Colorado’s Rising Dance Star
Colorado’s Rising Dance Star
During the week after St. Patrick’s Day, dancers from around the world traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the 2016 World Championships of Irish Dance. Twenty different countries participated in the event.
The most difficult competitions are the girls solo events. One of the sterling performances was turned in by Ava Wiesenmeyer of Colorado’s Wick School of Irish Dance.
Ava competed in the 13-14 year old girls event. In an outstanding performance, Ava finished 8th in the World, competing against a field of 191.
Ava’s accomplishment is quite notable. No Colorado girl dancer in a solo competition has finished better than 10th at the Worlds in the past 25 years. Ava’s 8th place finish is especially remarkable given the rising popularity of Irish dance tradition over the last 20 years around the world. Irish dancers now train like athletes in an effort to improve their form, stamina and tapping. Serious dedication has now become part of the Irish dance scene. Ava is a former U.S. Western Regional Champion. She began dancing with the Wick School 5 years ago.
Only dancers placing very high in their regional championships are invited to “Worlds.” At the World Championships, each dancer performs two rounds of dances, and then the judges identify the top 50 dancers for the final round. Ava easily made the cut for the final round. Ava finished off her performance with her set dance known as “KIlkenny Races.” Her three strong rounds of dancing propelled her into 8th place in the 13-14 year old competition. All of Colorado admires Ava’s magnificent performance.
For more information on Wick School of Irish Dance call 303-987-2427
