Driven by inspiration and strengthened through competition, teamwork, and leadership, Grey Love continues to grow as a dedicated Irish dancer preparing for the world stage.
By Fleur Romijn
Senior Grey Love’s dance journey began when she was just a little girl watching her mom dance. “My mum did dance when I was little and I was like, ‘Wow, my mommy is so cool, I want to do that too,’” Love said. Inspired by her mom, she started taking lessons and never looked back.
Since then, Love has built an impressive dance career filled with meaningful milestones. One of her proudest achievements was placing fourth at her regional competition–a moment that made all her hard work feel worth it. But for Love, success isn’t just about medals. Performing each year at St. Patrick’s Day and taking part in Céilí (traditional group) dances are just as special.
Music plays a major role in her preparation, especially since competition music changes every season. Dancers must quickly adapt to new rhythms, and performance music often differs from what they use in competitions. Love explained that “staying flexible and ready for change is part of the sport.
As St. Patrick’s day approaches—one of the busiest times of the year for Irish dances—practices become more intense. In addition to her regular training schedule, Love attends extra rehearsals for holiday performances. She also takes on key leadership responsibilities, even choreographing some of her dances herself. “Practices can get a little stressful because we go over the same spot a bunch of times to perfect it,” she said, “but it’s also so satisfying when it all comes together.”
Despite the pressure, Love describes performing as “amazing and fun.” Most of her routines are group dances, which highlights the strong team bond within Irish dance. Solo moments arise within the larger group performance, making teamwork essential.
Love is currently preparing for the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, one of the highest levels of competition in Irish dance. Preparing for such a major event isn’t easy. “There’s always a moment a couple weeks out where you feel completely unprepared,” she shared. “Getting over that hill is the hardest part. You just have to trust yourself.”
To handle the stress, Love focuses on balance. She makes sure to take rest days, journal regularly, and set aside time to relax. While her total practice hours don’t increase dramatically, the intensity does. Instructors focus clearly on small details to ensure dances are fully prepared.
For students thinking about trying Irish dance, Love offers some meaningful advice: “It’s hard at the beginning, but stick with it. It’s worth it, I promise.”
Dance, she says, is her favorite thing in the world. Looking ahead, Love hopes to continue dancing through college and to keep her passion alive for years to come. For her, Irish dance isn’t just about competition titles or big performances. It’s about passion, perseverance, and the joy of doing what she loves, one step at a time.
