EIGHT south-west dancers are about to embark on a European adventure, Irish dancing their way across three countries.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The students of the O’Shea-Ryan Academy of Irish Dance will leave Australia next Saturday.
Sheena Watson, Lindy Watson, Jennifer Laughton, Emma Laughton, Rachael McGuigan, Bridie McGuigan, Steven McKellar and Sean Carroll are among the group of 31 dancers heading overseas.
Teacher Geraldine Ryan said the students were excited about the trip and would visit Greece, Malta and Spain.
“We will first spend a couple of days in Dubai sightseeing and going on a dune safari,” she said.
“Then we head to Greece for an international folk festival. The five-day festival is held in villages south of Thessaloniki. There will be 30 different countries coming to the folk festival and we will be the only group representing Irish dancing.”
After Greece, the group will head to Barcelona, Spain and dance at another six-day festival before heading to Malta where the group will perform at the International Military Tattoo.
Ms Ryan said her dance school organised an overseas tour annually.
Last year the dancers visited Italy, Germany and Croatia.
“Several of the students have travelled with me before on overseas trips,” she said.
“A few have not — it will be a new experience for them. We are really looking forward to it.”
Ms Ryan said a highlight for the group would be exploring each country’s culture.
“Each year it is a different cultural experience.”