Three young dancers from Oxford are preparing to compete internationally after qualifying for the CLRG World Irish Dance Championships in Chicago.
Grace, 11, Matilda, 14, and Leila, 15, who train at Marion Flanagan School of Irish Dance, are due to travel to the United States on 27 March to compete against dancers from across the world.
The three secured qualification through strong performances at the Southern Region Oireachtas, a major annual regional championship where only top-ranked competitors progress to world level.
Competing against dancers from across southern England, all three achieved top-10 finishes in their age categories.
Grace placed sixth in the Under 12 category, Matilda finished fourth in Under 15, and Leila secured eighth place in Under 16.
Marion Flanagan, founder of the school, said:
“We are incredibly proud of Grace, Matilda and Leila. To qualify for the World Championships is a huge achievement in itself, but to have three dancers reach that level in one year is very special. They have shown not only exceptional talent, but real determination and commitment.”
Ahead of departure, dancers from the school spent the Saint Patrick’s Day weekend performing at events across the local community to help raise funds for travel costs.
The performances attracted strong local support while also showcasing Irish dance to audiences across Oxford.
Marion Flanagan added:
“They’ve worked so hard both in the studio and out in the community. The support we’ve seen over St Patrick’s weekend has been fantastic and means a great deal to the dancers and their families.”
Since qualifying in November, the dancers have combined school commitments with an intensive training programme in preparation for international competition.
At the championships, they will compete through multiple rounds before an international judging panel, with performance judged on precision, stamina and presentation.
The CLRG World Irish Dance Championships is regarded as one of the most prestigious events in the global Irish dancing calendar, attracting competitors from around the world each year.
The three dancers will now represent both their school and Oxford on the international stage later this month.
