Article by:
Tom Mack
A Irish dancing school has thanked the supporters who helped it raise £16,000 to send young dancers to two competitions in Ireland.
The Shaun Burden School of Irish Dancing was formed in Leicester in 2011 and now has more than 30 members.
About a year ago Shaun and his wife Emma first started entering their pupils into contests around the UK.
The move has paid off with dozens of prizes and certificates being won by its dancers, who include children and adults.
In April this year three girls from the school - Cerys Andrew, 10, Shonagh Groves, 14, and Niamh Reilly, 15 - went to Dublin to compete in the World Championships organised by the Cumann Rince Dea Mheasa organisation.
Two months later Shaun and Emma took 13 dancers back to Dublin for the All Ireland Championships.
Niamh, who was among the 13, was crowned champion in her age group at intermediate level.
Both trips were paid for thanks to a massive fundraising effort by the dancers, covering the cost of accommodation, flights and outfits.
Emma said: "We were raising money all over, doing bag packing at supermarkets in Wigston, Oadby and Hamilton, as well as holding lots of fundraising dance events.
"We also sent out letters to businesses over Leicester asking for donations and lots of them were very generous, including The Addies Bar, Benson Box, Pat Mannix and Leicester City Football Club.
"Going to Dublin to compete for the first time in April was fantastic and it was great to see how far the girls had come. They had a really great time.
"They all did well and were up against competitors from Ireland, America and all over the UK.
"The dancers from Ireland were the really tough competition - a lot of them dance for 10 to 15 hours a week and our dancers only do an hour a week so we did well to get placed in the final."
It was the June trip, with 12 girls and one male dancer, that cost the most.
Emma said: "It was an amazing experience."
Shaun and Emma's dance school currently operates all over Leicester as it looks for a new home studio.
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