Cosa Meara Company of Irish Dance
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Cosa Meara Company is the first collegiate Irish dance national network. Cosa meara, pronounced [ˈkˠɔsˠə ˈmaɾə] koh-ssuh mah-ruh, the name is Gaelic for "Quick Feet." Officially registered student organizations focused on Irish dance may join the college network. Current Company members are: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Marquette University, Florida State University, the University of Dayton, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Loyola University Chicago.
[edit] Purpose
The Company's goal is to display skilled Irish dance in both a traditional and modern light through choreography and performance. CMC also serves as an opportunity for college dancers and campus communities to be involved in this art form.
[edit] History
In August 2006, sixteen Irish dancers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign organized to audition for the school's homecoming variety show. This shared interest in continuing Irish dance sparked the idea to create a university group. In September 2006, CMC became the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's first Irish dance team. In December 2006, a group of twenty dancers at Marquette University became CMC's second branch in sharing the name, logo, and ideals. The third branch was formed with dancers from Florida State University in January 2007. The University of Dayton became CMC's fourth branch in February 2007. In November of 2007, three Chicago universities joined the network: the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Loyola University Chicago. Other universities are currently in the process of becoming network members.
