Edinburgh Irish Dancers win big time and will represent the city, region and Scotland at the world championships in Montreal in March.
Two dancers from the same school and in the same age group appear in the top two positions at an international event recently.
Irish dancing in Edinburgh, Lothian’s & Fife has hit the big time. Edinburgh’s championship winning Irish dancing school Haughey – McAuley Irish Dance Academy, won three major championship titles at the recent All Scotland Championships held in Glasgow at the beginning of this month.
Eleven dancers along with their family members will represent Edinburgh and Scotland at the 2015 World Championships in Montreal next month. The eight day event will include 50 competitions which will be adjudicated by an esteemed panel of 21 judges which also see talented musicians play live for their performances. 2016 will see the World Championships being brought back to Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall for the third time.
For the first time since the All Scotland Championships became an international event two pupils from the same school achieved the ultimate first and second places in the same championship, when Rachael Fraser (1st) and Jodi Millar (2nd) took home the Under 15 girls title and runner up. Joshua Russell Douglas won the Under 13 boys Preliminary title and the Under 19 Junior Girls Ceili team took their third major title home after being crowned the All Scotland Champions for the 2nd year running. To complete the Worlds qualifying season eight other dancers also qualified for Montreal.
In addition the school were awarded top honours at the All Ireland Championships and Great British Championships both in solos and team events and its dancers are getting ready for the biggest challenge of all The World Championships in Montreal next month.
Pupils travel from the Edinburgh and Lothian area and West Lothian to attend classes at their purpose built studio in Penicuik, Midlothian with classes also being held in Tranent and Peebles. The Academy in its existing form boasts 40 pupils and growing.
PHOTOGRAPHS.
1. UNDER 19 JUNIOR LADIES CEILI CHAMPIONS
2. UNDER 15 ALL SCOTLAND GIRLS CHAMPIONS
3. UNDER 13 PRELIMINARY CHAMPION
The School – http://www.haugheymcauley.com
Submitted by Owen McAuley
