Liam Snodgress is good at what he likes, and he likes what he's good at.

Irish dance is just one of the things that Liam is good at, and his passion and propensity for it have opened doors, provided opportunities and taken him places that most 17-year-olds don't get to experience.

"Irish dance is a large part of my extracurricular activities, and it's one of the biggest pieces of my life," said Liam. "It's been instrumental in the person I've become. The community I've discovered and the friends I've made through this sport is amazing."

A native of Manheim Township, Liam is a junior at the prestigious Hebron Academy boarding school in Maine. Liam got his start in Irish dance locally, and he still trains religiously at Doherty Petri Schoool of Irish Dancing in Lancaster during the summer months, Christmas break, Thanksgiving break and spring break.

Liam is an internationally ranked Irish dancer and one of the finest in his age group in the country.

"I always like saying that Irish dance is a mix between many different types of dancing," said Liam, who attended schools in Manheim Township until he was a freshman. "It's a lot of explosive movements for the boys, and for the girls, it's different. The hard shoes are about showing off and being loud."

Irish dance is part sport, part art form, part discipline, part self-expression. One of the keys to Liam's success has centered around how he interprets Irish dance.

"I consider it a sport because of the level of athleticism it requires," said Liam. "Irish dance has a lot of layers to it, and there are levels of performance. At the lower levels, it might not be considered a sport; it's more a recreational activity. It's something you dedicate an increasing amount of time to."

"I find that the athleticism and artistic elements go hand-in-hand," continued Liam. "You can interpret the steps the teacher has given you to express the person you are. There are aspects of it that can be structured, but there are also highly interpretative aspects of the sport. Sometimes you select a song to dance to and make up a dance on the spot."

In April, Liam successfully competed at the World Irish Dance Championships in Dublin, Ireland. Last November, he performed with Riverdance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Liam has also enjoyed collaborative competitive success as a member of Irish dance four-hand teams.

"I'm incredibly fortunate to have these opportunities," said Liam. "My loving mother (Beth Teske) and my incredibly supportive dance teacher (Esther Pujol) have always pushed me out of my comfort zone. It's all about the support system and all these amazing people who have gotten me to open up."

Liam's interest in Irish dance was initially sparked when he was 9 years old. He first began Irish dancing as a way to train for soccer, but the social aspects of it have always appealed to him.

"One of my friends on the soccer team started Irish dancing," said Liam. "My mom saw it as a way for me to make friends. For the first few years, it was something to do to get better at soccer. During COVID, I didn't have soccer anymore, and that's when my family and I decided to dive fully into Irish dancing. The ability to work one-on-one in my basement allowed me to hone my craft."

Despite his passion for Irish dancing, Liam isn't exactly sure how it fits into his future plans.

"At this moment in time, I'm getting ready for college, and I'm not sure where I want to take Irish dancing," said Liam, who's considering majors in the biomechanical field. "Maybe I'll join a dance company or performance group after college. Maybe I'll continue doing it recreationally. I know it's not really kind on the body after doing it for a decade or two."