Young dancer will wow on world stage

Maisie Magner-Williams, of the Ciara D’arcy Academy of Irish Dance, will compete against hundreds of other Irish dancers in the prestigious competition.

At just 11-years-old, Maisie, from Ovenden, already has 27 sashes, 44 trophies and more than 200 medals under her belt.

And the determined youngster, a pupil at Trinity Academy, hopes to add to that when she travels to Glasgow for the championships.

Maisie, regional under-12 champion, said: “I was really happy when I qualified.

“I’m really excited to show people my dancing and this year I’m going for the world medal, which means that I will qualify for Ireland next year.

“I’m really excited to get up there and I just want to do my best. I’m hoping to do even better than last year.

“It’s on my Grandma’s birthday, so she will be there cheering me on.”

It’s not the first time Maisie has performed in the world championships - last year she travelled to Montreal and also qualified the year before, but was too young to attend. Last year, she placed 22nd in the world.

Dedicated Maisie counts world-famous Irish dancer and creator of hit shows Riverdance and Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley as one of her heroes and says she would love to follow in his footsteps.

And she might be on her way to doing just that when she performs her heavy jig and slip jig at the competition.

Her dance teacher, Ciara D’Arcy Wilkinson, said: “Maisie works so hard - she won’t stop until she gets the steps right.

“She never misses a class, even when she is injured.”

Maisie’s Grandma, Theresa Magner, 68, added: “I’m so proud of her when she is up on that stage .

“She just lives and breathes dancing.

“I used to put Irish music on when she was in her pram - her legs would go and when the music stopped, she’d say ‘again, again’.”

Maisie thanked everybody who has helped her get so far - her osteopath Mr Puckasz, who helped her on the road to recovery after injury, her masseur Karen Mitton, her dance teacher, plus her Mum, Grandma and Grandad.

The cost of competitions comes at a high price for entrants, with custom-made outfits, accessories and travel, so it’s hoped some money can be raised for Maisie through a sponsored ‘50 steps’.

Maisie will perform 50 steps non-stop at the Halifax Irish Club, Clifton House, West Parade, on February 29 from 7pm.

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