Johns Creek's Catie Foley dances for gold

Imagine someone from Ireland winning the Heisman Trophy in American football. Well there is a wee slip of a lass in Johns Creek who just might turn that trick on the "Auld Sod."

Catie Foley, a sophomore at Chattahoochee High School, has been ranked four times as one of the top 10 Irish dancers in the world - having been a World Medal holder each time. Karl Drake, her dance instructor at the Drake School of Irish Dance since she was 5, said it is amazing.

"What is so impressive is her determination. I love this little girl big time," Drake said sitting with her in his dance studio. "She's an overachiever. She always works tremendously hard. For someone to come not only from America but from out of the South and impress the judges the way she has is phenomenal.

"There has been no tradition of Irish dancing in the South. Catie is changing that."

Foley began dancing at age 4 with her cousins in Chicago. When the Foley family moved to the Atlanta area, dancing became a way of keeping in touch with her cousins at the various competitions, or "feises," around the country.

Eventually, they all dropped out as they found other interests, but not Foley. Her mother, Cappy Foley, said when the moved here, they visited several schools before settling on Drake as her instructor. Catie has never regretted that decision once in 11 years.

"It's like ice skating. The coach needs to be someone you can connect with. That's the ultimate coach," Catie said. "No, I've never had any regrets. This is the only school I'd want to go to."

An elfin blonde, she belies her little girl image with explosive kicks and tremendous height on her jumps.

The results speaks for themselves. From a regional feis to a regional championship or oireachtas, Catie has excelled at every level of competition qualifying for the World Championships held in Celtic countries (and this year in the United States.) She has finished as high as third in the world.

"I usually go out of the [southern] region to compete against different people. That way you get to compete against all of the best dancers," she said.

At this level of competition, all of the dancers are talented. What separates the best is the combination of ability, drive and commitment, said Drake.

The dancers are judged as soon as they step onstage. Their stage presence, makeup, wigs and above all the dress count in their score. That's why the hand-embroidered dresses easily cost $3,000 each.

"You need to look like you belong, as soon as you step out, immediately grabbing their attention. Then there is the dance, with your carriage, your arms straight down. It's every little thing the average person wouldn't see," Catie said.

It has been a tremendous commitment from the entire Foley family. While this year's World Championships will be Dec. 18 in Philadelphia, Catie — accompanied by her mom — has made 11 trips overseas and to Canada to compete.

In that time she has had eight dance dresses costing more than $20,000, but Cappy Foley is philosophical about it.

"We didn't know starting out where it would all lead," Foley said. "But once a child gets really good at something," she shrugs.

"So Catie has a $3,000 dress, and I don't. My other children haven't suffered, and we have frequent flyer miles. Catie has a Silver Medalion with Delta all by her self," Foley said. "But Catie just loves it."

Catie said she is grateful for the opportunities her parents have given her. She's been to Ireland and Scotland more than once, to New York, Canada and California.

Meanwhile, Catie dances three times a week, bucking it up to five and six times weekly when a competition is near to be ready for a grueling three-hour feis. She is also on her school cross-country team. Her body has paid a price too – tendonitis, shin splints, torn hamstring, lower back pain and once a broken elbow.

"She's very competitive," Foley said. "Her physical therapist says her injuries are more like those from a soccer player with the way she has to kick out. It's hard for people to understand how much hard work it is."
- www.northfulton.com

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