Dublin: The dancers competing in a different kind of world cup

The dancers competing in a different kind of world cup

Northern Ireland may not have qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but a team of dancers have been on the road to success, representing Northern Ireland at the Dance World Cup (DWC).

They were among more than 120,000 dancers worldwide who competed to qualify for a place at this year's finals, the latest in an event which has been held annually since 2004.

Forty-two dance schools from across the country came together to represent Northern Ireland in the competition, which is known as the "Olympics of dance".

And unlike their footballing counterparts, Team Northern Ireland has been successfully collecting medals in Dublin.

Dance is a huge part of Faye's life; she is homeschooled and trains up to seven hours a day.

She has had a tough couple of years after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, but her dedication to dance was acknowledged when she was awarded team captain.

Normally the dancers from Northern Ireland are used to competing against each other, but at the DWC they are all representing the same team.

Faye said she enjoyed this element.

"It's really nice to be able to come together with different schools," she said.

"It's nice to not be competitive with each other and you want them to win just as much as yourself."

Her proudest moment was "being able to go up on the stage and represent my country whilst being able to support everybody on my team".

Team Northern Ireland flag bearer, Sophie Bradley, said the competition had been "really wholesome".

From the age of two dance has been the focal point of her life.

"It's everything to me. Dance is just my life," she said.

Competing at her fourth DWC and qualifying with five solos she went on to place ninth in a lyrical solo and her group dances placed in the top 15.

She emphasised that dancing amongst her friends was special as "you feel like a family".

Sophie said she loved watching the younger dancers take to the stage and commended them for their bravery as they performed on the world stage.

"I know how scary it can be for them," she said.

Team mascot, eight-year-old Penny, was diagnosed with scoliosis four years ago and has to wear a back brace for 23 hours a day, except when she is dancing and showering.

She has been dancing for seven years and leading up to the finals she trained in England once a month, on top of rehearsals at home.

That paid off, with Penny taking home two bronze medals - one for a solo and one with her elite acro group routine - a mix of classical dance and acrobatics.

"Normally I just push myself through the nerves by closing my eyes and visualising my dance before I go on stage," she said.

"I don't like it when I get butterflies before I dance but I know it's because I'm excited sometimes as well as nervous."

Her mother Carrie said the dancing helped Penny manage her scoliosis and paid tribute to the older competitors who "know how to put her brace on and help her with it when we are away at competitions, which is lovely".

Ten-year-old Mya was really happy to secure her place at the DWC after only taking up dancing two years ago.

But her training and hard work has paid off, winning bronze in a song and dance class, ninth in a hip-hop duet and10th in contemporary.

"I would come out of school, get ready and just go straight to dance," she said.

Aside from performing, Mya said a highlight of the competition was meeting dancers from around the world.

"Making friends with people from different countries, trading pins and just being able to be at the Dance World Cup and knowing that means I actually have an opportunity at doing the stuff I want," she said.

Fourteen-year-old Mollie is bringing home silverware from this year's DWC, after her junior acro group placed second in their class.

She said that came with feelings of "shock and different emotions"

She has also made friends with dancers from Canada, USA, Switzerland and China,

And being a part of Team Northern Ireland has been a highlight for Mollie.

"It's been fun having more faces on your team and making new friends," she said.