John has a foot in both camps!
IRELAND’S Got Talent got a leg up from Dancing With The Stars last night when professional hoofer John Nolan’s dance team shimmied through to the live semi-finals. Last night the kids from Xquisite Baby Ballroom wowed the crowd and got Denise van Outen to press her golden buzzer. Dressed in full ballroom regalia, the dancers – aged from eight to eleven years old – received a standing ovation from all four judges. Their school is based in Dublin and their motto is that ‘no mean girls or boys’ are allowed. But what people at home weren’t told is that the five couples were coached by DWTS pro John Nolan. Nolan, who is paired with Deirdre O’Kane, has been with Xquisite Dance studio for six years but doesn’t believe that there is any conflict of interest, appearing in both talent shows. ‘Look, it is going to be good for both shows,’ he told the MoS. ‘They are the two biggest shows on Irish television so I don’t see this being a problem. The kids compete as couples normally, but we put them together for this act. Dancing With the Stars has definitely helped spread the word about dancing, but this group started before the show came here so it is great for them to get an opportunity to shine.’ The Kilkenny dancer was not at the auditions in Drogheda but was waiting by the phone for news. And he says he was just praying for four ‘yes’ votes and was in shock when they received the Golden Buzzer. ‘To get a group of boys and girls that age that committed to dancing is rare and special. I am so happy they got through,’ he said.