Champion Rosie dances to her way to the world title – for third year running
A14-YEAR-OLD girl from Yate has triumphed at the World Irish Dancing Championships.
Rosie Rendell went up against over 40 other competitors from all over the world to be crowned the World Irish Dancing Association (WIDA) under-14 champion for the third year in a row.
Despite her previous success, Rosie told the Post that the high standard of the other entrants didn’t make it easy to take home the top prize at the competition in Killarney, Ireland, last month.
She said: “This competition was the hardest one yet. Me and all my friends noticed that all the dancers that were competing against us had really good technique. So [we] just thought [it was] best to try our hardest and enjoy it.
“When it came to results, there were 20 of us, there was much suspense because they did them from last to first. It took a while, and there was lots of shaking.
“Then it was top five, so I was happy that I already got this far until it was the top two, me and this extremely talented dancer. So we waited on the stage for whose number would get called out first, and it was hers. I couldn’t believe it, I was so shocked that I got this incredible result for the third time running now. I can’t wait for the next one to have even more fun with my friends.”
The competition attracts dancers from all over the world, with contenders this year hailing from the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, Holland and, of course, Ireland.
Rosie’s father, John Rendell, who travels with her for competitions, described her third win as “phenomenal”.
He said: “It’s not my thing at all. But just to go and watch elite performers doing their thing, it blows my mind.”
A former professional football player, John knows a thing or two about the commitment needed to excel in athletic endeavours and is unfailingly impressed by his daughter’s achievements.
He said: “She’s so dedicated towards it and trains five times every single week, but it’s never, never a chore for her.
“She’s achieved such amazing things. And honestly, as parents, we’re super proud of her. To be so elite at something is so impressive, and she’s just this little girl from Bristol that’s on that national stage.
“Like many children, Rosie first started taking ballet classes at the age of six, but a keen-eyed dance teacher at her Fishponds studio suggested she try Irish dancing, and she’s never looked back since.”
John explained that the world of Irish dancing was initially unfamiliar
❝ For some dancers, the pressure of the occasion can get to them. But when Rosie needs to raise the bar, she just does it.
to him and his family, not having any Irish roots.
He said: “It’s all brand new to us, but to a lot of people, especially in Ireland, it’s almost like a religion, it’s a very big thing.
“As is normally the case, there’s a tiny little bit of Irish in our family, but there’s not any Irish dancing background at all.”
Rosie still trains at Stuart Irish Dance in Fishponds and has her sights set on Riverdance one day.
John explained that the career path to get to the pinnacle of Irish dance performance could be “brutal and competitive” but added that learning the art form and performing has given her “so much confidence” as well as the opportunity to meet different people and travel.
He said: “What impressed me is she doesn’t say anything in school about her achievements. She gets embarrassed about it. But [when she’s performing], she’s a completely different animal. For some dancers, the pressure of the occasion can get to them. But when Rosie needs to raise the bar, she just does it.”
John Rendell