Atlanta – When Imani Johnson was in kindergarten, her classmates would show off their dance moves on the playground: quick steps and taps that formed a pleasing patter on the ground. This was Johnson’s first taste of Irish dancing.
Johnson practiced his stiff arms and light-footed hops at home by watching YouTube videos of dancers. Her mother enrolled her in classes in third grade since she was so enthusiastic and persistent. “Everyone told me I was a natural,” Johnson said of his YouTube practice.
Johnson, who now lives in Atlanta, is one of the best Irish dancers in the country at the age of 15. In 2021, she finished second in her age group at the United States nationals, won her group at the Southern regionals in 2018 and 2019, and has won more local events than her mother can remember.
Johnson is accustomed to being one of the few Black dancers at Irish dance competitions, although it was first difficult for her. “I would want to see someone like me, so I could have someone to relate to,” she remarked. However, as she became more involved in the scene, she met a few other Black dancers who shared her enthusiasm.
Competitive Irish dance has evolved over the decades from a predominantly white world of big, curly haired wigs, flashy costumes, “Riverdance” leaps, and monster calves to a more diverse world of big, curly haired wigs, sparkly costumes, “Riverdance” leaps, and monster calves. “Do you have to be Irish to do Irish dancing?” people would inquire when Lisa Petri opened the Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance on Long Island in 1991.
Given the dance’s name, it’s a reasonable query. According to Petri, who is the president of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, theatrical performances like “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance” popularized the form around the world. From China to Mexico, there are now Irish dancing schools. People of color are creating a name for themselves in the sport in the United States; Julia O’Rourke, who is half-Filipino and half-Irish, has won four world championships in Irish dancing.
Outside of the dancing community, some individuals are less welcoming of the new stars. Some accused Morgan Bullock, a Black Irish dancer from Virginia, of cultural inappropriation when her dance video created to Megan Thee Stallion and Beyonce’s “Savage” remix became viral on TikTok in 2020. The then-20-year-old college student retaliated by recounting her years of hard work and practice.
Despite the fact that many of the students are Caucasian, “I would say probably over 70 percent of our dancers have no Irish connection whatsoever, according to Emma Burke of Atlanta Irish Dance by Burke Connolly, Johnson’s dance school. “I think that’s true for a significant portion of Irish dance schools around the world. A vast majority of it is people who’ve just fallen in love with the dance form.”
Photo by: Arvin Temkar
Johnson has influenced a new generation of black dancers. “I’ve had people come up to me and be like … ‘You motivate me to keep dancing because it reminds me that there are people who look like me,’” she explained.
Her success, on the other hand, hasn’t come easily. Johnson, a self-described “perfectionist,” puts in a lot of work in the gym. She takes private lessons in addition to group Irish dancing sessions, and she has flown to upstate New York for Camp Rince Ceol, an Irish dance camp, for numerous summers. The difficulties of performing may be seen at a recent Burke Connolly dance school rehearsal. Under the direction of guest teacher Claire Regan, a former “Lord of the Dance” performer whose FitJig class whips dancers into shape with stamina and strength exercises, girls and boys sweated and huffed.
Traveling can be exhausting. Johnson is frequently on the road, traveling up to twice a month for events.
Johnson reflected on his elementary and middle school years, saying, “I missed out on a lot of stuff, like birthday parties, school events, and field excursions.” “Dance took over” before high school. It was pretty much the only thing I did, aside from school.”
Johnson, who is now in ninth school, is branching out beyond dancing. This semester, she joined the track team, an activity that allows her to strengthen her already strong legs. She’s also a member of the robotics club and is learning to skateboard.
She’ll head to Belfast, Northern Ireland, in April for the World Irish Dancing Championships in 2022. Bullock, according to Johnson, has acted as a role model, especially since she became the first Black female dancer in “Riverdance” and is currently touring the United States.
“That’s something I’d like to achieve and be like her,” Johnson added.
