Living the Dream: Local dancer Alan cast in Disenchanted
By Aideen O'Flaherty
From being a young dancer in a local stage school with dreams of being a star, to being cast as a dancer in the upcoming Disney film ‘Disenchanted’ and being the director of a dance school, Old Bawn dancer and choreographer Alan McGrath is living his dream.
Alan, 28, got his first taste for dance when he joined the Helen Jordan Stage School as a child. Over the years, dancing and choreography grew into a passion that he skillfully turned into a career.
Old Bawn dancer and choreographer Alan McGrath
The past pupil of Old Bawn Community School founded the Rua Red-based Dizzy Footwork Dance Academy in 2009 with his sister, Lisa, to train the next generation of dancers in the area, while continuing to develop his career.
Alan was recently cast as a dancer in ‘Disenchanted’, which is currently being filmed in Enniskerry.
He took some time out between rehearsals to tell The Echo about how preparation for filming has been going; the misconceptions people have about careers in the dance industry, and the rich dancing talent in Ireland.
When did you realise you wanted to pursue a career in dancing?
I think I realised that I wanted to pursue a career in dance when it started to take over every other sport I was involved in.
I was a very active child. My mam and dad were so good to myself and Lisa and put us in all types of activities, such as hurling, badminton, swimming, gymnastics and dancing. Gradually, dancing just became our favourite.
Do you think people have many misconceptions about dancing as a career?
I feel like people do have their misconceptions about dancing as a career in general.
They don’t realise how much work and training is involved to become a professional dancer/choreographer, and to make a career and living out of it.
I’m not going to lie when I say it’s not the easiest career path. It’s hard work, and when it comes to steady work, it’s very hard in our career sometimes, as you could be in a contract for a year and also have no work for a year, as the pandemic has proved.
But honestly, I am so thankful every day that I can come home from work and say I love my job.
You have been cast as one of the core dancers for the new Disney movie ‘Disenchanted’, what was the audition process like?
I put my heart and soul into my audition, and I’m so glad it paid off. I was more than shocked and chuffed that I managed to book a position in the core group of ten dancers, also known as the ‘skeleton crew’, and then to notice I was the only Irish boy in that position was another highlight beyond belief.
The audition process was challenging, yet so lovely. I hadn’t danced choreography like this in a long time – it was so technical, but yet so old school, MGM Classic-style dance, which doesn’t come around very often in Ireland.
How did you feel when you found out you were going to be one of the core dancers?
I was so overwhelmed and so emotional. No word of a lie, I literally sobbed like a baby! It was an absolute bucket-list dream come true. After such a tough year for everyone in our industry, I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that it’s happening.
Has any work started on the film yet or are you focused on rehearsals at the moment?
I started rehearsals with the core group in March, prepping and workshopping the musical numbers. It was so incredible. And then we had some time off while other filming commenced.
We recently started rehearsals with additional dancers, who are the most loving, talented group of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. The movie is still in the rehearsal process/film process.
You’re also the director of the Dizzy Footwork Dance Academy, why is it important to you to share your skills with budding dancers in your hometown?
Lisa and myself opened Dizzy Footwork nearly 12 years ago, and have recently opened our production side to the business, which is beyond a dream for us.
We’ve always thought that Ireland in general has so much talent to offer that needs to be showcased more. I think it’s so important to share our knowledge and skills of the industry to eager young dancers and adults in Ireland.
Because we’re a small country, it sometimes comes across as a riskier career path to look into in Ireland. But I’m glad to see that, since we opened our doors, this has changed a lot.
What advice do you have for people who want to become dancers?
Anyone that was like me as a child, and has such an obsession and drive for dance – follow your dreams and push yourself to the max. It’s honestly never too late to learn.
For more details follow @alanmcgrath and @dizzyfootwork on Instagram. ‘Disenchanted’ will be released on Disney+ in 2022.
