YoungArts

Hello again YoungArts!

Taipei International Airport, Taiwan. It's 8 pm local time, but I'm still operating on a clock that's 12 hours behind in Los Angeles. I'm exhausted, but I know that once I see my friends flying in from all over the UK, Europe, and Australia, I'll get a second wind.

We're all part of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, the touring dance show that made me want to begin Irish dancing in 1996. It's a dream come true to be in Taiwan with the troupe; Irish dance is still relatively new in Asia, and audiences there still go wild for the show that's been on the road for 14 years.

The last show of a tour is always the best, but our closing night in Kaohsiung was particularly energized. The "Lord of the Dance," my good friend Bobby from England, jumped off the stage and into the audience during the encore, ran down the aisles slapping five with everyone, and hopped back on stage in time to cue the closing pyrotechnics and fireworks. I remember thinking, as the sparks flew in front of the stage: this is what I've always wanted.

I know that college is right around the corner for me, but for now, I am just so thankful that I can say I followed my dream. Without YoungArts' support, passion, and above all, personal encouragement, I'm not sure that I would have taken the chance to audition for Lord of the Dance. I can't thank YoungArts enough.

Blog By: Declan Crowley: 2009 YoungArts Winner in Dance.