Morgan Bullock

Morgan Bullock is an American Irish dancer, known for her Irish dance remix of rapper Megan Thee Stallion's song "Savage", which went viral on TikTok and Instagram in May 2020.[1]

Biography

Bullock started dancing when she was 3 and discovered Irish dance at the age of 10. She has been dancing at the Baffa Academy of Irish Dance in Richmond, Virginia ever since. In 2019, she placed 43rd at the Irish dance world championships.[2][3]

In May 2020, she posted a video to TikTok of her Irish dancing to the popular song "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion. The video was reposted by large accounts on several social media platforms, including Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar – who invited her to Ireland to dance in the 2021 St. Patrick's Day parade[4] – Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles, Irish-Nigerian author Emma Dabiri, and the large Instagram account The Shade Room.[5][6] Padraic Moyles, the lead dancer of Irish folk music show Riverdance, invited her to join the show's US tour when it comes to Virginia[7] and offered her free admission to their summer school, Riverdance Academy.[8] Bullock stated she faced backlash from users on social media who saw her untraditional dancing as appropriating Irish culture,[9][10] but she explained it, "represented a very small minority of the feedback that [she] got".[11]

In November 2020, she joined Irish Minister of State Colm Brophy and Ambassador of Ireland to the United States Daniel Mulhall in Ireland's new diaspora strategy,[12][6] which according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin: "seeks to give [Ireland's] diaspora a strengthened voice within Irish life, while also setting out the many ways this Government will work to support the Irish abroad."[13] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bullock was unable to attend the St. Patrick's Day parade in Ireland, but in March 2021, she performed virtually for the US' Embassy of Ireland.[14]

In October 2022, Bullock was announced as one of the recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad for 2022 in the category of Arts, Culture and Sport.[15]

Personal life

As of June 2020, Bullock is pursuing a master of education degree at Virginia Commonwealth University to become an elementary school teacher.[5][11]

References
  1. "Watch: VCU student goes viral for 'TikTok' Irish dancing video". WRIC-TV. May 14, 2020. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  2. Vargas, Chanel (February 3, 2021). "This Irish Dancer on TikTok Combines Modern Music With Traditional Moves, and We're Obsessed". PopSugar. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  3. Bullock, Morgan (July 17, 2020). "Experience: I'm an Irish dancing TikTok star". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  4. McGlynn, Michelle (May 5, 2020). "Viral US Irish dancer invited to dance in St Patrick's day parade". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  5. Nwoko, A. J. (May 9, 2020). "VCU student gets invite to Ireland after Irish dancing video goes viral". WWBT. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  6. O'Connor, Amy (December 26, 2020). "From miracle rescues to Normal People mania: 50 feel-good news stories of 2020". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  7. "Why I fell in love with Irish dancing" (video). BBC News. July 18, 2020. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  8. "American Irish dancer Morgan Bullock to perform with Riverdance and join their academy". RTÉ.ie. May 8, 2020. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  9. Brent, Harry (July 23, 2020). "American Irish dancer defends herself following accusations of 'cultural appropriation'". The Irish Post. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  10. "American Irish dancer speaks out after online racist abuse". RTÉ.ie. May 5, 2020. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  11. "Black Irish Dancer". Good Day Sacramento (video interview). KMAX-TV. June 30, 2020. Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  12. Michael, Neil (November 18, 2020). "New diaspora strategy challenges traditional Irish abroad image". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  13. Whelan, Sean (November 18, 2020). "Government approves new strategy to support the Irish abroad". RTÉ. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  14. McGlynn, Michelle (March 17, 2021). "Irish dance sensation Morgan Bullock on St Patrick's Day, going viral and Beyoncé's mam". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  15. "Minister Coveney announces 2022 Presidential Distinguished Service Award recipients". gov.ie. 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
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