The powerful scent of shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and loaded nachos break through the heavy heat of the late summer air. Flickers of green dominate the eye and the rhythmic sounds of clapping and contemporary Irish bluegrass pierce the atmosphere. Soft shoes secured, toes methodically pointed and head held high, junior Mary Kelly Shevlin makes her way to the center of the stage at the Kansas City Irish Fest and dances to the resounding beat.

Shevlin has been participating in Irish dance for three years and has since fallen in love with the art and the progress she is able to make every time she gets to move her feet.
“I love the creativity and how much I can push my body,” Shevlin said. “Every class I get better, and I can see my improvement.”

Since Shevlin began Irish dancing, she has performed in multiple festivals and competitions from local to regional levels.

“Annually, the biggest competition is our regional Oireachtas. From Oireachtas, you can go to the World Championships,” Shevlin said. “I’ve been to Oireachtas once, [but] typically I go to smaller competitions called ‘feiseanna’ five or six times a year.”

Shevlin’s disposition and commitment have paid off in terms of her advancement in dancing, and she even goes steps further to help those around her, according to fellow Irish dancer Eva Pace.

“As far as dancing goes, she’s very good at soft shoe and at pointing her toes. If she ever has trouble with steps, she figures it out right away,” Pace said. “She’s very hardworking and willing to help me and the other dancers out with our steps if we need it.”

In addition to being one of her passions, Irish dance has also been a way for Shevlin to connect more deeply to her Irish heritage.

“MK performs at the Kansas City Irish Fest every year, and her school, the Driscoll School of Irish Dance, marches in and performs in the Saint Patrick’s Day parades,” mother Leslie Shevlin said. “[Her] dancing has immersed us in the music of our cultural heritage much more fully than we would have been.”

This newfound deeper connection to Shevlin’s Irish ancestry has also made a recent trip to Ireland all the more meaningful to her.

“Traveling to Ireland was incredible. I got to see where my family is from, and I got to connect with the culture even more than I ever had before,” Shevlin said. “We do a lot of Irish cultural stuff such as local Irish music, the festivals and the food, but it was so cool to see where it all started.”

Shevlin’s time in Irish dancing has also allowed her to make new connections with others in her studio and given her a chance to shine in a unique atmosphere.

“We first met in our novice class and I remember she would smile every time I saw her,” Pace said. “She’s super sweet, considerate, supportive and one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. She’s nice to everyone, even if they’re not friends and makes new dancers feel welcome.”

On top of everything else, dance has become a reliable constant that Shevlin can feel comfortable in and rely on and know that it will always be there for her.

“Dance has really helped me get through anything life throws at me. My coach supports me so much and the people at my studio have become like family,” Shevlin said.

“Dance is a constant that never changes, and it’s something that I can always count on. When I dance I don’t think about anything else except my feet, the beat and making my coach proud.”