Fans and those curious about Irish Dance will appreciate that a student project about Irish Dance has now been made into a feature film. The film debuted on YouTube this week. 
Get ready to tap your feet and be swept away by the magic of Irish Dance, as a student project-turned-feature film debuts on YouTube this week with an hour and twenty-one minutes of a heartwarming story centered around the wonderful world of Irish Dance. "Curls the Film" follows the story of 12-year-old Caitilin, who discovers her Irish roots and a love for Irish Dance after her grandmother moves in with her and her widowed father.
Michelle DeGrace, the creator of the film, initially made a 12-minute short film as her third-year student thesis in 2018. But with the help of an Indiegogo campaign and a fundraiser at the CLRG's Worlds in Greensboro, North Carolina, "Curls" has now become a full-length feature film.
The film's team scoured dance schools in North Carolina and even posted a casting call on 800casting to find the perfect lead actress. And they found her in Irish Dancer Amelia Williams, who was with the Connick-Reid Academy at the time she was cast for the film. She brought both her impressive dance skills and natural acting talent to the role. Amelia appeared in the original short film as well as the current feature film.
The feature film also features a talented cast of dancers from schools such as the Lismore Academy of Irish Dance and the Connick-Reid Academy. And keep an eye out for dancer Hannah Redlich, who portrays Caitlin's mother in flashbacks throughout the film. Michelle discovered Hannah on YouTube after seeing her dancing to Ed Sheeran's Nancy Mulligan, a tribute to the armed forces. It seemed fate that Hannah lived just over an hour away from the production sites and was a resounding "yes" in terms of her participation in the movie.
