Half-way to St. Patrick’s Day finds us chatting with Jessie Leach who founded Jig and a Swig in 2019 after a competitive career in Irish dancing which included being crowned Great Britain, All-Ireland and North American Champion, as well as placing 3rd in the World Championships. In 2016, Jessie qualified as an Irish dance teacher with the CLRG, before joining the cast of Riverdance. She now leads Jig and a Swig full-time, and is on a mission to share Irish dancing with as many adults as possible in London and beyond. Jessie talks more about her background, what led her to start Jig and a Swig, and how she persevered through the pandemic to foster something that is reaching more and more adult dancers with a wide range of experience levels and abilities.
The Irish Dance Globe article featuring Jessie and Jig and a Swig: https://irishdanceglobe.com/interviews/jig-and-a-swig-irish-dancing-london-everyone-who-wants-to-be-can-be-an-irish-dancer/
Julia's three week course on the history of Irish dance via zoom! Classes start Thursday September 24 at 7pm CT. https://celticjunction.org/product/history-of-modern-competitive-irish-dance/
This course is being offered through the excellent education branch of the Celtic Junction Arts Center (check out their other offerings, especially if you are local to the Twin Cities in Minnesota), so you also get to support a top notch organization.
What is Planxty Podcast?
A podcast exploring the rich tapestry of Irish dance and the community who loves it. Hosted by Julia Topper, ethnomusicologist and Irish dance competitor and teacher, and Kristo Sween, 20-year Irish dance dad, live camera director for FEIStv, and Operations Manager at the Celtic Junction Arts Center.