Joel Hanna has certainly made the rounds in the world of Irish dance! Joel was born on July
27th and was raised in Vancouver, BC. Joel's great-grandparents on his father's side were Irish -
his grandfather was a Protestant from Belfast and his grandmother was a Catholic from the south.
They emigrated to Canada to escape religious persecution. Joel's mother, Susan, is Philipino. He
also has a younger sister named Elena. He started doing Philipino folk dancing at the age of 5,
I don't know when he started Irish dance though. He studied Irish dance under Tony Comerford.
He says that Tony is his best friend and has not only taught him how to dance but how to win and
apply this to everyday life. Joel says that Tony is the kind of guy who you want to be proud of
you.As a youngster, Joel was discouraged from dancing. His high school principal told him that he should quit dancing and someone told his father that he was never going to be a dancer! It's a good thing Joel didn't listen to any of this because to this day he is a 3-time North American champion as well as Australian champion. As a teenager he was never embarassed about his dancing, it's just that nobody asked. "It had nothing to do with the fact that I was running around in knee-highs and a skirt," he says.
In 1998 Joel joined the original cast of the Riverdance Lagan company. He didn't audition in person but sent in an audition tape instead. He really wanted to join but he didn't want to set his heart on it. He never thought he would get in - he thought he was too short! His favourite dance in the show was "Thunderstorm".
In 1999 he left the Lagan to join Dancing on Dangerous Ground with Jean Butler and Colin Dunne. After the show folded, Joel
joined Fire of Dance and is now the principal Irish dancer with that show! Joel was also the
subject of a CBC documentary, "Riverdancers - The Bad Boy & The Hometown Girl" with fellow
Canadian Laganer Kerry Houston. Joel also frequently hosts dance workshops in Vancouver and Seattle.
On a more personal note, Joel is engaged to a girl named Jamie. They met through a mutual friend who also did Irish dance. Joel said that on the day they met "Jamie practically threw herself at me," while Jamie admits that she thought Joel was the cockiest guy in the world. I don't know when they got married. Best of luck with your dancing, Joel!
Check out Joel's interview with the Celtic Cafe!
Or drop a line to Joel himself at his official website!
Joel (4th from right) and the Lagan company in "Thunderstorm".
Joel leading the troupe in the "Fire of Dance" re-enactment of 'Reel Around the Sun'.
Joel in the "Fire of Dance" re-enactment of 'Lord of the Dance'.
Joel signing autographs after a Dancing on Dangerous Ground performance.
Kevin Doohan, Tony and Joel.
Photo from Antonio Pacelli.
Joel (3rd from left) with Tony Comerford and some other Comerford dancers.
Photo from Antonio Pacelli.
