Last month, 30 students from the Maher School of Irish Dance travelled to Tasmania to represent NSW in the National Irish Dance Championships.
And four of them brought home two national titles between them.
Isaac Bartlett, 8, won the under 8 boys championship, and then teamed up with Niamh Grady (8), Rose Lynch (10) and Cameron Purcell (10) to take out the under 10s mixed four-hand ceili.
Isaac, who has been dancing since her was five, was thrilled to win two titles. The team, however, will have to be split up next year as the older two will move into a different age category.
The national championships attracts over 1000 competitors from across Australia.
As well as the two national titles, Maher School dancers also picked up many medals in the solo and team categories and nine students have qualified to represent Australia in the 2017 World Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin next April.
“I am extremely proud of all my students, from beginner dancer through to the advanced level dancer,” said teacher Maria Maher-Astley.
“The students demonstrate such dedication, commitment and passion for Irish dance. They are a pleasure to teach and we are so proud to be keeping the tradition of Irish dance alive in the Blue Mountains.”
The Maria Maher School of Irish Dance, now in its 22nd year, is proud to foster a love of Irish dance in the Blue Mountains and Penrith. Maria Maher-Astley is a fully qualified teacher of Irish dance and is registered with the Irish Dancing Commission in Ireland and the Australian Irish Dancing Association.
The Maher School of Irish Dance is highly regarded and the students compete regularly throughout Australia. The school’s students performed in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and have also performed at the Sydney Opera House, the Riverside Theatre, The Sydney Town Hall and The Sydney Convention Centre.