Equal parts art and sport -- dancers from the McMenamin Irish Dance Academy explain what goes into the famous jig.
The clip-clap of traditional Irish dance is always one of the highlights of Milwaukee's St. Patrick's Day parade.
Every year these young girls and boys march through downtown dressed in traditional garb, showing off a carefully choreographed routine of high-kicks, leaps, and hard-shoe dance.
March is the beginning of the busy season for young Irish dancers from all seven of the city's dance schools. And they've been working for months leading up to the season, which starts with St. Patrick's Day and extends all the way to Irish Fest in August.
88nine went to the McMenimin Irish Dance Academy in Shorewood to see -- and hear -- what goes into those mesmerizing dance steps.
Click the player below to hear from a few of young girls keeping the tradition of Irish dance alive in Milwaukee.
