Through the efforts of third-grade teacher Maureen Eck, St. Patrick’s Day brought Irish step dancing to Silverbrook Elementary School in Fairfax Station on March 17.
Eck has danced with the South Riding-based step dance team Aoibhneas an Rince, which means "joy of dance" in Gaelic, since 1997, and invited the team to perform a variety of their dances at an assembly, in which she also took part.
Under the direction of Denise Fumagali, the group, which is an extension of a school in South Riding, also teaches classes in Burke, Ashburn and Warrenton. Most of the members of the traveling troupe are from Springfield and Centreville. They performed dances such as a reel, jig and a special St. Patrick’s Day number. Students and teachers were also invited to join in.