Feature
on the
Young Talented Dancer

Rory's Story............

It would be fair to say that this young dancer is giving Superstar Michael Flatley a run for his money.

The St. Bede's RC Primary pupil has been dancing since he could only just walk and is the best dancer of his age in the North East of England.

Every year, Rory wins between 10 and 15 trophies and has his sights set on World domination in the Irish Dance scene. Rory has already competed against dancers from America, Australia and Ireland, scooping a raft of major titles along the way as well as making quite a name for himself in the Irish Dancing Circuit.

Rory's mother, Lisa McElvogue, has run the McElvogue School of Irish Dancing in Newcastle for more than 15 years.

Rory's Dancing Background......

Rory's first feis was the Clann na'n Gael Feis in 2002 and he came in 3rd in the Open Championship! He then danced in the Feis Caledonia were he also came in 3rd in the Under 5 Open Championship.

He then went on to win Feis Caledonia the following year when dancing U6.

Rory progressed so quickly in his first year of dancing and was yet barely taught anything. Rory picked the dances up very quickly, Lisa says, and believe it or not, even now Rory knows all the steps from Beginners right through to Open....including the Slip-Jig!


Rory at the Shandon Feis - Feb' 2002 above

&

Rory Winning the St. Patrick's Feis in 2005

Lisa says...........

Rory told me he wanted to dance when he was 4and a half after my Class Feis in 2001. When he got up to start he already knew his Easy Reel, Single Jig and Light Jig, much to my surprise. All he asked for Christmas that year was a pair of heavy shoes and a Michael Flatley Video of Lord of the Dance..........
I can remember this as if it were yesterday because Rory played with none of his toys but put his heavy shoes on on Christmas morning and his tracksuit and wore them all day! When my other children were playing with their toys, Rory went to his room and watched his idol - Michael Flatley!

Lisa continues......

I have been teaching for 18 years now and in that time I have had a Great Britain Champion, European Champion and British National Champion, but none of them make me feel as proud as I feel when Rory does well - I cry when I watch him dance quite often!
My other children, Amy 6 and Sophie 10 have also won Open Championships but are not as keen as Rory. Sophie has danced from the age of 3 and has won a medal at the Great Britain Championships, Amy is not old enough to dance in any majors just yet and my 3 year old daughter, Katie, can now do her jump 2 3's but would rather do clicks.

Not a lot of people know this, but, I also taught Declan Donnelly of the Ant n' Dec fame to Irish Dance and he was a pupil at my school

One of Lisa's most famous pupils...........apart from Rory that is!!
Declan Donnelly
of
The Ant & Dec Fame
Photo of Declan just before he won the U7 Trophy Reel at the Tyneside Irish Centre Feis

On Top of the World..............

Some Photos of Rory in the last couple of years....