The Spirit of Salinas Irish Dancers are
trained in both Irish dance and ballet,
making them a versatile and exciting group
of performers.
The dancers take technique classes, attend
rehearsals and perform in over thirty venues
each year, at times having multiple
performances in one day. With full length
shows for St. Patrick's Day celebration,
church functions and corporate events, the
company repertoire includes a patriotic
show, a traditional Irish show and a more
contemporary show. Each show is fully
costumed with stunning costumes for every
dance number.
The Salinas School of Dance was founded in
1938 by Ramon Renov, a principle dancer with
the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo. Renov
turned over the operation of the Russian
style ballet school to Lisa Eisemann in 1980
when he retired.
Over the years, classes have grown and
Irish dancing was added in 1995. By 1996,
the Spirit of Salinas Irish Dance Company
was performing around the community.
Lisa Eisemann, a Salinas native, attended
Santa Catalina High School before leaving
the area to attend college. Beginning ballet
classes at the age of two, she continued to
dance while at college, often traveling to
Europe and Canada to study with well known
companies and teachers. After purchasing the
studio, Eisemann began to build a ballet
company and later, the Spirit of Salinas
Irish Dance Company.
After studying with Eileen O'Doherty of the
Northwest Irish Dancers in Seattle ,
Eisemann expanded the Irish dance company
and wrote and taught an innovative class
called “Ballet for the Irish Dancer,”
providing strengthening and turn-out
exercises for Irish dance teachers.
Today, Eisemann is the director and choreographer
for the Spirit of Salinas
and Spirit of
Santa Cruz Irish Dancers.
An associate member of An Comhdhail, The
Congress of Irish Dance Teachers based in
Dublin , Ireland , she has taken dancers to
the All-Ireland International Irish Dance
Competition in Ireland for the past two
years.
The studio teaching routine and the
company performance schedule have made the
dancers one of the most popular
entertainment groups in Monterey and Santa
Cruz Counties. Today, they are often booked
over one year in advance for shows,
weddings, and St. Patrick's Day events.
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The Spirit of Salinas Irish Dance Company holds an annual Teddy Bear Drive to provide individually wrapped teddy bears to the Salinas Police Department. Officers carry the bears in their cars to hand out to children in traumatic situations such as car accidents, domestic violence, house fires or when a parent is arrested. The dancers set a new record in Dec. 2008, donating 580 bears which were accepted by Chief Daniel Ortega just prior to his retirement. The dancers have a special place in their hearts for this police chief, the only chief they have ever known.
Corporate sponsors joined individual donors to set this record and will receive advertising at all dance shows and in all programs for the calendar year 2009. This was the fifth year for this community service project which has provided over 2000 bears to local children in crisis. |
