06-11-2023 Capital Style - Flipbook - Page 67
Izzie is the reigning North American champion in her age group for Irish
dance. SILPA SADHUJAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Isabella‘Izzie’Renzi, second from left, practices
Irish dance during a class. Other dance students,
who also competed in the recent North American
Irish Dance championship are Katharina Miller, 13,
of Bowie, left, Annabelle Baker, 14, of Severna Park,
third from left, and Leila Frederick, 12, of Crofton,
right. PHOTO BY AMY DAVIS
nights and Falls Church on the weekends.
Shortly before major competitions, the dancers
rehearse four nights a week.
The studios are loud but casual. Morgan
and many of his students show up wearing
T-shirts and Under Armour shorts. They could
be heading to soccer practice were it not for the
shoes. Irish dance can be performed in both
soft shoes, which resemble ballet slippers with
laces, and hard shoes, with flexible split soles,
chunky heels and a rubber stopper on the end
that allows dancers to balance on their toes.
Each dancer executes both soft-shoe and
hard-shoe dances during a competition. There
are also small ensembles, known as four and
eight “in hand” dances, and a dance drama
category. During the 2022-2023 competition
cycle, Morgan McGrath students took home the
dance drama award at regional, continental and
world championships for their performance
featuring characters from the beloved Netflix
television series “Derry Girls.”
Solo competitions require elaborate wigs,
sequined costumes and spray tans, even for
olive-skinned girls like Izzie, who boasts
an Italian and Puerto Rican heritage. Her
competition dress is white with swirls of
rhinestones sewn into the seams. A black inset
on the bodice is marked with orange diamondshapes (black, white and orange being the
signature color of McGrath Morgan.) Even
though her hair is dark and long, she competes
“Ballet was a
little slow for
me. Irish dance
was more
exciting. I liked
all the tricks.”
— Isabella ‘Izzie’
Renzi, dancer
Summer 2023 | CAPITAL STYLE |
67
