At far left, Megan Moloney, director of Bluegrass Ceili Academy in Lexington, goes through a rising step to an Irish jig with some audience members as well as a few members Uplift acting academy who are visiting Danville from Sister City, Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.

Arianna Gorton, 23, of Hustonville, came out of dancing retirement to help demonstrate several Irish jigs with her instructor, Megan Moloney, director of Lexington’s Bluegrass Ceili Academy. Above, Gorton performs “Vanishing Lake” a routine she once competed with regionally before retiring due to an injury. Gorton said she likes dancing hard shoe because “you’re making music with your feet.” She also enjoys dancing soft shoe because “it feels like I’m flying.”

Dancers move their feet together during a jig.

Arianna Gorton, 23, of Hustonville, left, came out of dancing retirement to demonstrate several Irish jigs with her instructor, Megan Moloney, director of the Bluegrass Ceili Academy, which teaches Irish dances in Lexington.