Committee celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with dance, culture

Feb 28, 2012 • 157 views • 0 comments

Most of the nine-member dance troupe, including, from left, Rachel Rougas, Madelyn Healy, Ava Montali, Brighid Healy and Rebecca Pierce, live in the city of San Diego, although the dance school has studios in La Costa Valley, San Elijo Hills and Encinitas. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

DEL MAR — With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, the Del Mar Foundation Children’s Committee celebrated the heritage of Ireland with Celtic dancers and crafts for youngsters Feb. 26 at the Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center.The free event began at 2 p.m. with volunteers from the Del Mar Library helping budding young artists decorate treasure chests and fill them with leprechaun gold.The Clan Rince Show Troupe then treated the crowds to an Irish dance program.
The dancers, aged 11 to 20, also talked about Irish dancing, its history, traditions and costumes.

: Del Mar residents Dane and Kylie Larson decorate treasure chests, a craft facilitated by volunteers from the Del Mar Library. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Three-year-old Sophie Stone, who lives in Minnesota, works on her treasure chest while visiting her grandparents, John and Julie Stone, from Rancho Bernardo. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: When 5-year-old Lupe McElvenny saw the colorful costumes worn by Irish dancers she decided to dress the part to watch the performance. She decorates a treasure chest before the show. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Before the performance, Ava Montali gets some last-minute wig adjustments from Rachel Rougas. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Most of the nine-member dance troupe, including, from left, Rachel Rougas, Madelyn Healy, Ava Montali, Brighid Healy and Rebecca Pierce, live in the city of San Diego, although the dance school has studios in La Costa Valley, San Elijo Hills and Encinitas. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek