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…The Laughter, The Fun, The Joy of Dance!
n Bridget TeeKing ’12 competing at the Great Britain Championships.
Time In Focus Photography
“We should consider every day lost
on which we have not danced at least
once,” Friedrich Nietzsche wrote. For
Taft senior Bridget TeeKing, there are
no lost days.
In 1995, the buzz from Europe was
deafening as performances of a traditional
form of Irish dance featuring precise,
quick and intricate steps took the U.K.
by storm. Riverdance debuted before U.S.
audiences the following year, during an
8-week sold-out run at New York’s Radio
City Music Hall. Americans—and
the world—were fascinated: Bridget
TeeKing was no exception.
“I loved it from the start,” said
Bridget, who began studying Irish
step dance in 1997, when she was
only five years old.
It wasn’t long before Bridget was
competing—and winning. Her natural
athleticism, combined with her
determination and drive, made her a
strong competitor. And despite a full
course load at Taft, athletics obligations
and an impressive list of activities
and academic accomplishments,
Bridget continues her commitment to
dance and her success on the international
stage: Bridget recently returned
from the U.K., where she competed in
the Great Britain Championships, the
world’s second-oldest Irish dancing
competition. Bridget finished 11th in a
field of some 150 contestants.
“I compete almost every weekend,”
said Bridget. “I usually do two or three
events to prepare for a major competition
or championship. I travel to
Massachusetts or New Jersey for the local
competitions; there are a lot of events
in New England and the Atlantic region.”
Bridget competed at the New
England Championships in November
and came in 5th, qualifying for
the 2012 World Championships.
Unfortunately, as ruled by the Irish
dancing commision (An Coimisiún Le
Rincí Gaelacha), she cannot compete
because her teachers will be judging.
She planned to travel to Dublin for the
All Ireland Championships in February.
Bridget’s world-renowned teachers
are based in Bethel, Connecticut. She
has studied with the same teachers
since she first began dancing. Three
to four times a week, Bridget leaves
campus and travels to their studio.
The rest of the week, she practices in
the dance studio at Taft.
“For me, dance counts as an arts
credit,” Bridget explained. “And my
schedule allows time for practice.”
Irish dance competitions are
highly structured. Dancers must post
a minimum of five wins at each level
of competition to advance; Bridget
has successfully moved through all six
levels. Her accomplishments qualify
her for New Englands, Nationals
and Worlds. Bridget has qualified
to represent the U.S. at the World
Championships on five occasions.
Bridget’s sisters, Megan ’13 and
Caitlin, both started dancing at age
4. Both have also competed at the
World Championships.
Next year at this time, Bridget will
be in college, where she expects to
be fully engaged in pre-med studies.
Still, she wants to continue dancing
and competing.
“Most competition levels end at age
21, so I have a few more years,” Bridget
said. “It wasn’t the most important factor
in choosing a college, but I did look
at schools that were close to competition
hubs. After that, I don’t know. I
love to dance, I love to teach and I love
to compete. Dancing has definitely
shaped who I am.”
14 Taft Bulletin Winter 2012