Local Irish dance stars Hayley Hubbert (20) and Jemma Sack (15) are preparing to take on the world at the Irish Dance World Championships in Chicago, USA, in March.

The pair earned their spots to represent the country at the global showpiece following impressive showings at the national championships at the Beaulieu College last month, signalling SA’s growing presence on the international dance scene.

“This means a lot to me because I worked hard in the last year. I’m proud to represent our country and be able to do well for SA,” said Hubbert.

Sack added, “It also means a lot to me, especially because I’m still young. It’s special.”

Hubert finished as runner-up in the women’s 19 to 21 category at the South African Irish Dance Championships held from October 3 to 5, while Sack secured fifth place in the girls’ 14 to 15 age group.

Reflecting on their performances, the duo, coached by Sue Theron and Bernard van der Kuil from the Duncan Studio of Celtic Dance in Sandton, described the competition as intense.

“I enjoyed it, but it was intense. The competition was tough. It was very competitive because we had dancers from all over the country trying to qualify. To get that spot is an honour,” Hubbert said.

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“Everyone works hard because there are only a few of us. It makes it more difficult because everyone gets better every year,” added Sack.

Both are now focusing on sharpening their technique and perfecting their routines ahead of the international showdown, aiming to turn their national success into a global impact.

Hubbert, a first-year information design student at the University of Pretoria, started Irish dancing 16 years ago after watching Riverdance, an Irish dance and music theatrical show composed by Bill Whelan.

She became a national pre-championship champion in 2015 and competed at the world champs in Belfast, Ireland, in 2021.

“I started here in Benoni aged four. I did competitions from the age of seven. It became part of my daily routine and I loved it. I enjoyed it when I began competing and did well from a young age. It changed my life,” she said.

Sack, a former ballerina, fell in love with it after watching Hubbert’s then-studio perform during a St Patrick’s Day celebration at her alma mater, Farrarmere Primary, nine years ago.

“I went home and told my mom about it. It looked like fun. I went for a trial. Afterwards, I told mom that I wanted to give up ballet and start Irish dancing,” Sack said.

The Grade Nine Pinnacle College learner won the pre-championship national title in 2021 before moving up to the championship level. She competed at the worlds in Dublin, Ireland, in April.

Their advice to anyone interested in the sport is to give it a go because you will never know if you will like it.

Irish Dancing SA fun facts:
• It started in the early 1900s;
• It became formal and gained momentum in the 1990s following the global success of the Riverdance show;
• Formal competitions in SA started in 1999;
• The first teacher exams were held in 2007;
• Sue Theron became the first South African to qualify as an international Irish Dancing adjudicator in 2023.

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