Gavin and Graham Melton pursue Irish dancing
Like a swan, Irish dancers keep their upper bodies perfectly still and perform a rush of kicks using their strong legs and core. Irish dancing to music in the form of reels, jigs, and hornpipes is a colorful, cultural activity with Celtic roots dating back centuries. Being successful in this artistic endeavor requires dedicating a significant amount of time and energy to practicing. Seniors Gavin and Graham Melton have been dancing since childhood and have now reached the upper echelon of Irish dancing.
The Melton brothers practiced Irish dancing together far before they even knew their times tables. “Graham and I started Irish dancing when we were four. My grandmother was the dance teacher, and I just went to class one day,” said Gavin Melton. The boys started competing young, maybe a bit too young. “My first competition was in 2014, and I got third place. Graham competed with me, but he got distracted mid-performance and just stopped dancing,” said Gavin.
Last summer, the Melton brothers traveled to Grapevine, Texas, to compete in the North American Irish Dance Championship (NAIDC), an international competition. Gavin placed 17th in what he called “the biggest competition I’ve ever done.” But the boys didn’t stop there. “My second biggest competition was the Oireachtas, an annual regional Irish dance competition. I placed 6th, and Graham placed 5th, which qualified Graham for the World Championships in April.”
Graham feels excited and anxious about the upcoming championship in Dublin, Ireland. “It’s a lot of pressure. The Oireachtas qualifier was in December, and since then, I’ve just had the impending feeling of the competition coming,” said Graham. “It’s been stressful but exciting, as not many people can say they’ve been to a world championship competition for Irish dance.”
Out of all the world’s Irish dancers in the under-17 age group, only a select group gets the privilege to compete in this huge event. “Even if I get last place, I’ll be around top 40 in the world,” said Graham. Graham ended up placing 26th in the event.
On April 10th, 2025, Graham was able to secure some practice for the looming event. Graham, Gavin and freshman Ledger Nicholson performed together at the CHS intramural finals. “They looked like they were floating,” said junior Alejandro Haislop-Rodriguez. “I liked the performance a lot.”
Not only have they earned spots in top-tier competitions, but they have also earned scholarship money. Overall, Gavin has won $59,000 and Graham has earned $63,000 for the University of the Ozarks. The Melton brothers rehearsed for years to earn thousands of dollars for a short video. “It was one dance, which took about three minutes to record,” said Graham.
The Meltons do not have to compete in Irish dance to retain their scholarships, and their future in the art of Irish dance remains open. But wherever and whenever they dance, they bring joy to everyone watching. “We recently performed live at a library for children, which made their day. We perform at hospitals and nursing homes as well,” said Gavin. Even without the competitive edge, the Melton brothers know their time in Irish dance will never really end. “It’s not only to dance better but also to connect yourself to other people and have fun,” said Gavin.
