Dancer set for world event

An Irish dancer from Newark has qualified for the World Irish Dancing Championships to be held in April next year.

Jessica Miller, 10, of Harewood Avenue, qualified after competing in the Great Britain Championships in Bognor Regis, where she came fourth in the under-ten girls’ category.

She took part in the All Ireland Championships in Belfast, where she was placed third.

At each event Jessica was dancing against more than 100 elite dancers from as far as the US and Australia.

She was awarded the maximum mark of 100 from one of the judges at each of the competitions.

Jessica dances at the Inis Cara School of Irish Dancing in Newark and Lincoln, which is run by her uncle, Mr Steven Brunning, a former World Champion Irish dancer and lead dancer in Michael Flatley’s Lord Of The Dance.

Mr Brunning said Jessica’s aim was to get a medal at the world championships, which he feels is well within her reach.

“Jessica has a real passion for Irish dancing and a very strong work ethic,” said Mr Brunning. “I think she can go to the very top.”

Jessica and other dancers from Inis Cara will be competing in the Midlands Regional Championships in Coventry at the end of this month.

One of the dancers will be Mr Brunning’s son, and Jessica’s cousin, Shay Brunning, 6, who will be competing in the under-sevens boys’ category.

Jessica and Shay are both pupils at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, Newark.

Other dancers in the Newark class are preparing to take their first set of grade exams, a new initiative set up by the Irish Dancing Commission.

Information about classes at Inis Cara is available from Mr Brunning on 07584 353891.