Artist Director Mark Howard of Trinity Irish Dance Company is serious—serious about dance. Do not mistake his Irish dancers for slow-moving folk dancers. This ain't no polka, Folks.
The Trinity Irish Dance Company, located in Chicago, started as Howard describes it, "a happy accident." "It was nothing I planned," he continues, "but I followed my heart and gut, and the result was the development of a progressive Irish dance."
Over the past ten years, the Emmy Award-winning choreographer has synthesized dance forms, transcending the craft and creating art; creating something uniquely different in dance. While always searching for original means of expression, Howard still maintains a high regard for tradition.
Born in Yorkshire, England and raised in Chicago by his Irish mother and English dad, Howard began his dancing career at the age nine at Chicago's Dennehy School of Irish Dance. "My parents wanted to hold tight to the Celtic tradition and enrolled me in an Irish dance program." By the age of 17, he launched his own dance school—the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance— which has won an unprecedented 24 world titles for the United States.
"Our dance has a unique style somewhat because of the combination of my art background, ethnic heritage, and where I grew up. I grew up learning Irish dance in Chicago, but I paid attention to many other dance forms, including African and Indian and what I spit back was a carving of a new tradition," said Howard.
"It became a new genre of dance so we just called it a progressive dance," he added.
Doors started opening up for the dance company after winning the silver medal, and later the gold, in the World Championships of Irish Dance. "We were invited to many talk shows including 'The Tonight Show' with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, 'Late Night' with Conan O'Brien and CBS 'This Morning." The exposure led to other television appearances for Trinity. Later, the publicity won performances in movies for directors like Ron Howard.
Intent on preserving the legacy of Irish dance and providing a creative outlet and professional livelihood for dancers, Howard formed the Trinity Irish Dance Company at age 29. Before Trinity, there were no Irish step dancers performing collectively outside the competitive realm. "We made a big jump in the 90's from a dance, only relegated to competitions, to a professional dance company."
For the last 10 years, Howard has done extensive film work for Disney, Touchstone, Universal and DreamWorks. He recently choreographed scenes for Road to Predition, and during this time, Howard became a personal dance coach for Tom Hanks.
The world renowned dance company toured Japan last year and were asked back to tour for a three-month junket this year. "We really made a break through in Japan. They really got what we were about. I was told that the reason our dance is so popular is because it embodies all the things the Japanese appreciate like that we are masters of our craft, innovative—meaning the only ones doing what we do—and display a humble character," said Howard.
Howard hasn't made any compromises on his dance genre despite rising acclaim. "I took the performing art path verses a commercial route. Making money isn't the focus but recreating is. The people who are the best are never as well known. But they are in there because they love it," he said.
The dance company is currently on tour and will be in Chicago on Feb. 4 displaying their unique dance as part of the 2006 Chinese Global New Year at the Arie Theatre.
Trinity Academy of Irish Dance programs are located in Chicago on the Northwest Side and Lakeview; and Western Springs, Downers Grove, Evanston, Northfield and Arlington Heights, Illinois and in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Madison, Wisconsin.
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