(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Grunin Center Center for the Arts presents Baile: A Celtic Christmas Celebration by Darrah Carr Dance on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 7:00pm. This is a joyous and spirited performance that blends the traditions of Irish dance with contemporary flair.
This festive show showcases the company’s signature style, ModERIN—a fusion of modern dance and traditional Irish step, cleverly combining “modern” with “Erin,” a poetic name for Ireland.
At the heart of the performance is a vibrant celebration of the season, where rhythmic footwork meets expressive movement. Set to live Irish music, the choreography captures the energy, warmth, and storytelling spirit of both Christmas and Celtic culture. Audiences are treated to a dynamic mix of percussive beats, elegant lines, and festive melodies that evoke both nostalgia and novelty.
Darrah Carr Dance, a Bessie Award–nominated company, brings technical excellence and emotional depth to each number, seamlessly weaving together the old and the new. The program includes solos, duets, and ensemble pieces, each designed to reflect the joy, togetherness, and cultural richness of the holidays.
Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the Grunin Center Box Office at 732-255-0500. . Grunin Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey.
Accessible to all ages and backgrounds, Baile: A Celtic Christmas Celebration is both a dazzling dance concert and a cultural experience. Whether you’re a fan of Irish dance, modern choreography, or simply looking for a unique and heartwarming way to celebrate the season, this performance offers something special.
Radiating festive cheer and artistic innovation, “Baile: A Celtic Christmas Celebration” is a true holiday gem that honors tradition while embracing the creative possibilities of the present. It’s an unforgettable experience for families, dance lovers, and holiday revelers alike.
Since 1998, the Bessie Award-nominated company Darrah Carr Dance has created a sensational and unique blend of traditional Irish step and contemporary dance. The company draws from Irish music, step dance footwork, and spatial patterns to create high-energy, rhythmically based work that is accessible to a broad audience.
Recent New York City performance highlights include: NBC’s “The Today Show,“ a guest performance with The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, the company’s annual season at The Irish Arts Center, “The Yeats Project“ at the Irish Repertory Theatre, The Duke Theater on 42nd Street, Celebrate Brooklyn, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the annual NYC Irish Dance Festival, “Stam-pede“ Percussive Dance Festival at Symphony Space and a guest appearance with Mick Moloney at the Skirball Center.
The company has performed at venues throughout the United States including MASS MoCA, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, The Yard at Martha’s Vineyard, Wesleyan University (Connecticut), The Center for Performing Arts and SUNY Orange (upstate New York), The Dance Complex, Summer Stages Dance, and the JFK Museum (Massachusetts), The Goose Route Dance Festival (West Virginia), The Valentine Theatre (Ohio), St. Mary’s University (Minnesota) and the San Jose Fleadh (California). They have also appeared at the Toronto Fringe Festival, the Hunter Mountain Celtic Festival, and at the Bank of Ireland Arts Center in Dublin. In addition, they frequently conduct national tours with The Andy Cooney Band.
Her Irish Extravaganza (Irish duets, and traditional Irish group dances) features live music and champion Irish step dancers who have garnered awards at numerous competitions on both the national and international circuit. Darrah Carr Dance also features a wide variety of outreach and educational programs.
Darrah Carr Dance has received funding from numerous sources, including commissions from Trinity Irish Dance’s Junior Company and the One World Foundation, a fellowship from Summer Stages Dance, and grants from the American Ireland Fund, the Fund for Creative Communities, the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, The Brooklyn Arts Council, the Davenport Fund, and the Outer/Space program administered by Dance Theater Workshop.
For 60 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that empower diverse learners to achieve their goals while enriching the communities they serve.
