When Annemarie Welsh founded Áine Hay Academy of Irish Dance 10 years ago, she did not imagine flying across Europe with more than a dozen youngsters and their families to impress with their talents, but that is just what she has done, building a team who do her proud every time.
Annemarie teaches four days a week at Spott Village Hall and the most dedicated of her dancers, all of whom have only ever trained under her, practice about eight hours per week.
They then take part in regular competitions – called Feis – held over weekends throughout the year, as well as performing to care home residents and at functions or events including Dunbar Civic Week.
(Image: Annemarie Welsh)
It is a significant commitment from the young people and, always proud of their hard work, Annemarie said: “They are hoping to be the best, they are pushing themselves every single class to take themselves to the next level.”
Their most important Feis on the calendar, the World Irish Dance Association World Championships, was held earlier this month in Liège, Belgium, with 13 dancers and their families making the trip.
The competing youngsters, aged from seven up to 19, had to qualify at a regional level to be allowed to represent their country.
Some families took the ferry while others flew, all arriving in Belgium on April 7 ahead of the competition’s start.
As well as the soloists, eight of the dancers competed in an under-17s Céilí.
They danced across three days, depending on age groups, with the results decided by averaging their scores.
Annemarie said: “They’re very nervous, of course, and I’m pretending I’m holding it together and telling them it’s only Irish dancing, everything’s fine – and as soon as they left me, I was in pieces at the back of the hall!
“My nerves were absolutely shot.
(Image: Annemarie Welsh)
“It wasn’t about the result. For me, it was just that they have worked hard and let them get through each round as best as they can. Whatever happens, happens.”
However, she didn’t need to worry, as her team were “absolutely brilliant” on the stage and it was “the best I had ever seen them dance”, she said.
She added: “The next day, it was the rollercoaster again: the nerves kick in, they go up and dance, they were all great and the results were good.”
Among the impressive results for the team, Zoe Lockett achieved second place in the under-16s category and Orla Palmer third in the under-14s.
Seven-year-old Gaby Gordon came in fourth place for what was her first time competing.
Eight members of the dance school competed in the under-17s Céilí. (Image: Annemarie Welsh)
The dance school was also celebrating the success of Angus Buglass (eighth place, under-nine), Archie Buglass (21st place, under-14), Leah McConway (15th place, under-14), Eilidh Ross (20th place, under-15), Jenna Fleming (26th place, under-16), Pree Miller (fifth place, under-16), Maddie Ferrans (fourth place, under-16), Elsa Bird (10th place, under-17), Elise Palmer (5th place, under-17) and Mackenzie Miller (seventh place, under-20).
Their families travelled with them to watch the competition and none of the parents had a background in Irish dancing, instead thrust into “a world of wigs and fake tan” when their children picked up the sport.
The youngsters have formed friendships across the country, cheering on other Scottish teams and waving their Saltires when they compete throughout Europe.
The school’s next feis is on June 6 in Glasgow and the 2027 world championships will be held in Birmingham – a disappointment for the children that there would be no trip abroad but a relief for parents who have travelled across the world and funded their talented youngsters, Annemarie joked.