Local dancers compete in Scotland

Four dancers from the Burke School of Irish Dance have qualified for the 40th annual World Championships of Irish Dance held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Lauren Kepley and Moira Lumsden of Canfield along with Meghan McCarthy of McDonald and Mara Wilson of Warren, qualified by placing among the top 10 percent in each respective age group at the regional championships held in Columbus over Thanksgiving weekend.

To compete, each one of the girls had to place in the top 10 at the regional competition held this year in Columbus. Those who can compete at the regional level must either be a championship level dancer or place in the top half at local competitions throughout the year.

At the Mid America Oireachtas, each of the girls earned a spot, scoring better than over 100 other dancers in their respective age groups. Kepley was in the U18 age group, Lumsden competed in the U13 bracket.

Kepley, Lumsden and Wilson competed at the 40th Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne in Glasgow, Scotland. McCarthy was unable to attend due to an injury.

Dancers attending the World Championships of Irish Dance compete in a hard shoe round which incorporates the shoes’ percussion into the dance and soft shoe round, which consists of many jumps containing masterful footwork while keeping the body or carriage perfectly straight.

Those students who obtain high scores are recalled, and are then eligible to place in the competition after performing a second hard shoe solo known as a set dance.

It was Kepley’s sixth trip to the world championships. She earned the spot by placing 45th in the world in her age group. Kepley is a senior at Canfield High School and has studied dance for 14 years at the Burke School. She will attend St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., this fall.

Lumsden, a sixth-grader at Canfield Village Middle School, made her first overseas appearance at the world championships. She placed 58th in her respective age group to qualify.

Lumsden has been dancing for seven years with the Burke School.

Wilson, a fourth grader at Blessed Sacrament School in Warren, attended her first world competition. She was 53rd in her age group to qualify. She has danced for the Burke School for seven years.

McCarthy, a McDonald High School sophomore, has qualified for the world championships four times and has been with the Burke School for 12 years.