty dancers perform at local festivals, Irish pubs and nursing homes as well as compete at nationally-ranked competitions.

The McNulty School offers classes out of studios and schools in Arlington Heights, Aurora, Naperville, Crystal Lake, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Libertyville, Palatine and Villa Park.

Barbara McNulty, a Niles resident, founded McNulty School of Irish Dance in 1971 when a Naperville-area family asked her to teach their four daughters how to dance.

“Back then, Naperville was the end of the world,” McNulty said, laughing. “It wasn’t like it is now—there wasn’t even an expressway.”

McNulty said the interested family got together nearly 30 girls for the first class, and the organization has expanded ever since. Dancers of all ages are welcome in the youth and adult classes, McNulty said.

McNulty said she began dancing because both of their parents were originally from Ireland, and wanted to keep the spirit of the Emerald Isle alive in their American home.

“It was my parents’ way to stay connected to their heritage,” McNulty said. “All six of my siblings and I did Irish dance, played Irish music and sung Irish songs. My parents wanted to keep their connection to their home.”

Though the face of Irish dancing is often girls, the boys and men’s categories are fiercely competitive as well.

McNulty’s own McKimmon Engelhardt, a 10-year-old from Sugar Grove is headed to Glasgow, Scotland for the 40th World Irish Dancing Championships on March 28 to compete against dancers from around the world. He was the first place winner at regionals in September 2009, and is currently ranked third in the nation in his age group.

McKimmon Englelhardt took up Irish dancing after watching his older sister participate, and soon found himself excelling at the fact-paced style of dance.

“He really likes to push himself,” said his mom Julie Engelhardt. “He loves the discipline of the sport—the music, the movement, the tricks, everything.”

McKimmon Engelhardt also participates sports such as basketball, tackle football and track, but has no problem explaining to his 10-year-old friends that his dancing is a sport, Julie Engelhardt said.

“When [his friends] see him dance, they know it’s hard work,” Julie Engelhardt said. “There’s so much power in the men’s group.”

Mary Kate, Lucy and Elizabeth Zimmerman, sisters from Naperville, all take lessons through McNulty’s, and hope to someday make it to the championship level.

“Mary Kate has been dancing for more than six years,” said her mom, Debbie Zimmerman. “She started off just doing performances and had so much fun—she absolutely loved it. Now she competes, and her goal is to become a championship dancer.”

Though her girls want to eventually be competitive, Debbie Zimmerman said Irish dancing has already taught them so much.

“They have learned to get up on stage and not to be afraid,” Debbie Zimmerman said. “They’ve performed at Bulls games and on live TV with no fears, not nervous. The whole program has been more than we’ve ever expected from any sport our kids have been a part of.”

For more information about McNulty, go to www.mcnultyirishdancers.com.

Click here to see a video of McNulty dancers pefrorming at Ballydoyle in Aurora.

By Bridget Doyle
TribLocal Reporter