Celebrating Our Amazing Dancers at the CRN North American National Championships!
We are bursting with pride following our dancers' outstanding performances at the CRN North American National Championships in St. Louis! This two-day event brought dancers together from across the continent, competing by level and age. While competition results are always exciting, we are most proud of the dedication, resilience, and spirit our dancers showed throughout the entire journey.
Congratulations to All Our Competitors!
Irish dance competitions are about so much more than just trophies and titles. They teach valuable life skills like discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. Our dancers have dedicated countless hours to practice, refining their steps, and pushing themselves to improve. Their hard work paid off in St. Louis, and we couldn't be prouder! A special shout-out to the incredible parents who support their dancers every step of the way—your dedication makes all the difference.
We'd also like to extend our gratitude to our wonderful teaching team and the CRN North America Committee for their hard work in making this event possible.
Special Congratulations to Our Dancers Who Leveled Out of Their Dances
We are thrilled to recognize these amazing dancers for achieving the next step in their Irish dance journey:
Bun Grad
Jack Hauser - Slip Jig
Annie Cooper - Slip Jig
Ullmhuchan
Addie Gallagher - Slip Jig
Clara Evrard - Reel
Lizzie Renfrow - Single Jig
Viviana Anderson - Treble Jig
Ellie Campbell - Hornpipe
Mean Grad
Ellie Campbell - Single Jig
Ard Grad
While there weren't enough competitors to officially "level out," these dancers still earned first place honors:
Levi Bigalke - Reel
Katie Dill - Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig
Gavin - Slip Jig, Treble Jig
Judi Risler - Slip Jig, Treble Jig, Hornpipe
Priomh Duesanna Awards
These dancers earned special placements in their respective levels:
Bun Grad
Jack Hauser - 9th
Lucai Hauser - 6th
Annie Cooper - 4th
Addie Gallagher - 1st (Fully levels out of Bun Grad)
Vinnie Cooper - 1st (Fully levels out of Bun Grad)
Ullmhuchan
Robert Harshman - 4th
Clara Evrard - 1st (Fully levels out of Ullmhuchan)
Viviana Anderson - 3rd
Lizzie Renfrow - 1st (Fully levels out of Ullmhuchan)
Mean Grad
Justus McKinley - 1st (Now fully Ard Grad)
Ellie Campbell - 2nd
Isabelle Roberts - 7th
Alex Renfrow - 1st (Now fully Ard Grad)
Ard Grad
Gavin Bigalke - 2nd
Jessica Bigalke - 2nd
Katie Dill - 2nd
Julia Mauk - 3rd
Judi Risler - 1st - Our Lafayette instructor and now NEW CHAMPION!
A Huge Congratulations to Judi Risler - Now in Craobh Grad!
New Champion
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Judi Risler, our dedicated and inspiring Lafayette instructor, has achieved an incredible milestone by moving fully into Craobh Grad! This is the highest level of competitive Irish dance and a remarkable achievement that reflects Judi's years of hard work, dedication, and passion for Irish dance. Judi's perseverance and love for teaching have not only helped her reach this goal but have also inspired countless dancers along the way.
Judi, we are so incredibly proud of you! Congratulations on this outstanding achievement—you are a true champion in every sense of the word!
The Benefits of Irish Dance Competitions
Participating in competitions like these helps our dancers:
Build confidence as they perform in front of judges and audiences
Develop resilience by learning to embrace feedback and push themselves to improve
Foster lifelong friendships with fellow dancers from across North America
Gain a sense of accomplishment by setting goals and achieving them
We are so incredibly proud of every dancer who stepped on stage in St. Louis. Whether you brought home a medal or simply danced your best, you represented McGovern Irish Dance with heart and dedication. Here's to continuing to grow, improve, and celebrate the joy of Irish dance!
Congratulations again to all of our dancers, parents, and teachers—your hard work and support truly make McGovern Irish Dance a family to be proud of!