When the 38^th World Irish Dancing Championships took place in Belfast over Easter, Kingsley girl Stephanie Jackson took part in no less than three events!

Stef competed with her team from Matthews Academy in the under 16 girls' ceili, the under 16 figure dance and the senior girls’ ceili. The figure team was delighted to be placed 4^th, especially as there was some very stiff competition from the Americans, who are hosting the 2009 World Championships in Philadelphia. The senior team also did very well, and was placed 11th.

Ceili dances usually last three minutes and there are eight members in the team. 

Figure dances, usually based on stories from Irish folklore, last about six and a half minutes. They are choreographed by each academy individually, and so each dance has different music and different steps. Stef’s team of 16 dancers all had to move, jump and skip at exactly the same time. A huge amount of work, practice and dedication is required, but that’s clearly no problem for Stephanie!