In December of 2024, the IDTANA (Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America) held the Southern Region Oireachtas in Orlando, Florida. The IDTANA-Southern Region is comprised of dancers from 14 states, the District of Columbia, and Mexico. This year over 1,500 dancers competed with 75 of them being from Mexico. These dancers had phenomenal success with 3 age group champions and 12 dancers qualifying to represent the Southern Region at the 2025 World Irish Dance Championships in Dublin Ireland.
One might wonder how Irish dance, a tradition deeply rooted in Irish culture, has crossed borders and gained popularity in Mexico. Well, what started as a seven-minute interval act at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest became a worldwide phenomenon, known as Riverdance. The Riverdance performance highlighted the athleticism and style of Irish step dance captivating audiences. It became a world touring Broadway show and led to a demand in Irish dance classes all over the world.
Many Irish dancers in Mexico began learning the steps from videos of the famous dance shows, including ballerina Alica Mosti. Alicia Mosti was a self trained Irish dancer who later became a certified Irish dancer and established the first Irish dance school in Mexico. Irish dancing de Mexico was founded in 2000. Interest has continued to grow and today there are nine dance schools in Mexico affiliated with CLRG (An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha), one of the Irish dancing federations.
But the connection between Mexico and Ireland runs much deeper than a simple love of Irish dance. During the Mexican-American war Irishmen were emigrating to the United States because of the Great Famine. Irishmen who joined the US Army were sent to fight the war in Mexico. However, these Irish soldiers in Mexico realized that they shared a common faith with the Mexicans, catholicism. This religious bond and the promise of citizenship and land spurred the Irish soldiers to switch sides. These soldiers became known as the San Patricios Brigade and are considered national heroes by both Mexico and Ireland.
The success that the Mexican dancers had at the Southern Region Oireachtas showcases the broad reaching impact of Irish dance beyond its borders. But, beyond dance, the deep connection between Mexico and Ireland is seen in the legacy of the San Patricios Brigade. So, as these dancers take to the world stage in Dublin, it will be a celebration not only of their talent but
a rich history of cultural exchange.
Works Cited
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IrishCentral.com, IrishCentral, 20 Nov. 2012,
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Loftus, Alana. “Los San Patricios Explores Shared History of Ireland and Mexico through
Music.” Irishstar.com, 5 Apr. 2024,
www.irishstar.com/culture/music-nightlife/los-san-patricios-explores-shared-32522733.
Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Ortega, Oliver. “Guest Lecturer Shares Story of Irish Soldiers Who Fought for Mexico against
the United States 1846–1848.” Institute for Latino Studies, 8 May 2023,
latinostudies.nd.edu/news-events/news/guest-lecturer-tells-story-of-irish-soldiers-who-fo
ught-for-mexico-against-the-united-states-18461848/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Uenuma, Francine. “During the Mexican-American War, Irish-Americans Fought for Mexico in
the “Saint Patrick’s Battalion.”” Smithsonian, Smithsonian.com, 15 Mar. 2019,
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/mexican-american-war-irish-immigrants-deserted-us-
army-fight-against-america-180971713/. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.