[baileyquigley]

Oops, i just realized that i never posted my photos from worlds 😅 but i’m so proud to say that i’m 10th in the world!! i had a really disappointing couple of years where i just kept dropping in placement at every major, and it honestly felt like a dream to earn my first world medal. if any of yall feel like you’re stuck in the same place, please keep going!! sometimes it takes longer than you think it will, but, if it’s important to you, don’t give up!

[just-duff-it]

This worlds feels like an eternity ago and I just realized I forgot to post!! Words can’t even describe the feeling of going from no recall last year to 30th this year. When they called out the recalls my mom and I both burst into tears of joy and no one around us knew if that meant good or bad news. :p

This spring was really tough to balance dance and work while trying to write and defend my thesis, go on postdoctoral fellowship interviews, and try not to freak out about all the unknowns including moving to a new city. I prepared the best I could for this worlds but I knew I didn’t put the time in like I did last year and that made me nervous.

Honestly, dance day was one big mental test. I was feeling fly in my new look (thanks yet again Momma Duff!) but wanted the dancing to shine on the day. I fought back all the negative thoughts that cropped into my head and danced my absolute heart out in the hornpipe. It was one of the best rounds I’ve ever done.

The soft shoe was a different story. 3 at a time is tough no matter what but I travel backwards in my middle step and decided to cut back to avoid the other two girls on the other side of the stage. Unfortunately, they didn’t see me either and cut backward as well, and when I turned around we collided so hard the other girl fell into a split and I tumbled to the back of the stage (and we became instagram famous in the process I learned later :P). I was absolutely mortified and apparently hit my head because the EMTs concussion checked me afterward. I think we were in such shock that Dan Armstrong wouldn’t let us go onstage for a WHILE until my whole body started hurting and I knew if I didn’t dance then I wouldn’t be able to. I wasn’t even thinking about the recall at that point, and to be honest I thought it was out of the question with a fall that bad, but I loved my reel so much that I just wanted that joy to shine on stage. I could have freaked out, or given up, or danced timid to try not to bump anyone, but I didn’t. I danced smart and we all left each other plenty of space, but I danced as hard as I could to prove that I wanted this. After the soft shoe I wasn’t sure it was enough.

So when they called that recall, I lost my mind for a second. I let all of the emotion from the entire spring out and it was such a joyful release I can’t even describe it. Thank goodness I wasn’t first for the set or I would have been a basket case. The set wasn’t the best I’ve ever done, but I knew I hadn’t put the time in that I needed to and I just wanted to dance with joy. I had so much fun at the awards ceremony cheering on my friends and getting to take the awards stage again. I can’t even post photos from the awards because I was trying so hard not to happy/ugly cry that I just made a weird face the whole time!

Anyway, now that Worlds are over and life has settled down, I can also announce that I’m officially starting a postdoc at Harvard this fall in the neuroscience department! I have no idea how dance fits into that but I just know it still brings me so much joy that I don’t want to stop. I may be a super senior lady, but I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me. :D

[rincerepeat]

Wind swept beauty.

Featured: Megan, 16th (U20) in the World, Reigning New England regional champion, McInerney School of Irish Dance

Photographed in Glasgow

[rincerepeat]

Wind swept beauty.

Featured: Megan, 16th (U20) in the World, Reigning New England regional champion, McInerney School of Irish Dance

Photographed in Glasgow

[kierstynrb]

First year not competing at O was strange. I definitely missed dancing but I love helping the kids get ready and run around trying to see them all. Gonna take some more time for it to really kick in that I’m not competing anymore but these kids make it a lot easier💜 so proud of every single one of them (some not pictured) also so happy to be apart of this school 💜

[eeoo]

[bridgetlovespink]

And you have less than a minute before you’re on..

[fusionfighters]

Scott Doherty & Colin Barkell #FFVideoFeature

50K Views on Facebook already..

[kierstynrb]

Some pictures from NANS. Happy with how my last competition ever went down. ❤️

[kierstynrb]

sad to be writing this but the past 14 almost 15 years of dance has been the most amazing time of my life. Can't believe this chapter in my life has come to a close. Never thought in a million years I would be retiring now. I always thought I'd be retiring later in my dance career. I want to thank everyone who has supported me unconditionally. Friends, family and my teachers (past and present). Without all of the support I've been given I don't think I would have made it as far as I did. Though I'm retired, I'll still be helping out with teaching and eventually getting my TCRG. I can't wait to help my littles become better dancers. Can't wait to use what I've learned over the years and apply it when teaching. One chapter in my life may have closed but another one is starting. Thank you everyone who has been there for me. 💜

[kimbellll]

🌎 16 Days ✨

[xnoods-and-noodlesx]

Huge congratulations to our very own Megan Stuart for placing 16th in the U13 competition at The World Championships today !! ❤️❤️

[bella-clarabel]

The Marie Connell School making champions once again

Shan Flan….2nd in the world!! So so proud of the little girl who randomly introduced herself to me aged 8…10 years later I’m lucky enough to get to work with this superstar each week 😘☘️

[csweetser8]

You can take the girl out of Irish dance but you’ll never take Irish dance out of the girl. Sad that worlds 2017 was my last competition but I’ll never leave the sport entirely. I look forward to being a spectator, teacher, and someone that uses dance strictly for fun and a good workout from time to time. Thanks for a great way to end things, Dublin ❤🍀

[mason-cummins-academy]

Our stunning Senior Lady, Jess Healy

[kierstynrb]

Never posted any pictures from O so better late than never. Definitely happy to be 14th and a national qualifier at my last O. Wanna thank my biggest supporters, John and my parents. Wouldn't be where I am today without them pushing me and always supporting me no matter what ☺️ congrats to everyone else on how you did! You all danced amazing and I'm so happy for you!

[joshpeck]

I want to be this happy someday