Local Dancers Qualify for Regionals at Spokane Feis Competition

The Haran School of Irish Dancers, located in Kettle Falls, and its sister school in Spokane, held the fourth annual “Feis at the Falls” and “Deirdre Abeid Memorial Feis” Sept. 14-15. Originally founded in 1990 by Deirdre Abeid, the Kettle Falls school was taken over by her daughter, Claire Worley, in 2004 following her passing. Prior to that, Claire’s older sister, Caitlin Trusler, opened a second school in Spokane. The Haran School of Irish Dance holds the title of the first certified Irish dance school in the Inland Northwest. 

The Haran Irish Dancers have been hosting two feisianna, or Irish dance competitions, titled “Feis at the Falls” and “Deirdre Abeid Memorial Feis” since 2022. Located at the Spokane Convention Center, these are Spokane’s only feisanna, with placements determining whether dancers are eligible to compete in regional, national, and world championships. Four of the dancers from the Kettle Falls school qualified for the western U.S. regional championships, Oireachtas. Kylee Espenhain placed first in both the Hard Shoe and Set Dance categories for ages 17 and over. She also took first place overall in the Preliminary Championship for her age group. RyanRose Robinson swept the Under 17 division, taking first place in Soft Shoe, Set Dance and the Preliminary Championship overall. Espenhain placed third in the Championship Special Traditional Set Dance for dancers aged 15 and over, and earned third place in the Open Championship Soft Shoe dance for ages 18 and over. Brooklyn Thompson took first place in the Adult Advanced Championship and also claimed first in the Adult Special Championship Treble Reel event. Amalie Pancoast placed second in the Adult Advanced Championship and later earned a first place finish in a solo category. In honor of Lucas Pancoast, who had previously danced for the school before his passing, a dance-off was held, where judges picked based on stage presence and how they made them feel, according to Worley. 

Oireachtas will be hosted in Spokane Nov. 21-23, where several hundred dancers from across the western U.S. will travel to compete.