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Jig Factory

Obituaries
TRIBUTE: Renowned Bergen County Irish Dance School Founder Susan Daly Stanek Dies TRIBUTE: Renowned Bergen County Irish Dance School Founder Susan Daly Stanek Dies
Tribute: Renowned Bergen County Irish Dance School Founder Susan Daly Stanek Dies Susan Daly Stanek, the founder of a popular Bergen County Irish dancing school, died on April 27 surrounded by her family, her obituary says. Services were held April 30 Born in Dublin, Stanek began dancing when she was three years old and traveled the world in a touring group, her bio on the JIG Factory website says. Of the countless condolences that poured in, many noted that Stanek went out of her way to make children feel special, cared for and included.  Posted by Susan Daly Stanek on Thursday, January 7, 2021 Stanek moved to the U.S. in 1986 and, while living in Manhattan, continu…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Ridgewood Irish Dancers Perform Live On Fox's Good Day New York Ridgewood Irish Dancers Perform Live On Fox's Good Day New York
Ridgewood Irish Dancers Perform Live On Fox's Good Day New York The JIG Factory of Ridgewood will be on live television on Friday morning. Susan Daly Stanek and her dancers will appear on Good Day New York at 9 a.m., on Fox 5 kicking off St Patrick's Day. (WATCH LIVE: CLICK HERE) Jerry O'Connell is making a guest appearance as the "favorite half-Irishman." The JIG Factory -- owned by Susan Daly Stanek -- has produced some of the world's top Irish dancers, including 16-year-old Julia Mastrangelo, who you can read more about here. In two weeks, 14 of the dancers will be traveling internationally for a competition. JIG Factory, 9 a.m., Good D…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Ridgewood Teen Is 5th Best Irish Dancer In The World... And She's Jewish Ridgewood Teen Is 5th Best Irish Dancer In The World... And She's Jewish
Ridgewood Teen Is 5th Best Irish Dancer In The World... And She's Jewish Julia Mastrangelo of Ridgewood has all the makings of an Irish dancer. She's got the moves. She's got the pin-straight red hair. She's got the zeal. There's just one thing that sets her apart. "My last name gives it away," said Mastrangelo, 16. "Usually everyone's name is Irish. And then there's me." She's Jewish-Italian -- only a quarter Irish. But that's never mattered to Mastrangelo. She started when she was seven years old, after her mom saw dancers from the JIG Factory perform at the Ridgewood tree lighting. "She originally thought I would do ballet,"…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Indian Twins From Wayne Follow In Mom's Irish Dancing Footsteps Indian Twins From Wayne Follow In Mom's Irish Dancing Footsteps
Indian Twins From Wayne Follow In Mom's Irish Dancing Footsteps A pair of Irish-Indian twins from Wayne are following in their mother's footsteps -- literally. Mia and Alannah Raghavan, 8, are in their third year of Irish Dance classes at the Jig Factory in Ridgewood. Their mom, Una Raghavan -- a Cork, Ireland native -- competed in the All Irelands in the 1980s. Their father is of Indian descent. "They love Irish dancing," Una told Daily Voice. "They love going to the classes and the friendships they've made with the other girls." Mia and Alannah began competing last year, their first feis the Mid-Atlantic Championships in Februar…

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by Cecilia Levine