Okotoks | Calgary | Irish Dance | Possak Hampshire Academy

GUEST PERFORMERS WITH WORLD-RENOWNED ENTERTAINER DANIEL O'DONNELL ON HIS "BACK HOME AGAIN" TOUR AT THE SOUTHERN ALBERTA JUBILEE AUDITORIUM AND THE LETHBRIDGE ENMAX CENTRE

ENTERTAINERS AT THE ALBERTA PC PARTY CONVENTION OPENING CEREMONIES AT THE TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE

GUEST PERFORMERS THE ALBERTA SUMMER GAMES OPENING CEREMONIES AT THE LETHBRIDGE ENMAX CENTRE

FEATURED AT CALGARY'S GLOBALFEST AND INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS SHOW, TD MAINSTAGE

FEATURED IN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE JACK SINGER CONCERT HALL, CALGARY

Backbeat Irish Dancers are high-level competitors and experienced performers. We offer a professional show that celebrates traditional Irish dance (made famous by shows like Riverdance & Lord of the Dance), with a modern twist. Backbeat is available for corporate and private functions and offers ticketed performances in the southern Alberta area.

Backbeat Irish Dancers are students at the Possak Hampshire Academy who all hail from Okotoks, Calgary, Lethbridge, and the southern Alberta area. The current cast includes internationally-ranked dancers and dancers that have placed in the top three in Western Canada and the top ten in North America.

100% of the proceeds raised from Backbeat performances go to supporting these dancers as they travel annually to compete at the Western Canadian, North American and World Irish Dance Championships.

2018-19 CAST

BREE | DANCE CAPTAIN

An Open Champion, NAFC Belt qualifier, and four-time World qualifier, Bree began dancing at the age of 6. She has competed at the North American Championships every year since 2011, and at the World Championships in London in 2014, Glasgow in 2016 and Dublin in 2017. She has ranked three times in the top 5 in Western Canada, with a highest placing of 3rd. Bree has also performed with studio2stage in New York and has been accepted to join the Riverdance Summer School this July in Boston.

LILY | DANCE CAPTAIN

An Open Championship dancer, Lily started her competitive career at the age of 6. She has competed in many Western Canadian Oireachtas Championships with a highest overall placing of 10th, and at the North American Championships every year since 2013. For three consecutive summers, she was also accepted to participate in the Riverdance Summer School at Trinity College in Dublin.

GRACE | DANCE TROUPE

Grace began dancing at the age of 6 and was immediately a strong competitor, owing her to assertive stage presence. She is an Open Champion, four-time world qualifier, three-time NAFC Belt qualifier, and has ranked twice in the top 20 in North America.

NYLAGH | DANCE TROUPE

An Open Championship dancer and North American qualifier, Nylagh began dancing at the relatively late age of 11. She progressed rapidly through the ranks to rank in the top 12 in Western Canada and dance at her first North American Championships in Orlando. In summer 2017, she danced at her second North Americans in New Orleans and her third North Americans in 2018 again in Orlando.

RONAN | DANCE TROUPE

A two-time Western Canadian Champion and 6-time World qualifier, Ronan has ranked in the top 10 in North American and top 20 in the world. His consistent work ethic makes him a force to be reckoned with! We wish him every success in the upcoming dance season!

MELISSA | DANCE TROUPE

An Open Championship dancer and North American qualifier, Melissa began dancing in 2010 and progressed quickly through the competitive ranks. She has competed in six Western Canadian Oireachtas Championships and three North American Championships, earning her first North American recall in New Orleans in 2017 and her second in Orlando in 2018. She has also competed at the All Ireland Championships and has been accepted to join the Riverdance Summer School this July in Boston.

LAUREN | DANCE TROUPE

Lauren began dancing in Calgary at a young age, before making the move to Okotoks to train with Possak Hampshire. She currently competes at the Open Championship level and has danced in four Western Canadian Oireachtas Championships and three North American Championships in Orlando and New Orleans.

SHAYNE | DANCE TROUPE

Shayne began dancing at the age of 6 and from day one was a hard-working and determined dancer. Her solid work ethic has helped her progress to the Open Championship level, and compete at the Western Canadian Oireachtas in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Shayne has also competed at two North American Championships and will attend her third in July in Vancouver.

SOPHIE | DANCE TROUPE

Sophie began dancing at a young age in Calgary, before relocating to Okotoks to continue training with Possak Hampshire. She has since advanced to the Open Championship level and competed at two North American Championships in New Orleans and Orlando. She looks forward to future North Americans and her goal is to one day qualify for Worlds.

NOELLE | DANCE TROUPE

Noelle has been dancing up a storm since a young age, and isn't slowing down! An Open Champion-level dancer, Noelle has ranked in the top 10 in Western Canada and has competed at three North American Championships in Orlando and New Orleans. She looks forward to the new competitive season and many more to come.

ERYKA | DANCE TROUPE

An Open Championship dancer, Eryka began dancing at the age of 5 in High River. She has competed at the Western Canadian Championships every year since 2016, and at the North American Championships every year since 2017.

LUCY | DANCE TROUPE

Our newest addition to the Backbeat Sr Performance Troupe, Lucy currently competes at the Preliminary Championship level. She competed at her first Western Canadians in November of 2018, earning a qualification spot for the 2019 North Americans in Vancouver. Best of luck at your first NAIDC Lucy!

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BOOK BACKBEAT

"We absolutely loved Backbeat! We were so impressed with the speed of the tapping and the precision of the movement... all performed with confidence and joy!"

"Your show was fantastic. The colour, choreography,and the way the dancers handled themselves was just brilliant... be proud, all of you."

POSSAK HAMPSHIRE

ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE

SHOWS

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SHOWS

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CLASSES

CALGARY AND OKOTOKS, AB.

CLASSES

CALGARY AND OKOTOKS, AB.

CLASSES

CALGARY AND OKOTOKS, AB.