Stepdancer Nic Gareiss on percussive dance, sexual identity and culture

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Credit Con Kelliher

Dancer Nic Gareiss. His MA thesis is called 'Queering the Feis: An Examination of the Expression of Alternative Sexual Identity in Competitive Irish Step Dance in Ireland.'

  Nic Gareiss has performed traditional Irish dance and the dances of its Diaspora around the world. But for Nic, his performances are not just visual expressions, but audible ones. He understands the body in motion as a form of music.

Nic holds degrees in both anthropology and music from Central Michigan University and recently completed his Masters' in ethnochoreology at the University of Limerick in Ireland.  

Nic discusses his research interests including percussive dances, cultural identity in relation to traditional dance and music, and sexual identity within traditional dance.

The song played in this story is called "The Dark Slender Boy." It's off the album Evening Comes Early. The track is by John Doyle, and was sung by Sean Doyle. The album was produced by Shanachie Records.