You can find street performers in bustling cities around the world. When it comes to Galway, Ireland, you might come across a talented sean-nós dancer named Emma O’Sullivan.
Over the years, the dark-haired beauty has captivated many crowds with her skills. It’s not surprising though because Emma is actually a champion Irish dancer! Just wait until you see this “Galway girl” in action.
Passersby were treated to a delightful performance from Emma while visiting an outdoor shopping square.
There are some street performers that are really good at stopping people in their tracks. Emma is one of them! In the video, she transforms the brick walkway into her stage for a traditional-style of Irish dance. It doesn’t take long to see why she shines in the spotlight.
You can’t dance without good music.
Naturally, Emma’s not on the street performing alone. She’s paired up with a musician who’s playing an Irish tune on his accordion. Each artist complements the other with their talent – which is why they make such a great act!
Even little ones are drawn to Emma.
In the clip, there’s a cute girl in pink who seems to be enjoying the dancer’s performance. She shyly walks by, but would probably jump right in if she were feeling brave enough!
Along with the music, there’s the beautiful sound of her steps.
Emma grew up around sean-nós, which is an old, traditional style of Irish dance. She told Celtic Life International that sean-nós means “old way” and explained:
“Generally, you will spot a Sean Nós dancer by their tidy footwork. It is close to the floor, battering movements paired with a loose upper body. We don’t concern ourselves with the aesthetics. A lot of our focus is on sound when we dance.”
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Posted by Emma O Sullivan Dance on Monday, January 30, 2017
The internet has fallen in love with this “Galway girl.”
“Galway Girl” is a popular song by American musician Steve Earle, and it describes a meeting with a beautiful girl from the area. It’s also the title of the YouTube video below featuring Emma. Urban Dictionary defines the term as:
“A girl with black hair and blue eyes. Made famous by Steve Earle in his song Galway Girl, which is about such a girl.”
People have left comments on the video like:
“She is just so damn cute and you can tell she really loves to dance, beautiful….”
Another wrote:
“Love Emma! She is so talented!”
Emma O’Sullivan doesn’t only do street performances. She’s also an instructor, an “All-Ireland Champion,” and has toured globally with “many of the top names in traditional Irish music,” according to her website. She even offers dance classes online to people all around the world who are interested in learning sean-nós.
Posted by Emma O Sullivan Dance on Friday, November 6, 2020
When she dances, you can tell that Emma is engaging in her passion.
During the performance, she has a bright, joyful face on while she moves. Surely she’s spreading happiness to everyone around her as well!
Emma told Celtic Life International:
“…it is simply amazing to see an audience lift when you take the floor. And it is also wonderful to spend time doing what you love and knowing that you are promoting your heritage and culture.”
You can enjoy Emma’s dazzling street performance for yourself below!
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