Limerick dancers need local support to make it to world championships
A PROMINENT Limerick dance school has announced that they are sending three dancers to the Irish Dancing World Championships in Montreal, Canada this April, but fear that due to the cost of living crisis, they will be unable to pay for their fares.
Husband-and-wife duo, Ciara Sexton Nolan and Cian Nolan operate Scoil Rince Uí Nualláin in the heart of Limerick, and worry that without local support, students won’t be able to fulfil their dreams on what they deem “the biggest stage in Irish Dance.”
Initially five dancers were due to represent the Limerick school, but according to Ciara, two pulled out due to extreme financial pressures. The teachers have set up a GoFundMe page to rally aid for the remaining three competitors’ upcoming travel costs.
Ciara and Cian have expressed their anxieties about the price of the trip for each of her students: “Montreal is very far away, and with the cost of living being so expensive this year, we really just want to raise some funds to support our students.”
Ciara added that they have undertaken other appeals to try and meet their goal. “We have a committee who have distributed scratchcards and buy-a-line fundraisers”, she began. “We are organising race nights and local competitions just to try and raise some funds.”
Both former leads in the world renowned Lord of the Dance, Ciara and Cian beam at the determination of their students. Ciara admitted that the kids’ determination has never wavered. “These kids have danced all through Covid, they turned up to every Zoom lesson online. They stayed with it when it would have been far easier to not turn up to an online class five nights a week.”
In exchange for sponsorship, they are offering performances needed at any events patrons may have. Ciara said: “We have a professional troupe of young men and women aged 16 to 30 performing Riverdance style cabaret and we also provide school performances with dancers from ages three and up.”
With over 50 World Championship titles to date, Scoil Uí Nualláin is the one of the most decorated schools in Munster.