Last month, students from diverse backgrounds at institutions such as Al Wataniyah International School, Swiss International School, International School of London - Qatar, Doha College, Dukhan English School, Newton International, CIS School and DESS School, all under the umbrella of Irish Dance Arabia school, took part in the Continental Europe & Asia Irish Dancing Championship, Oireachtas 2023 in Dubai.
Emma Sedlackova, a Grade 12 student, secured third place in Round 1 of her U18 category, and sixth overall. Equally noteworthy are the achievements of Mateo Leung (first, U11 Boys), Luca Leung (second, U13 Boys), Sawako Ito (second, U13 Girls), Taline El Hajj (ninth, U15 Girls), and Zainab Kraishan (12th, U15 Girls).
Some of the younger dancers competed in an International competition for the first time and the achievers are: Tennyson Stuewe (sixth, U6 Girls), Maisie Robertson (eighth, U6 Girls), Lyra Royle (second, U7 Girls), Maddalena Abis (fourth, U7 Girls), Layla Murrin (second, U9 Girls).
From the second division, Ailbhe O’Sullivan (first, U13 Girls) and Sarah Janahi (fourth, U17 Girls) are now able to move up to the first division. All dancers achieved many high places in their graded solo performances allowing them to move up to a higher division.
Three members of Irish Dance Arabia - Luca Leung, Mateo Leung, and Sawako Ito have qualified for the World Championships in Glasgow next April. Izzy Pattison (U13), Dermott Lynch (U10) and Lawrence Murrin (U5), despite only recently taking up Irish dance, took to the stage in Dubai with great success. All dancers were coached by Rachel Franzen and Tess McGovern at Irish Dance Arabia School, a statement added.
