Pupils of Edenderry academy set to compete at dance world cup

Fourteen dancers from the Cheryl Corrigan Ballet Academy, which trains students in Edenderry and Rathangan, have qualified for the Dance World Cup — and this year, for the first time, the competition is coming to them with Dublin hosting the event.

The dancers will be competing this month (July 8 to 18) at the Convention Centre in Dublin, joining more than 11,000 children from 60 countries over 11 days of competition.

It's one of the largest dance events in the world, and a rare chance for the academy's dancers to perform on home soil rather than travel abroad for it.

The local girls secured their places at the Irish qualifiers in April, where dancers from across the country competed for a spot on Team Ireland.

Several came away with medals: Pola Halaczkiewicz took gold and silver, Julia Trojan took silver and bronze, and Róisín Mather and Alysha O'Mahony Dunne both took bronze.

The full qualifying squad is: Hannah Heffernan, Róisín Mather, Julia Trojan, Pola Halaczkiewicz, Lexi Behan, Lola Brady, Indie Brady, Keelin Doran, Bonnie O'Mahony Dunne, Alysha O'Mahony Dunne, Ayla O'Malley, Elsie Van Der Vinden, Zoey Mangan and Kaylah Ryduk.

"This is a massive achievement for all fourteen girls, and I couldn't be prouder of them," said said Cheryl Corrigan.

"They've put in years of hard work to get to this level, and the effort they've shown in the lead-up to qualifying has been incredible, the hours, the focus, the determination to keep improving.

"They're an absolute pleasure to work with, and to see that work rewarded with a place at the Dance World Cup, is really special."

Cheryl Corrigan Ballet Academy has thanked its sponsors for their support in getting the group to the finals: Fernside Homes Ltd, Edenderry; The Legat Foundation; Home Health Care; and Bord na Móna.