St. Catherine of Siena's Irish dancers ready for St. Patrick's Day

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, most of Philadelphia is getting into the holiday spirit.

But for the first grade dancers in St. Catherine of Siena's Irish dance class, the days and weeks surrounding March 17 are what they wait all year for.

"They really get excited for the parade," said a woman involved with the class. "The build up for it, the dance they learn, and they feel like celebrities for a day."

The class started 12 years ago, when instructor Shila Sweeney was asked my a student's mother to come teach Irish dance at the school.

"I came and gave it a try," said Sweeney. "We had 12 kids the first year and it exploded. Now we have 60 dancers this year."

The after school class is touted as a great way for students to make friends, learn something new and build confidence.

But as the busy little feet of the young dancers hop and skip along to classic Irish music, there's one thing you can not forget.

"A big bright smile," said one first grader.

You can see these little Irish dancers and more during FOX 29's live coverage of the parade this Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.