HIDA Takes on the World
Hogan Irish Dance Academy is making a name for itself in the very crowded and competitive world of Irish dance. In fact, they are sending their first dancer to the World Championships of Irish Dance this Spring.
Established in the late summer of 2017, the Arlington Heights based dance school is focused on providing a family-friendly environment focusing on a 360 approach that allows their dancers to experiment with school activities. It's an intentional remedy for a world full of hyper-specialization where kids get on one path early in life.
Arlington Heights native, Caitlin Hogan Hubick, brought her Irish dance experience back to her hometown in hopes of building what she calls her dance family. Hubick adds, "I always talk about Team Hogan as my dance family. We laugh, we cry, we work hard, and we root for each other in every step towards meeting our goals."
As in all competitive sports, there is only a small percentage of dancers who will reach the highest levels. Hubick believes there is a path to train the most elite dancers while empowering every dancer to set and achieve their goals.
Hogan dancer, Ella Bahna, qualified for the World Championships at the Mid-American Oireachtas which took place in Louisville, KY last November. The Chicago native competed in the Girls under 13 category which included 189 dancers. Bahna's qualification consisted of a combined score of 3 dances; slip jig, treble jig, and set dance, titled King of the Fairies. This year's World Championships will be a first for both dancer, teacher, and school. Hubick adds, "I've worked with Ella for years and dancing at Worlds has been her goal for a long time. It's my honor to take her to the next level and to push her to dream even bigger.".
The 2019 World Championships will take place in Greensboro, NC. This will be only the 3rd time the international competition has taken place in the US in its 49 year history. It will return to Dublin, Ireland next year for the 50th anniversary.
Hogan Irish Dance Academy offers classes for dancers as young as 3 years of age in 2 different Arlington Heights locations, including the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in downtown Arlington Heights. In addition to performances at Irish fests, schools, and community centers, Hogan is offering a series of 3-day dance camps starting in June this summer.