Pete Moss and the Bog Boys
Fri., March 14, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Family Special: Sat., March 15, 12 noon performance, followed by reception

Ripley Center, Smithsonian
All Ages
 

Kick up your heels at this fun-fueled celebration of the music and dance of Ireland. Learn a bit of Irish history, listen to a traditional fiddle ensemble, and see a world-class, multigenerational performance of Irish step dancing. Plus, find out the true origins of the American St. Patrick’s Day.

A Closer Look – About the Performers:

Pete Moss and the Bog Band started in September 2004 when a group of sixth grade boys at the Washington Waldorf School (Bethesda, Maryland), along with Mitch Fanning, their string class teacher, formed a fiddle club to play traditional Irish music. The boys thought it would be really cool to learn Traditional Irish fiddling and hoped in the process to get good enough to perform and help raise money for their eighth grade class trip.

It wasn't long before "Pete Moss & The Bog Boys" made a name for themselves in the Waldorf school community and Greater Washington, DC area. They first performed with concert artist Nicholas Kendall at a Waldorf anniversary event, and subsequently appeared at numerous Irish ceilis, the Smithsonian Institution's Discovery Theater and the Potomac Celtic Festival, among many other venues.

Soon others joined in the fun, and the Bog Boys expanded to include the eleven fiddle players + one harpist, with representation from six elementary, middle and high schools throughout the Washington, DC vicinity. Since their recording session in June, others have joined the group, including a number of really good fiddlers who happen to be girls - hence the name change to "Pete Moss & The Bog Band."

A Closer Look – About the Sean Culkin Irish Dancers:

The mission of the Sean Culkin of Traditional Irish Dance is to pass on the tradition of Irish Dance, teach the basics of dance and the music it is danced to and to have fun while we learn.  Sean Culkin founded the school in 1997 after dancing traditional Irish dances since he was six years old.  While competition is not the sole focus of the school, they do prepare their students who wish to compete so that they can do so to the best of their ability.  If a dancer chooses not to compete, many opportunities for them to utilize the skills they have learned are provided by participating in ceilis and/or performances scheduled throughout the year.