Dillon D’Amore ‘25 recently had the opportunity to tour with A Taste of Ireland, an Irish dance and music show that brings the rich history and folklore of Ireland to life through movement. 

In this interview, he shares his journey into Irish dancing, the dedication it takes to excel, and his plans for the future.

Q: Can you please tell us about the Irish Dancing Tour? How long was it and where did it take place?

Dillon: I went out on tour with an Irish Dance show called “A Taste of Ireland!” It’s an Irish dance and music show that takes the audience through the tumultuous history of Ireland. It is almost entirely told through dance and it goes through many different eras of Ireland as well as some Irish folklore, starting with the Fianna, the Viking invasions, the Famine, the Easter Rising, and finishing with modern day Ireland.

I was extremely grateful to be offered a spot in the troupe for a short month-long tour! We started off in Louisiana, then made our way through a few cities in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. We performed 13 shows during the time I was there, and it was an absolute blast every time!

Q: How did you get involved and how long have you been participating in Irish dancing?

Dillon: I’ve been Irish dancing for 13 years, ever since I was 5, and I’ve loved it from the very beginning. My whole family has done Irish dancing in some capacity, with my older siblings doing it before me, along with my mom and aunts. So, it was kind of obvious that I would become a dancer as well! I still dance under the instruction of my aunt, Megan Sanders-Paulowicz, at the O’Hare School of Irish Dance in Livonia.

As an Irish dancer growing up, dancers mostly do competitions from beginner levels up to championship levels. I was fortunate enough to be pretty good at dancing and quickly rose through the ranks! I’ve had the chance to travel and achieve top placements in Regional, National, and the World competitions.

Q: Can you tell us a little more about Irish dancing and the preparation it takes to become a dancer?

Dillon: Dancing is like any other sport in that it requires so much time, dedication, and perfection in order to be the best. Leading up to major competitions and shows I’ll be practicing at least four to five times a week, along with strength training at the gym. 

I was very excited to get this amazing opportunity, as it’s my dream to tour the world and perform! I had so much fun exploring new cities, meeting so many great friends, and most of all, I loved performing every night. Being able to give the crowd some joy out of seeing you dance just gives a great buzz that is hard to describe, but once you get that feeling, you want to keep chasing it and never let it go.

Q: Do you have any future dancing plans?

Dillon: In the future, I’d love to continue dancing and performing for as long as I can! I’d also like to potentially open up my own dancing school, to continue on the tradition that was passed down to me!

I really want to thank all my teachers, including Fr. Fulton, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Hancock, and Mr. Barker, for being so understanding and cheering me on as I went out on this adventure. It truly wouldn’t have been possible without them supporting me, and it just means so much!