Irish dancers prepping for St. Patrick’s Day Parade

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Final preparations are underway for the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in three years here in the City of Rochester. A fresh coat of green paint was added to the parade route where hundreds of Irish dancers will take to the street.

News10NBC visited one local Irish Dancing School where last-minute practices were taking place.

Get ready for some feet stomping action, and high kicks in the air as these Irish dancers return to this year’s parade in all their glory.

"Rain, snow, sleet, or shine. They’re going to be there, and they’re ready to rock and roll," said dance mom Linda Walworth as the team was practicing.

Flip the traditional Irish music on, and the young women here at the Rochester Academy of Irish Dance can put on a performance. Although they practice all year long, for the past couple of weeks they’ve been preparing for this weekend’s St. Patty’s Day Parade. Maggie Broomfield has been Irish dancing in the parade since she was 8 years old.

"I love being able to dance around town, and dance in the parade every year. So I’m really looking forward to it this year," said Broomfield.

The pandemic never officially stopped them from performing but did cause the cancellation of most parades.

"They were very disappointed for the past 2 years it was canceled," Walworth said. "So we’re just really happy to be there, and happy that it’s going to be marching as normal."

Their dancing gets to show off an integral part of their Irish culture.

"I’m Irish, and that’s why I started Irish dancing. So getting time to celebrate our culture, and share it with everyone is so much fun," Broomfield said.

Fellow dancer Cassie Lang added, "Being out there with, like representing the community, and showing my Irish culture is very important to me."

Marchers and the crowds lining the streets will do so in snowy wintry conditions.

"I’m very prepared. I love the snow so I can’t wait to go out there, and dance in the snow," Lang said.

The 45th Annual Downtown Rochester St. Patrick’s Day parade starts at 12:30 p.m. and is expected to draw a crowd of more than 70,000 people.