Nelson Mandela Bay Irish dancers will be hoping to set the stage ablaze with their fancy footwork when they compete at the World Irish Dance Championships in the US on Sunday.
During the 2018 South African Irish Dance Championships, 10 dancers from the McWilliams Academy of Dance qualified to represent the country at the week-long world championships at the Greensboro Convention Centre, in North Carolina.
This after six of the 10 dancers competed at and claimed several titles at the All Irelands Irish Dancing Championships held in Killarney, Ireland in March.
The world championships qualifiers are Jenna Hayes, 17, Jemima Opperman, 14, Lauren Thompson, 14, all from Collegiate Girls’ High School, as well as Josie Opperman, 11, from Collegiate Primary and Tammy Forbes, 17, from St Dominic’s Priory, and Courtney Pearce, 26 – all of whom competed at the All Irelands competition.
Irene Pitsiladi, 15, and Channaed Oosthuizen, 15, both attending Pearson High School, as well as Carma Stephenson, 17, from Collegiate and Shanna du Plessis, 11, from Collegiate Primary, also qualified but did not attend the All Irelands event.
And while all qualified for the world championships, six dancers who attended the All Irelands competition will not be attending the world championships due to funding issues.
McWilliams Academy of Dance owner Jenny McWilliams said: “All Irelands is the second most important major championship in the world and it is truly a wonderful opportunity for dancers from a developing country such as SA, to have been able to share the stage with the best dancers in the world.
“The sport can only go from strength to strength when we are given these amazing platforms from which to grow.
She said the world championships will be judged according to technique which includes elements such as rhythm, strength, musicality, movement and even height.
“We are exceptionally proud of each and every one of them who recently represented and those who are about to represent their country with distinction and grace.
“It is every South African dancer’s dream to qualify for the world champs. And to have so many dancers qualify for the event is hugely exciting for us as a dance studio,” she said.
“These girls are very passionate about the craft, training for hours at a time.
“They work incredibly hard and to be rewarded for their efforts in this way is a great honour,” McWilliams said.
And while not all of the qualifying dancers will be attending the world championships, the entire group were very excited about the upcoming event – not only about travelling to the US, but also to compete among the most talented dancers in the world and prove that the Bay is up to the task.