When Jennifer Raff was looking for an activity for her daughters that she felt was safer than horseback riding, she heard about the Hooley School of Irish Dance, then located in Akron. She enrolled her older daughter, Olivia, and soon her younger daughter, Natalie, was also interested. "I wanted to do the same thing as (my big sister)," explained Natalie.

Now Natalie, a 13-year-old Conestoga Valley Virtual Academy student, is a top Irish dancer, placing 10th in the World Irish Dance Championships - the second-highest American in her age group - in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in April. To qualify for the competition, she won the U.S. National Championships in July 2021 and placed third at the Mid-Atlantic Region Oireachtas in November 2021. Just under 200 dancers competed in the same division as Natalie. The contest drew thousands of dancers from more than 20 countries, but the top eight finalists were all from Ireland.

Natalie, who is a student of Sara Locke, has participated in several national competitions in the past, traveling to both Ireland and Scotland to compete. Dancers compete in three categories: hard shoe, which uses a shoe with a built-up sole; soft shoe, where the shoes are more like supple ballet slippers; and set, which is also a hard shoe dance. Jennifer said that Natalie got much more serious about competing during the COVID-19 shutdown. "(The girls) were home and didn't have as much to do," said Jennifer. "It was good exercise."

Both mother and daughter commented on the distinctive costumes associated with the activity. Jennifer noted that just a few decades ago the costumes were decorated more with traditional embroidery and fewer flashy decorations. "The skirts were longer and they had pleats in front," she said, adding that hard panels helped to hold skirts in place. "As the dancing has evolved to become more athletic, (the costumes changed)," she explained, adding, "You can't kick with those (panels) in there." Natalie's costumes are designed especially for her by a company in England that the family has worked with for several years. The designer developed her signature black and yellow look for her.

Irish dance competitors are also known for hair that is piled high on their heads. "We tried curling her hair, but before we knew it, we were putting on the big wig," said Jennifer, who noted that hair accessories called "doughnuts" may be piled three high on a dancer's head. "They're not too heavy," noted Natalie.

Jennifer pointed out that the tall hair is more than just a style. "When you're on that big stage in a concert hall, because the (dancers) are further away, the bigger hair does look better," she said.

Because Natalie's schooling is now done in a hybrid format with some online and some in person, her schedule will allow her to continue to practice her dancing with a focus on competitions. Natalie still trains at the Hooley School, now located in Brownstown, which is owned and directed by Crystal Carper, a certified Irish dance teacher and adjudicator.