Feet of Fire: Irish step-dancers heat up World-Fest w/ Feet of Fire photo slide show and link to listen to Irish harp music

By Dave Woods

dwoods@joplinglobe.com

BRANSON, Mo. — It’s her love of Irish culture that drew Dottie Hoffman to Silver Dollar City’s annual World-Fest celebration.

“It’s my heritage. It’s the music and the language I love. Oh, and the beer,” the 65-year-old Nixa resident said with a laugh while standing in line to see the Feet of Fire Irish dance and music show.

Bennie Hardy, 75, and his wife, June, 72 from Texas County, Mo., have been making regular pilgrimages to Silver Dollar City every year since 1972.

“I’ve made it to all of their World-Fests,” June said. “I like seeing the people from different countries and dresses and art, and we like to sample all the different food.”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see different acts,” her husband added. “We can’t go to these places in the world today ... it’s too expensive and too dangerous. For most of us, this is as close as we will ever get.”

‘Feeling their ancestry’

Continuing through May 4, World-Fest is an annual celebration of international music and culture.

This year, it features performers from five continents and nine countries. Headlining this year’s slate of performers is the Irish step-dancing act, Feet of Fire.

“The audiences have loved the show so far,” said Stephanie Molloy, a 19-year-old step-dancer from Dublin, Ireland. “We see the same people coming back time and time again. I think it’s going down well.”

Damean Frael, 23, another step-dancer in the Feet of Fire show, agreed.

“They have been really open to the music,” he added. “They love the rhythm.”

The Feet of Fire show features a nine-piece Irish band, nine young step-dancers, several fire-dancing numbers and world-renowned Irish harper Dearbhail Finnegan.

“I think in their hearts they are feeling their ancestry,” Finnegan said. “I think Ireland looks a lot like it does around here. When we play, I can feel the audience going with it.