Rowan Fae

10/06/2026

How cool is this?!

Providing disability accommodations for powwow participants isn’t very common on the powwow circuit, but one man has made it his mission to bring the practice to dances across North America.

“I saw the need to fulfill something that is genuine to my heart,” said Puyallup Tribe member Shawn Reynolds. “And that is offering time on the floor for individuals with special needs, autism, Down syndrome, and any other special needs, as well as disabilities.”

In many respects, the Fourth Annual South Sound Powwow in Graham, Wash. was nothing out of the ordinary.

On a late-September afternoon, a procession began a slow march across the Bethel High School gym, with a steady drumbeat and a commanding voice that rang out across the floor. It was led by a beadwork-laden man carrying a staff adorned with eagle feathers. A contingent of veterans wearing cedar woven hats held national, state, and tribal flags. They were followed by the powwow’s head dancers — a young man in a beaded chest plate and feathered roach, and two young women in jingle dresses strung with conical bells.

But two less conventional figures rounded out this procession, Shawn’s sons Nakotah and Dakotah Reynolds of the Puyallup and Otoe-Missouria Tribes. It’s often required to wear all the appropriate regalia to go out on the powwow floor. But these 11-year-old twin boys wore t-shirts, shorts, beaded headbands, and matching stoles. One boy had a pair of noise-dampening headphones clamped around his ears.

Nakotah and Dakotah have autism. Wearing all the customary regalia — and much of the powwow environment itself — can be overstimulating for them.

“All the noise, all the drumming, the colors, the bells, the stomping, all of that can be triggering,” Shawn said.

Both boys also hold royalty titles from a powwow in April, entitling them and their family to sponsor a “special”, a dance of their choosing, at a powwow within the next year. And that gave their dad an idea.

Story: Owen Henderson
Photo: Owen Henderson

Full story in comments 👇

09/15/2026

Great feis opportunity!

We're excited to bring TEAMS competitions to Digitochtas this year.

To help plan your teams here's some helpful information:

*Team Competitions require a seperate team entry form. Each team will receive a one time Team number for labeling their team videos. Please allow extra time for submitting these forms and receiving numbers.

2 and 3 Hands - Own schools choreography - Minimum 48 Bars

4, 6, and 8 Hands should be from your organization’s Ceili book or Ar Rinci Ceili 30 popular Ceili Dances - Minimum to the 1st figure. You can compete all figures if desired.

Group Performance is open to all schools with any number of dancers to submit performance pieces used for festivals, recitals, or to express their school’s own unique artistic pieces. Minimum 1.5 Minutes, Maximum 5 minutes.

IIDA Digiochtas 2026

08/31/2026

It’s Back to School and Back to Dance! Rowan Fae Irish Dancers, bring a friend or friends to class all month long. We’ll learn new dances, new songs, and have fun with crafts and games.

08/27/2026

We are so here for this!

Oh, we are seated!

‘Derry Girls’ creator Lisa McGee will be releasing a new mockumentary Netflix series set in the world of competitive Irish dancing.

The new six-part series is called ‘Jig’ (sound familiar?) and will begin shooting in Northern Ireland next year.

According to early reports, ‘Jig’ will centre on best friends Cara and Fletcher from the struggling Sweeney School of Dance in Derry, who take on their seemingly unbeatable rivals in Florida.

The show will follow both schools in the lead-up to the World Championships.

Will you be tuning in? ☘️

📸: Wikimedia Creative Commons

07/30/2026

Gutted. Rest easy.

With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard in the early hours of this morning.

We are still dealing with the shock of it all, so we kindly ask that the privacy of Glen’s family, colleagues and friends is respected at this difficult time.
Photo by Mikolaj Rotowski

07/22/2026

Not at Worlds this year, but our hearts are still right there on that stage 💚

Missing our friends, missing the energy, and reminiscing on every moment from the past two seasons. Grateful for the memories we made — and hoping we get to see everyone again next year ✨

06/12/2026

An dtiocfaidh tú chuig an damhsa linn? - Will you come to the dance with us?

The Irish word "damhsa," meaning dance, holds a special place in our hearts. Growing up surrounded by music and musicians, we've been incredibly fortunate to know many dancers whose skill and grace have always left us in awe. While we may not be the most gifted dancers ourselves, witnessing the mastery of these artists as they embody the music through their movements is truly mesmerizing.

Irish dancing, in particular, has a unique ability to captivate and inspire. The rapid footwork, the precision of each step, and the vibrant energy of the dancers bring traditional tunes to life in a way that seems almost magical. It's as if the dancers are not just performing but conversing deeply with the melody, expressing stories and emotions that transcend words.

Each time we watch a performance, whether a fluid sean-nós dance in a cozy pub or a thunderous ensemble on the grand stage, we are reminded of the power of "damhsa" to connect us to our culture, our history, and each other. It’s a profound dialogue between music and movement, heritage and heartbeat.

We may not be able to dance with the same elegance or skill, but the joy of watching those who can is a reminder of the beauty of Irish dance and the incredible talent that continues to flourish in our community.

Have you ever felt moved by a dance?

06/08/2026

Our dancers had such a wonderful time this afternoon at Emerald Downs! A huge thank you to Emerald Downs for having us back this year!

06/05/2026

Rowan Fae has had dancers in Kent International Festival every year! This festival is a cornerstone for our studio and brings our dancers such joy. We were fortunate enough to host the Ireland culture booth for the first time and hope to do so for many years to come!

06/04/2026

Rowan Fae will be dancing at Irish Day at Emerald Downs this Sunday! Be sure to catch live music from Cavort! Our dancers can’t help but move their feet when Cavort is playing and we think you’re going to have a toe tapping good time too!