From left to right are Leah Bishop (age 10, Hilton), Jayden Walker (age 13, Rochester), Abigail Graham-Luke (age 15, Pittsford), Maura Connorton (age 17, Hilton), Elle McGinnity (age 17, Brockport), Jamie Gudyka (age 14, Webster), Sophie Grey (age 15, Honeoye Falls), and Skylar Jenks (age 16, Rochester). Submitted photo
Eight children from the Young School of Irish Dance, located in Brighton, qualified to compete at the prestigious Oireachtas Rince Na Cruinne, known as the World Championships of Irish Dancing, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland between March 20 and 27th, 2016. The dancers were able to qualify at the Mid Atlantic Oireachtas, a regional competition, which was held over Thanksgiving weekend in Philadelphia, PA.
The dancers work extremely hard all year round, attending practices several days a week and competing throughout the United States and Canada in order to prepare for international competitions. There will be approximately 5,000 competitors attending the Worlds this March, and the Young School is proud to be sending 8 soloists, more than any other Rochester Irish Dancing school. All of the Young School’s qualifiers are able to maintain academic success, despite their extreme time commitment to dancing.
“We, as teachers, are unbelievably proud of all of them for reaching this level. We are so pleased with all of the hard work each of the kids has demonstrated to prepare to dance on the World’s stage,” Rachel Young stated.
The first Oireachtas Rince Na Cruinne, commonly known as the World Championships, was held in 1970 in Dublin and has grown into a major event each year. In order to qualify for the competition, dancers must place in the top percentage of their age group at either the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas or the North American Nationals, which is held in July each year. The World Championships is the very top level of competition in Irish Dancing, so to even qualify for the competition is a major feat.
The Young School of Irish Dance is located in Brighton and is accepting new students, aged 5 and up; contact Rachel at 585-978-6271 or at rachelburke56@gmail.com.
