Dan Hunt

Teaches at Irish Arts Center

Dan Hunt has been a member of the Irish Arts Center since 1986. A former naval officer and merchant seaman, Dan came to the Irish Arts because he was looking for a club and a community where he could pursue his love of Irish music and culture. Smitten with Irish folk dancing, he attended dance classes taught by well known New York-area teachers such as Josephine McNamara, Kevin Westley and Paul Keating. Later he attended set dance workshops given in the US and Ireland by such legendary dance masters as Joe O’Donavan, Connie Ryan, Pat Murphy, Timmy McCarthy, Larry Lynch, and Padraic McEneneny. He started teaching Ceili Dances at the Irish Arts Center in 1988 and taught his first Country Set Dance class in the following year. He has been involved with Irish dance and music (especially at the Irish Arts Center) ever since. Dan’s approach to teaching Irish folk dance is more than mere choreography. In his class he insists that only when you’ve begun to move to the phrasing of the music and above all, learn the footwork and movements unique to each dance will you experience the true pleasure of the sets.