When she was a little girl, Rachel Kern dreamed of being a doctor, not a dancer like some of her peers. With college fast approaching, the Howell High School freshman remains committed to her goals of healing the sick and making a real difference.
Rachel Kern of Freehold Township, a freshman at Howell High School, has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She is working hard as she prepares to travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to take part in the Irish dancing World Championships in March. But those who know Rachel might say she has already done much to make this world a more beautiful place – not through medicine, but with the art of dance. Ever since she saw “Riverdance” on Broadway, the Freehold Township resident has been dedicated to the amazing “sport,” as she calls it, of Irish dancing.
Rachel started dancing at the age of 3. One class at the Princeton Ballet School turned into an obsession. She started dancing at the Gallery of Dance at 5, participating in tap, jazz and ballet classes. That same year she got her first taste of the stage – appearing as a party child in “The Nutcracker” with the Shore Ballet. (She still loves an audience and can be seen dancing locally in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations).
She remembers how she felt watching “Riverdance.”
“Everything about it I just loved! The technique of dancing down to their costumes! I knew right away that this was the next form of dance that I wanted to learn,” Rachel said.
From there, Rachel had dancing in her blood and there was no going back. She will have the chance to show off her talent to the world, having earned the right to travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland, in March to represent the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in the World Championships. Qualifying to dance at the World Championships is what Irish dancers strive for, Rachel explained, and only the top 10 percent in the world qualify to compete at this event.
Preparation for the upcoming contest has been grueling, but according to the teen, so worth it.
“I have to go to class three or four times a week. Classes can run two to four hours,” Rachel said. “The days I do not attend class, I practice in my dance room at home. I had to be fully dedicated to this sport in order to move up to the level I am at now, which is the Open Championship level.”
Rachel’s favorite dance is the slip jig- a soft shoe dance that is performed in a “smooth and light” way.
“You have to be up on your toes and always be pointed. I have been told that the slip jig is my best round. I feel as if I can take my time and use my best technique during the slip jig,” she said.
With all of the many extracurricular activities available to Howell High School’s Performing Arts Center students (she is on the dance team and plays field hockey), how does she find the time for more?
“I stick with Irish dancing because I love it so much. Irish dance is so exciting and different from all of the other types of dance. It has been exciting for me as a dancer and a great challenge to move up through the levels of Irish dance,” she said.
In order to move up to the next level, dancers have to earn three first-place honors to qualify. Rachel has devoted the last eight years to perfecting her craft.
“My reward came in November 2007 when I qualified to dance at the World Championships. It was the happiest day of my life!” she exclaimed.
A commitment to Irish dancing can be expensive and time consuming. Traveling to practice (in Westfield and Verona) and costumes (rhinestone-encrusted dresses made by top designers range from $600 to $4,000) can take a toll on the family of a dancer.
Rachel’s family, however, takes the sacrifices in stride.
“Our one wish for Rachel was to qualify to go to the World Championships,” said her mom, Jill Kern. “She has worked so hard for so many years and it finally paid off. We want Rachel to enjoy dancing and to know how proud we are of her and what a great achievement this is. She is a special and talented person, and always has great sportsmanship, which I feel is most important.”
While some people might watch Irish dancing and notice how different it is from more common ballet and tap dances, Rachel believes there is nothing wrong with being different. In fact, she fully embraces the beauty and uniqueness of her dance.
The most difficult aspect of Irish dance, she said, is that a dancer has to keep the upper part of their body tight, with arms held firmly at their side at all times. This can be a difficult concept for a young dancer to master and takes many years to learn how to achieve this form.
Rachel, however, doesn’t mind the difficulty. In fact, she loves everything about it – including the fact that her lessons have taught far more than the ability to take to the stage.
“I have learned many things from Irish dancing. I learned that you must be dedicated in order get to the top in anything you do. You also have to be a very focused person and be willing to take criticism well, and learn from your mistakes. I have learned that hard work pays off. The more effort you put into something the more you will get out,” the teenager said.
Though she wants to continue competition dancing through high school, Rachel is not sure if there will be time for the grueling practice once she begins her studies to be a doctor in college. For now, though, her sights are set short term and it is practice, practice, practice.
“Irish dance practice is grueling. I must practice hard in order to become a better dancer. I have had many days when my feet were covered with blisters from new hard shoes, and many days when I could barely stand up at the end of class. The practices last many hours and the teachers work you until you can’t dance anymore. For me, all the hard work I put in has definitely paid off. I cannot wait until I leave for Belfast,” Rachel said.