Greetings, fellow Oak Lawnians!
Kali Graziano, a senior at Oak Lawn Community High School, and her Irish dance team won first place at the 45th World Irish Dance Championships, which took place from March 29 through April 5 in Montreal and featured more than 5,000 international competitors.
Graziano, who turns 18 this month, said she has been dancing since she was about 7. At that time, she enjoyed all kinds of dancing, but she became inspired with Irish dancing after watching her cousin perform in a competition.
“I decided I could do it, and when I joined Lavin-Cassidy (School of Irish Dancing), I fell in love with Irish dancing,” she said.
Graziano practices about 10 hours a week at Lavin-Cassidy’s Worth studio and has been dancing with the same team since she was 7.
Having spent so many years at the dance studio, she pretty much grew up under the guidance and mentorship of two of its teachers, Ann Lavin-Cassidy, the studio owner, and Laura Stack Finn. Graziano said her dance teachers were “pretty much like a second mom to me. They got to know me pretty well.”
At the dance championships, contestants perform three dances in front of a panel of seven international judges. Final results are based on all three rounds. They are judged on intricate stepwork, dancing, timing, synchronicity and other criteria.
The World Championships “are as big as it gets,” Graziano said.
Even though her dance team practiced really hard, Graziano said she and her team were surprised to win first place.
“We were surprised, but we knew we had put in the work and it was great for us to have it pay off,” Graziano said.
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Teri McEntee, Graziano’s mother, said it was a really good year for the team. The other team members attend Marist High School in Chicago.
Graziano also is passionate about her education.
“I’m very involved in school. I take a lot of AP (advanced-placement) classes. Dancing has given me the structure I need to do all of it. I’ve learned to love coffee and run on a little sleep,” Graziano said. She also was the 2014 Homecoming queen.
She credits Irish dancing for giving her the discipline to accomplish other undertakings, including cheerleading, which also involves a lot of dance maneuvers.
“My Irish dancing has definitely helped me with competitive cheerleading. The life lessons it taught me has made me who I am,” Graziano said.
She’ll be attending the University of Southern California to pursue an engineering career, but she hasn’t decided if her field will be chemical or biomedical. She said she received a “pretty good” scholarship.
For now, she’s just happy to graduate high school.
“We’re so proud of her,” McEntee said. “She has worked hard her whole life and it’s nice to see it paying off.”
‘Celebrity’ announcements
Here are this week’s celebrity birthday announcements: Loving birthday wishes go out to Molly Riberto, who’s turning 1, and to Reese Kaktis, who’s turning 2, from their Aunt Jamie, Uncle Jeff, Jack, Luke and Ellie. Joe and Fenia Battersby send their love to their daughter, Penelope, who’s celebrating her second birthday. Happy ninth birthday to Steven Joseph Smith, from his grandparents Sandy and Dave Wills.
Isabelle Cadeau’s parents, sisters, grandparents and Chico wish her a happy11th birthday. Happy 51st birthday wishes also go out to Isabelle’s dad, Rob. Happy 11th birthday to Charlie Harris, from his parents, Diane and Scott, and Emily, Paul, Kate, Hanna, Abigail and Cinnamon. Happy birthday to Anthony Mungia, who’s turning 18, from his parents and grandparents.
Happy 31st birthday to José Gomez, from Aimee, Jayden and their family. Happy birthday to Christopher Gornik, who’s turning 33, from Amanda, Lola and their family. Happy 55th birthday to Larry Sharon, from Patti and Zach. Happy birthday to Joe Petzel (yes, we’re related), who’s turning 68, from Fran, Drew, Michael and family. Del Beranek’s family wish him a happy 88th birthday. Happy birthday to Doreen Lopez, from her family and friends. Happy birthday to Pat Nienhaus and to Gene Mondello.
Happy anniversary to my husband, Tom Petzel.
Keep your fellow Oak Lawnians informed about birthdays, special events or special “stuff” going on with your family or within the community. Call me at (708) 899-9544.
Until next time …
Cheryl Petzel is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.