DENISE Rochford founded the Irish dancing school Scoil Rince Rochford in North London in 2011. She now teaches 50 dancers, ranging from four year olds to over 50s, at classes on offer in Harrow, Hatch End and Northwood.
This week the school has been taking part in its first World Irish Dancing Championships, with four teams competing in the London competition. She told The Irish Post a little about the excitement of competing in a ‘home’ championship...
Tell us about Scoil Rince Rochford?
I founded the school in 2011 not long after I took my TCRG exams. I originally started only teaching adults at my Keep Fit with Ceili class but after a short while I just couldn't resist any longer and set up the school. It’s a big commitment, as I can no longer stay in bed at the weekend or do late night Thursday shopping, but it's so worth it. I now have over 50 students but it is constantly growing and changing which is great. My youngest dancer is four and oldest is over 50 and its made up of a mixture of first and second generation Irish as well as South American, Mauritian and Scottish dancers.”
What inspired you to found your own school?
From the age of three I have been dancing, so when I stopped dancing competitively I missed it terribly. It was as if I had lost a limb, so I had to do my TCRG and founded the school once I had completed the course.
As a London school, how exciting is it to have the Worlds at home this year?
It's great to have it here to show the world how the London Irish get things done and it's lovely for the families and friends to be able to come and support the dancers with just a short tube ride. This is my first Worlds entering any dancers and I have four teams taking part so it’s very daunting but we have grabbed the challenge with both hands and are ready for action.
How are your dancers feeling about the competition?
They are nervous but also bursting with excitement. Most of the competitors have never danced at the Worlds before so it really is very special for them and the school. They have been training since the end of last summer and in the past three months we have had bootcamps and extra classes - some weeks every single night! They have worked so hard and they have become such close friends, so whatever happens in the competition they will be friends for life and this is another one of the reasons why I love Irish dancing.”
How will you feel when they take to the stage?
I’ll be nervous. lt's really hard as once they go side-stage it's completely up to them. I feel helpless and sick in my stomach but they always do me proud, so fingers crossed.
How many days will you be attending?
I have competitors performing on three days but I will be there every day helping out. There are so many jobs to be done to make the championships run smoothly. I will only be helping in one of the halls but the people behind the scenes deserve their very own trophy presentation at the end as they will be working around the clock and have been for months.
Will you have support from the dancers’ families and friends along with you?
Yes we will and that’s so important. They boost morale and have been working very hard too, getting their children to classes, feisanna and supporting all fundraising efforts. We couldn't do it without them.”
What’s most exciting about taking part in the Worlds?
New costumes, the opening ceremony, the smell of fake tan and hairspray, the beautiful dancing and live music, the sportsmanship, the ball.....I love it all!
Where do you hope to place?
First…one day. We hope to dance the very best we can and fingers crossed the teams get into the recalls. It's going to be an amazing experience with great competition from all over the world: Ireland, Europe, America, Australia....I could go on. You have to qualify to dance at the Worlds so the standard is extremely high; the best dancers in the world will be here in London this week. So it’s very exciting and definitely worth coming to watch even if you are not a dancer yourself.
After the dust settles on the Worlds 2014, what’s next for Scoil Rince Rochford?
We are back to the grindstone straight away. I was in Boston for the Worlds last year and it feels like it was only a few weeks ago. Time flies when you’re having fun and we have plenty at Scoil Rince Rochford so the heads will be down with more hard work to follow so we can make it to the Worlds 2015. We will also be preparing a dance production for the families this Christmas to celebrate a great year.
Do you expect to see an increase in the uptake of Irish dancing following the coverage of the Worlds in London?
Yes, definitely. Especially as it is also the 20th anniversary of Riverdance. I believe there is a closet Irish dancer in everyone so this may just help them to escape.
Photos by Malcolm McNally
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