Henderson awash in green for St. Patrick’s Day parade

By Kyle B. Hansen

Saturday, March 19, 2011 | 7:02 p.m.

Twenty dancers in green and black dresses waited patiently in two lines on the side of Water Street in Henderson for Saturday’s parade to begin.

Once the line started to move, the group began dancing, all the way from Ocean Avenue — past City Hall, the Eldorado Casino and Chef Flemming’s Bake Shop — to Victory Road.

The group was from Sharon Lynn’s Celtic Crown Academy of Irish Dance, the perfect entry for the 45th annual Sons of Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The group, females ranging from 4 years old to adults, would stop every few yards along the parade route to perform a jig, then smiled, waved and moved along.

But when asked at the end if they were tired, the group loudly yelled “no.”

“We’re professionals,” once dancer said.

Man of the dancers have been training for years, sometimes five days a week. “Basically, there’s no time for other activities,” said Madeline Barber, 13, after describing a typical week’s 10 hours of practice.

“It’s a character builder,” she said.

More than that, it’s therapy, said Carol Lina, who has been dancing for about four years.

“Life is dull without it. I love it,” she said. “Even on my worst days, if I’m down in the dumps, I feel better. It lifts my spirit.”

Cindy Bailey, who danced in the parade with her 10-year-old daughter, Lacey, and 5-year-old niece, Gracie, agreed.

“We just love it,” she said. “It keeps us busy; it keeps us fit, and it keeps the kids off the street.”

It’s also a way to connect with her heritage, Bailey said.

“My dad was from Ireland, so we want to keep it going for him,” she said. “And it’s fun to do it together.”

The group was one of 100 that participated in the parade, and the parade was just one part of the four-day festival, which includes carnival rides, vendors and entertainment. The events continue Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Henderson Events Plaza and Convention Center.

KB Sisco was walking in the parade for the second time with her dog as part of a group from the Best Friends Animal Society.

She said the group was marching to encourage people to rescue animals, but she probably would have been there anyway.

“I always go to the different parades since I’m Irish,” she said. “I’m a good Irish girl.”

Max and Norma Dominguez have been coming to the parade for years. Norma Dominquez said she likes the bands, while Max Dominquez enjoys the old cars.

They said they like to support the community where they have lived since 1963. “We’ve lived here forever, and we support our town,” Max Dominguez said.