Darrah Carr Dance

"Carr's immensely likable and skillful dancers move with a space-gobbling buoyancy and
openness that looks as if they might take flight."

— The New York Times

The Bessie Award-nominated company Darrah Carr Dance brings a bold new twist to conventional Irish dance. Their acclaimed performances draw from Irish music, step dance footwork and spatial patterns to create high-energy, rhythmically based work that is accessible to a broad audience. The company is comprised of championship Irish dancers including Trent Kowalik, Tony Award winner and the original star of Broadway's Billy Elliot and Timothy Kochka, two-time winner of the World Irish Dancing Championships and former member of Riverdance.  Artistic Director Darrah Carr was named one of the "Top 100 Irish Americans of the Year" by Irish America Magazine and was awarded the Irish Heritage Award from the New York City Comptroller Office in recognition of her contribution to the cultural life of New York's Irish community.

Community outreach programs offer a whirlwind introduction to Irish dance including its history, costumes, and traditions. Residencies activities include in-school performances, workshops, master classes and community dance classes.

Darrah Carr Dance tours exclusively with live music and offers four distinct programs.

  • Celtic Jazz Tryst Irish step dance meets swing music from a bygone era, featuring live accompaniment by jazz vocalist Tara O'Grady and her Black Velvet Band.

  • Ceilidh: An Evening of Irish Music and Dance brings the friendly spirit of an Irish social gathering— a ceilidh or house party—to your community featuring music, dances, songs, and storytelling.

  • Dancing the Great Arc/Dancing the Coral Suite a choreographic exploration based on the dynamic concept albums by fiddler Dana Lyn and guitarist Kyle Sanna, inspired by and concerned with extinct and endangered animal species and the life cycles and natural processes that occur within reef ecosystems.

  • Baile: A Celtic Christmas Celebration a high-energy Irish Christmas celebration to ring in the holidays.