Rochester's Luck of the Irish

Posted at: 06/06/2012 1:14 PM | Updated at: 06/06/2012 3:39 PM
By: Janet Lomax | WHEC.com

He's been teaching Irish Dance for 25 years. Edward Murphy is a fixture in the Rochester dance community, as an adjunct professor at Brockport and founder of Drumcliffe Irish and Contemporary Dance. Now he is being honored in a special show this weekend.

It will be much more than just Irish Dance.

Murphy said, " I love Irish dancing but I love people, so I really need to explore as many options of moving styles as I possibly can."

So that includes several pieces you'll see performed by some talented young African American men, set to Gospel music. But you'll also see the familiar rhythms of traditional Irish Dance too. Murphy started teaching a quarter of a century ago and even he is surprised he's been at it this long.

Murphy said, " I never expected it to be my career.  I always expected it to be something I did on the side."

Murphy  trained as an educator, was teaching school full time, but then, he says, the blockbuster show,  "Riverdance" happened.

Murphy said, "All of a sudden my studio tripled in size and I was starting to make a little money. I didn't have to teach school anymore."

It's safe to say over the years, Murphy has influenced thousands of students. More than 100 of them including alumni will join him Saturday for a big event at the School of the Arts, to celebrate his longevity in the business.

Murphy practices what he preaches. He'll take the stage on Saturday too. When it's all over he wants his dancers and the audience to remember one thing:

Murphy said, "I'm just very thankful that they've been able to support me and allow me to do the things I do, that I feel I do best."

Drumcliffe Irish and Contemporary Dance will have two performances Saturday June 9, 2012 at 3:30p.m. and again at 7:30p.m.

For more information on tickets, click here.

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