Kieran Jordan: A jolly good "fellow"

If you've ever seen Kieran Jordan perform -- whether at ICONS, "Christmas Celtic Sojourn" or the Boston Celtic Music Fest, to name a few -- then you know she is one terrific dancer, choreographer and innovator, continually finding ways to bring a contemporary sensibility to the Irish dance tradition while maintaining a deep respect for its roots.
So it's nice to hear that Kieran's been selected as an "Artist Fellow" by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, in the category of Traditional Arts. Artist Fellowships provide assistance to individual artists "to recognize excellence and creative ability and to support further development of their talents."

(Photo: Kieran Jordan and Niall O'Leary at ICONS 2007)

By the way, Kieran is getting set to release her first self-produced DVD, a mini-documentary about old style Irish step dancing, featuring Kevin Doyle and Aidan Vaughan, two of her longstanding collaborators, teachers, mentors and friends. The DVD, "Secrets of the Sole: Irish Dance Steps and Stories," has very much of a home-spun feel to it, she notes: Interviews and performances were filmed in her living room, in the presence of a 10-person "studio audience." Boston-based musicians Geroge Keith (fiddle) and Sean Gannon (accordion) provided the music.
Kieran says she hopes to have copies ready for release by September -- be sure to check her Web site for updates.

--Sean Smith