Dancing at the Grange
CHATTAROY – Margaret Evans remembers standing in front of the television with a baby balanced on her hip. It was 1995 and “Riverdance” was performing on the public television channel. Captivated by the exuberant energy of the dance, she recalled thinking, “I have to learn how to do this!”
So she did. And when she and her husband, Carl, bought Valley Prairie Grange Hall in Chattaroy eight years ago, she decided to share her passion for Irish dance with others. She formed the Kelly Irish Dancers and began offering lessons at the Grange.
For Evans, dance is a way to celebrate and preserve her heritage. “My Grandpa’s last name was Kelly,” she said.
Her heritage isn’t the only thing Evans hopes to preserve. She and her husband have also been hard at work restoring the old Grange. In fact, that’s the reason they purchased it. Built in 1910, Valley Prairie Grange is a treasured part of this rural community. The couple hopes to renovate the historic building and make it once again a center for community life.
On a recent afternoon the old ironwood floors echoed with the lively beat of Evans’ advanced step-dancing class. The group was rehearsing for an upcoming performance at The Bing Crosby Theatre.
Though the Evanses have done a lot of work, there’s much left to be done. An old army barracks woodstove blazed cheerily, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the winter chill. The Grange has an aging oil-burning furnace as well, but breaches in the building’s foundation make it difficult to heat. The cool conditions give the students’ pre-dance warm-up new meaning and urgency.
Dancer Alex Heaney joined his brother Jonathon around the stove as they prepared for rehearsal. He said Irish step dancing is fun, and he appreciates the way the dances honor the culture.
Eleven-year-old Chloe Evans agreed. “I love it,” she said. “The funnest part is hanging out with my friends.”
That combination of work and fun kept the dancers busy. The lilting call of a Gaelic melody filled the room as the group worked on a number called “In Your Heart.” The dance is more than just a series of high-stepping moves. Evans’ choreography also tells a story.
“This represents the struggle between the orange and green in Northern Ireland,” she said. The dancers wove in and out, coming together and separating while their clicking heels pounded out a syncopated rhythm. As the last notes faded they formed a single line, their hands clasped. “It’s my hope for healing for Ireland,” said Evans.
The students are also involved in the creative process of the dance. They choreographed their own number called “The Vikings.” Their feet, clad in traditional dance shoes called ghillies, flashed in a flurry of high-energy, intricate steps. At the end of the dance the group collapsed on the floor. It wasn’t the grand finale. They were just tired.
They’ve been working hard to perfect their performances for the big show, “It’s About Time.” The show will feature 50 dancers from Evans’ classes and a local Irish band. She said the program is more than just a recital highlighting the progress of her students; it’s a timeline of Irish history, told through dance.
In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the Kelly Irish Dancers, the show is also a fundraiser. “The point of the program is to raise money for the grange hall restoration,” Evans said. The proceeds will be used to shore up the crumbling foundation and to renovate the building’s entrance.
Evans has found a way to combine her enthusiasm for Irish dance with her passion to preserve a piece of local history. She’s recording the process of the Grange restoration in a scrapbook filled with photos of the past and her hopes for the future. In it she wrote, “Our dream is to renew that magical spirit and keep the music and dancing going into another century.”