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 With fast-paced steps, hops and
kicks on TikTok, college student Morgan Bullock,
21, has captured more than 1 million views and
the hearts of fans worldwide.
"It was really unexpected and it happened really
fast," Bullock said in an interview on Sunday in
an old power plant in Richmond, Virginia, where
the sounds of her footwork echoed off the walls.
Bullock has been dancing since she was 3 and
began Irish dance training at age 10. She placed
43rd in 2019 at the World Irish Dance
Championships, which have been put on hold
during the pandemic.
As Bullock's videos went viral, she faced
questions about whether this style of dance is
appropriate for her.
"I haven't really had to constantly think about
my race as an Irish dancer," she said.
"Initially, my mom, my parents had reservations
just because it was something that we had never
heard of and it's not very typical for someone
who looks like me to want to do Irish dancing."
But after years of competing with Irish dancers
across the globe, she rejects the criticism of
cultural appropriation.
"You wouldn't tell an English girl she can't do
ballet just because she's not French," she said.
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 "It's just a form of dance. And
I think because Irish dance is a dance form that
was born out of oppression, it's such an amazing
thing that it is something that people can enjoy
all over the world without, you know, shame from
the Irish dance community."
Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar
invited Bullock to dance in Ireland via a tweet
in May 2020, and the traveling Riverdance tour
has asked her to perform with them.
As St. Patrick's Day approaches, Bullock said
she is grateful that her dancing can motivate,
educate and inspire a wider audience about Irish
culture.
"Growing up, I didn't really have someone to
look to as an Irish dancer who really looked
like me. So the fact that I can be that person
for young girls and boys or whoever wants to
pursue Irish dancing or do something that's a
little bit out of the box for them, it's just
really great."
(Reporting by Kia Johnson; Writing by Katharine
Jackson; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Richard
Chang)
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