Jean-Marie Neave doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. The Carle Place sophomore is a cheerleader, varsity track star and on the JV bowling team. She was also recently the Lady of the Lake in Carle Place’s production of Spamalot. She’s a multi-faceted entertainer, taking tap dancing classes and voice lessons.
In the midst of all that, Neave has also cultivated the distinct skill of Irish step dancing. She was first inspired to try it after seeing it on a TV show when she was six years old and she told her mom she wanted to try it. Her mom was more than happy to sign her up for lessons, wanting Neave to learn something about her Irish heritage.
Now, nine years later, Neave is an award-winning dancer. At the end of March, she’ll head to Montreal for the World Irish Dancing Championships, an exclusive competition that draws the best dancers from all over the world. This is Neave’s second time qualifying for the World Championships; she also made it two years ago.
“After last year I didn’t qualify so this year it was kind of a shocker. I was working back to get to where I was two years ago,” Neave said. “It was such an amazing feeling qualifying again.”
She’s preparing for the big event by being at every practice her teacher, Donny Golden from the Donny Golden School of Irish Dance, holds. She practices close to 15 hours each week.
“You have to drill what you can’t do so you know how to do it, and practice as much as you can,” Neave said. “I drill everything to make sure everything is perfect and spot on so I don’t make mistakes. Sometimes steps come naturally, otherwise they don’t.”
All that practice pays off once she’s on stage. Neave says she loves the feeling of performing and having all eyes on her.
“I love the feeling you get when you’re on stage and everyone’s watching and in awe of what you’re doing. That makes me feel so good,” Neave said. “When I dance, it’s like my dancing is talking and I can express myself that way. I love expressing myself without even having to say a word.”
Dancing has also opened up many doors for Neave. She’s been able to meet a lot of new friends and has performed all over the world, as well as competed overseas. This month alone, she will be performing in 30 shows, including marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City.
“It’s such an amazing opportunity to be Irish dancing,” Neave said. “So many things have come up and everywhere I go people know I’m an Irish dancer.”
