Irish Springtime - Baby Katherine Healy Ballet

Silver medal performance as youngest competitor at 13 years old in Jackson, MS competition 1982. Healy is significantly and visibly younger (still a child, in fact) here than in any of the other videos I have posted. This was one of her first non-child role ballet performances ever. Cute, but quite clearly lacking the maturity and technical depth of later years.
Choreography: David Howard
Music arranged and played by Lynn Stanford

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Irish
• Springtime
• Ballet

[amandapanda1116]

When did she start?

[whitewallsm]

Three and a half. Most ballet schools don't take kids that young, though.

[AvalonFae]

I have to disagree, respectfuly, with your description of this dancer as having "quite clearly lacking the maturity and technical depth of later years" She makes every movement seem effortless and enjoyable, especialy for a child that IS dancing a mature peice. Thankyou for posting this, though :-)

[unclaimedtreas]

I love this! My mother recorded a documentary type show for me around 1984 or 1985. Unfortunately, the tape suffered from being stored in a hot Florida garage. Healy was so refreshing and delightful to watch!

[roperkids]

You can definitely see her figure skating experience here. At times, it's as if she IS figure skating. That said, when she is actually figure skating, she is doing ballet. Amazing talent.

[sylviajp]

@nuttymom1966

Yes, "high speed turns" including chainee turns of course! She's really exceptional!

[nuttymom1966]

@sylviajp

And her chainin turns -sorry I don't know how to spell it, are so fast!!!

[sylviajp]

@nuttymom1966

Wow, that makes sense!

Any high speed turns look so easy for her!

[nuttymom1966]

I imagine her figure skating experience assisted in doing this...a tour en l'air is essentially an axel jump in figure skating.

[jngwatson]

I never get tired of viewing this video. Katherine Healy was a fabulous dancer.

[ickiepoo]

Bravo! I usually dislike modern ballet, but this routine incorporated both classical and modern (and Irish!) into a delightful performance.

[xxxtexanpa]

Totally and absolutely perfect in every respect! There is nothing lacking in Katherine's performance here. Delightful, wonderfully entertaining and mesmerizing! My favorite even today.

[LaMargoful]

So pretty!! I wish I could do ballet right now but I have to wait...

[Tiponigirl]

amazing! so effortless! :)