World Championships
A Thrilling Experience for Young Irish Dancers
VANCOUVER - It was a thrilling experience at the Irish Dancing World Championships for 20 dancers of the Penk O'Donnell School who competed in Glasgow, Scotland this past April. Some, such as Ben Petruk, Brenna McDonnell and Erica Cocco, were dancing overseas for the first time. Others were there trying to improve on what they did last year. And improve, they did.
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THE MEDAL-WINNING Penk O'Donnell girls enjoying a well deserved break on the beach with their teacher after a very exciting World Championships. These six dancers beat out hundreds to claim medals in their respective competitions. Front row from left, Lara Brewster, Candice Corrigan (10th place Girls Under 16), teacher, Deirdre Penk O'Donnell, Emma Cronin (10th place Ladies Under 21). Back Row from left: Bronagh Rogan, Gabrielle Corrigan (5th place Girls Under 13) and Christina Perry.
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First held in a small theatre in Dublin, the popularity of the championships has increased immensely over the years and this year Glasgow played host to an estimated 4,000 competitors from 15 countries around the world.
Hard to imagine that Irish dancing is so popular in places such as Russia, South Africa, Poland and even Taiwan, that they would have dancers attending the World Championships. In fact, Irish Dancing is so popular that the official website of the World Championships received over one million hits a day from people anxiously logging on to live commentary.
"It's so exciting to go to the World's and get the opportunity to meet dancers from other countries," said Christina Perry who danced and medaled in the Under 17 girls competition.
Lara Brewster, who also medaled in the Girls Under 17, and Bronagh Rogan who medaled in the Girls Under 19 were quick to agree. "It was incredible to sit backstage and hear the dancers sitting next to you speaking French or German. You just don't expect it!"
Meeting new friends is definitely a bonus but all 20 Penk O'Donnell dancers were unanimous that the big excitement for the week came with the six medals and the trophy that they came home with.
"Standing on the podium was the best feeling ever," said trophy winner Gabrielle Corrigan who was thrilled with her fifth place finish in the Girls Under 13, up five places from last year.
"I just couldn't stop smiling. My second dance didn't go as well as I wanted it to and I really didn't expect to get into the top five."
Candice Corrigan, aged 16 and Emma Cronin, 19, both finished in tenth place in their respective competitions. For both girls this was a personal best at World's although Emma placed just out of the top 10 last year.
Candice received another thrill when she got home and found out that Irish Dance Magazine, an international publication out of England, was naming her as Irish Dancing's Rising Star for their June Issue.
It's such an honour," said Candice. "I was so shocked to find out I was going to be the Rising Star."
Teacher Deirdre Penk O'Donnell who has been teaching Irish dancing for 12 years couldn't be happier. "All 20 of my dancers trained exceptionally hard for this event and all of them danced beautifully. I can't tell you how proud they make me," said Deirdre.
"World's go on for a very long eight days. When you're there and in the middle of it, it's hard to get your head around the accomplishment. It's not until you come home and get some rest that you realize what a great week it was."
The school is now busy working for the North American Open Championships to be held the first week of July in Ottawa. The 20 dancers who attended the World Championships will be joining another 20 dancers from the school who have qualified to compete. We wish them the very best of luck.
The Penk O'Donnell School offers Irish dance classes in Burnaby and Coquitlam. For more information go to www.penkodonnell.com.
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