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The McWilliams Academy of Dance Studio in Gqeberha, is extremely proud that four of their dancers qualified and attended the 52nd World Irish Dancing Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, from March 24 to 31.
The dancers are Mia Jonker (17), Megan Walker (18), Shanna du Plessis (16), and Alison Rennie (11).
All competitors who attend the World Championships have already competed at qualifying events held in their own regions around the world.
Only about the top one percent of Irish dancers regionally qualified to compete at the World Championships.
The World Competitions are big, and some age groups have up to 180 dancers competing.
A rotating panel of five international judges adjudicate each round, by looking at the complexity of steps, posture, height of leaps and kicks, turnout of feet, and endurance throughout the dance.
Walker, who competed in the u/18 girls, brought home the prestigious Aisling Award in her age group.
The award is presented to the highest scoring dancer from a country outside of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
The word “Aisling” means to dream, and the Marie Duffy Foundation who sponsor the award, hope that it will inspire dancers towards excellence in Irish Dance.
Du Plessis, who competed in the u/17 girls, was recalled to dance again on the final day of her competition, which means she was placed in the top 50 percent of her age group, and she was awarded a Recall Medal.
She is the first South African to Recall, since each competition was split over two days.
“These are our best results to date, a wonderful reflection of the dedication and effort that our dancers put in,” said The McWilliams Academy teacher, Jennifer McWilliams.
