Featured Business: Hubbardston Irish Dance Troupe

Emma Jandernoa directs the Hubbardston Irish Dance Troupe, a dance studio located in downtown Portland. “I began Irish dancing when I was seven years of age and I quickly fell in love with it,” said Emma. “I’ve been doing it ever since.”

The dance troupe began life in 1994 with several girls who wished to learn Irish dancing. It has grown to ninety-five dancers. “Irish dancing gained popularity with the rise of productions such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance,” said Emma.

Irish dance is an art designed for boys as well as girls. Traditionally the dance form involves male and female partners. “It’s a good workout for the kids as well as a good confidence builder,” said Emma. “The kids not only learn dance, but they also develop a sense of teamwork as well as poise and confidence on stage.”

Dancers are welcome as young as three years of age. “We start them with very simple steps and move into more complex movements as they become older and more skillful,” said Emma.

The troupe has had a studio of its own in Portland since 2019. Previously dancers met in in church basements. The studio has made it possible for Emma to offer dance classes to more students.

“We pride ourselves on the fact that we are a performance-based troupe,” said Emma. “We perform all over Mid-Michigan, including venues such as schools, assisted-living centers, and hospitals. Every year we have a Spring Showcase which features all of the dancers. This year the Showcase will be held at the Portland High School auditorium on March 19 at 2 pm.”

Emma said that she and the dancers are grateful to the city of Portland for the opportunity to be here. “We love giving back to the community through performances,” said Emma. “We enjoy being part of the artistic scene of the city.”

Future plans for the troupe include a trip to Ireland this summer. “We’ll be taking dance classes from first-class professionals in Ireland,” said Emma. “It should prove to be a meaningful experience for the kids. We are looking forward to it.”

This piece was originally posted in the Downtown Portland monthly newsletter for March 2023. You can find the complete newsletter HERE.