0:00:09 > 0:00:13Innova Irish Dance Company was founded in March 2013.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18What we do is promote festival dancing with a modern twist.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20That's very much what Innova's about.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Innovation, about doing something that nobody else is.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29A year later, their Britain's Got Talent audition
0:00:29 > 0:00:31made headlines across the UK and Ireland,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35when they danced their way through to the semifinals of the show.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Britain's Got Talent was an absolutely amazing experience.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43It is definitely one I would love to relive over and over again.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Their unique brand of tradition with a twist has seen them
0:00:48 > 0:00:51excel on the competition stage as well as on-screen.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57It has been 20 years since Riverdance, and to even get
0:00:57 > 0:01:01close to their success would be incredible for Innova.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05This is a year in the life of Innova Irish Dance Company.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Innova is based in the coastal town of Portstewart,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22on Northern Ireland's north coast.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27It's a collaboration between Catherine Lamont,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Kyra Archibald and Emma McKeary -
0:01:30 > 0:01:34local festival dancers who have been performing since the age of three.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41As lovers of both traditional and modern dance and music,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44and with a burning desire to fuse the two,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48they have raised the profile of festival dancing around the world.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Festival dancing is confined to Northern Ireland,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56and has a more conservative approach to music and presentation
0:01:56 > 0:02:00than it's bigger, brighter cousin, feis dancing.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Festival dancing, I feel, has been sort of the one
0:02:04 > 0:02:07that people don't know about as much.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Feis, through Riverdance and those big shows,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13it's probably what people associate Irish dancing with.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16It's maybe a bit more along the ballet line,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18a bit more about expression of the music.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22So we want to kind of show the wider world all the beauty in it,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24that maybe isn't seen as much.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27It is the sort of thing that you really need to be
0:02:27 > 0:02:31starting at a young age if you're going to master it completely.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36'Tonight is a performance rehearsal for the junior group.'
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Stamp up, two, three. Stamp up, hands. Stamp up, two, three.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40Stamp up and go.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Dey, dey, dey, dey, dey.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Dey, dey, dey, dey.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46They are eight, nine, ten, eleven,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48so you can't really be too hard on them,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50but it is stuff that we have done before,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53so I'm just kind of hoping that as we go through it more,
0:02:53 > 0:02:54and as we put the music on,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56then it will suddenly come flooding back to them
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and it will be, "Oh, yes, I remember that now."
0:02:58 > 0:03:01We just love working with children, we love teaching children,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04and it is just great to see them progress through the years
0:03:04 > 0:03:05as an Irish dancer.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08One, two, three, four, five, six...
0:03:13 > 0:03:16It is very much the same ethos of, yes, we do tradition,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18but we do tradition with a twist as well,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20and that goes right down into the juniors.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24So they don't just get landed with the traditional stuff
0:03:24 > 0:03:27without anything that is a bit fun or a bit more exciting.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31The modern music that we use and the modern moves as well,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I think that's something that is quite distinct just to us,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36and we definitely like it to be our wee thing.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38It makes us different.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55With their upcoming performance
0:03:55 > 0:03:58on the Britain's Got Talent semifinals just days away,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01the Innova seniors 15-strong dance troupe
0:04:01 > 0:04:04can usually be found practising late into the night...
0:04:04 > 0:04:06in Catherine's garage.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08One, two, three, fly.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15The routine that we are putting together at the minute,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17we've done a wee one's version, and an older one's version.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18So we know the wee one's version,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- so we are going into the wee one's version.- So confused!
0:04:21 > 0:04:22And then it is like, "Oh, no, wait,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24"that's for the wee ones, that's not ours."
0:04:24 > 0:04:27But hopefully it will all come together.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32On the day, yes, we tend to pull together...out of nowhere.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34I don't know where it comes from.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36But we just... The teamwork comes through.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38And we just know what to do.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42The competition season has not yet finished,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and school exams are also underway.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50So the girls' stress levels are in danger of overload.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51Our girls are very, very good.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55They want to go to competitions just as much as they do performance,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57which is what we would really encourage,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00because they both do go hand-in-hand together.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02If you are a great competition dancer,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05your performance work is going to be even better
0:05:05 > 0:05:08because you are a better dancer, simple as that.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12But first things first, the girls have got a show to put on.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15And their costumes aren't going to make themselves.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26- Hi.- Hello. Brought some more for the fittings.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30This will be the first time she sees the full thing ready,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34so it is just a more modern take on what we already had.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Ready? Let's see it.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- Do you like it?- That's stunning.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Normally our own costumes would all be made of velvet,
0:05:41 > 0:05:42where as obviously you can see
0:05:42 > 0:05:45that we've just kept a bit of the tradition in the skirt
0:05:45 > 0:05:48and then a little bit of a shoulder showing.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- Shoulders peeping out. - Shoulders peeping out.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52And different detail in the arms as well.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- It is itchy.- It is itchy, yes.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58That's the one thing! But no pain, no gain.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- Hello.- Hiya.- Oh, it is lovely.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05It is beautiful.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- Go away. - SHE LAUGHS
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Lovely. You're making my tears run.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12- THEY LAUGH - Mummy, Mummy, Mummy.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21It's the big day, and the seniors have gathered
0:06:21 > 0:06:24for their two-hour bus trip to Belfast
0:06:24 > 0:06:26and hour-long flight to London.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34On board, Catherine's mother, Patricia,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37is nervous about the upcoming competition.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Up until now, it has only been the judges,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42so now it is public voting, and that's...
0:06:42 > 0:06:45It is almost like an unknown quantity.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48The girls are very popular anyway, especially on the north coast.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50As you're going up the country, and you're seeing signs
0:06:50 > 0:06:54and posters up, you know, you're getting messages from Facebook
0:06:54 > 0:06:55and Twitter and all the rest.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Hopefully, everybody will be behind us.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00THEY CHEER
0:07:02 > 0:07:04I will be voting, and my family will be voting, too.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06HE LAUGHS
0:07:07 > 0:07:12As Belfast nears, the girls reflect on their Britain's Got Talent debut.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14A couple of acts before us got buzzed,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- and how loud were the buzzers?- So loud.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Like, you know, everybody says it,
0:07:19 > 0:07:20but it actually goes through your body.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23If they'd buzzed, we would all stop for a minute and be,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26"Oh, my God!" And it would be so hard to get back into the dance.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- I would be so heartbroken. - I wouldn't even come home.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- I would be...- Just get on another fight somewhere.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Before we went on stage, the crew were like,
0:07:37 > 0:07:38"Simon's in a bad mood today."
0:07:38 > 0:07:41When we first went on, he was very, like, negative.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44He was like, "We've seen this all before, Irish dancing."
0:07:44 > 0:07:45And then he rolled his eyes.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48And then he stood up, he actually stood up,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51and was extremely pleased with what we had done.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53There's definitely a lot more pressure this time
0:07:53 > 0:07:55because we've already done our twist sort of thing,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57so it's what are we going to do next?
0:07:57 > 0:07:59But we actually do have a few surprises
0:07:59 > 0:08:01up our sleeves for this one.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05This is a completely new routine that we are doing for the semifinal.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06Not only have the judges not seen it,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08nobody has seen it before.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10It is totally new, which makes it ten times scarier,
0:08:10 > 0:08:14because we've never performed it to a live audience before.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32# I don't care
0:08:32 > 0:08:35# I got this feeling on the summer day when you were gone
0:08:35 > 0:08:37# I crashed my car into the bridge
0:08:37 > 0:08:39# I watched, I let it burn
0:08:39 > 0:08:41# I threw your...into a bag... #
0:08:41 > 0:08:43THEY CHEER
0:08:43 > 0:08:45# I crashed my car into the bridge
0:08:45 > 0:08:47# I don't care
0:08:47 > 0:08:50# I love it... #
0:08:50 > 0:08:54We are watching Britain's Got Talent and, as well, it is my birthday.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Oh, my God.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03'Hey, and now we get a selfie.'
0:09:04 > 0:09:06THEY CHEER
0:09:10 > 0:09:13CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:09:13 > 0:09:15THEY CHEER
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Um, I've got two issues. One, I think there should be more of you.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24I also think you need a lead star.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25I think, without those two aspects,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27it's not really going to go anywhere.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30I liked the dancing, but I don't agree with Simon.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34- I can't believe what Simon said. - Who listens to Simon anyway?
0:09:35 > 0:09:37No. It's up to the public.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44And if this segment of the public have their way,
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Innova are a shoo-in.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51- Oh, I got my vote! - I voted like 1,000 times.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54I've done it so much my battery is dead now.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55THEY CHEER
0:09:55 > 0:09:57After flooding the phone lines,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01the juniors take to the streets to drum up more votes.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04From right up to the older ones to the younger ones,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07they all look out for each other and they are a family.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- And that's what it's all about. - ALL:- Innova!
0:10:11 > 0:10:13No matter what happens tonight, it's been amazing.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17The journey that those girls have taken everybody on
0:10:17 > 0:10:18has been such fun.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20And let's just hope for the best.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26It comes as no surprise that Innova do well in the public voting,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28and sail into the top three.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30THEY CHEER
0:10:41 > 0:10:45But once again, this places their fate in the hands of Simon Cowell.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I'm going to give my vote to Lettice.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55No!
0:10:55 > 0:10:58His decision would send the competition to deadlock
0:10:58 > 0:10:59and back to the public vote,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03with competitor Lettice eventually winning out.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10Gutted but so proud of all of them.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11So disappointing for them,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14but they were brilliant, they were brilliant, it doesn't matter.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18It doesn't matter, we are still really proud, so we are.
0:11:25 > 0:11:26Obviously we were disappointed
0:11:26 > 0:11:29because you're so close to getting into the final,
0:11:29 > 0:11:30but on the other hand,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34we were in the final 15 from 60,000 auditionees,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37and that's the thing we have taken away from it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Britain's Got Talent was an absolutely amazing experience.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44What Simon said about having a lead dancer
0:11:44 > 0:11:47doesn't really concern us because we don't want to have a lead dancer.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50All of us are equals and we all perform exactly the same way,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52and that's just what we do best.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Since the Britain's Got Talent semifinal,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00it has just been insane in the best possible way.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01The invites that we have got in,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04there's stuff that we obviously wouldn't have got before.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06We've been exposed to a whole new audience,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08we've been dancing in Italy,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11we've been at open air concerts here,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14corporate events, just a whole range of stuff.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18We are heading off to London,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20that's for a Financial Times corporate event.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23It's a new platform for us,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25we've never performed at something like this before,
0:12:25 > 0:12:30so we'll just go and do our thing and hopefully it goes down well.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33I'm sending all the music that we are going to be using tomorrow.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37We are doing three pieces, so even if we get through one of them,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39with the proper sound, in the rehearsal,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41that sort of will set my mind at ease.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43They're just smaller than we would normally use,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46and as well as that, there's four individual podiums.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49So, four dancers will be out at those podiums,
0:12:49 > 0:12:50and the rest on the stage.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54So we kind of have to re-choreograph certain aspects of it
0:12:54 > 0:12:56to make sure that that all fits in well.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01The following day, the girls are back in London
0:13:01 > 0:13:05for the first time since losing out on Britain's Got Talent.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Being here is overwhelming. Everything is just so "go, go, go",
0:13:10 > 0:13:12compared to home in Northern Ireland.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13It's nothing like that.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17I'm really interested to see how this audience responds to us,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20just because I would say nobody here has ever seen us before.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Probably half of them, more than half of them,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- have never heard of us before. - If a crowd is sort of...
0:13:25 > 0:13:27SHE CLAPS WEAKLY
0:13:27 > 0:13:28..then it is a bit of a killer for us,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32so hopefully they are in good spirits and enjoying themselves,
0:13:32 > 0:13:33and then we'll enjoy it, too.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39The girls head to the Natural History Museum,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41and with no time for changes,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43they're hoping all their requirements have been met.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53- Oh, it is so massive. - It looks so pretty.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Immediately we are so happy with the stage,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00it is so much better than we thought it was going to be. Much bigger.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02We haven't seen the podiums yet,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05but I think they are going to be fine as well,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08so immediately that is a massive relief.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11The surroundings are just amazing.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13I'm so excited. And I'm not even nervous.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15It is looking amazing already,
0:14:15 > 0:14:16so I think it is going to be stunning
0:14:16 > 0:14:18by the time that we're ready to rock tonight.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Making every moment count, the girls squeeze in a quick rehearsal.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34If you wouldn't mind meeting me, probably on this side,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I'll get someone from the museum down.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38We'll get you up on stage, we'll dim the lights,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41and then once you give me the thumbs up, we'll raise them and start.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- Yeah?- Yeah.- Great.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46With the guests finally arriving,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49the girls prepare for the star-studded VIP event.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54We want to impress,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57no matter if we are dancing in front of an audience of two people,
0:14:57 > 0:14:59which has happened before,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02or an audience of how many ever people, hundreds of people,
0:15:02 > 0:15:03that are here tonight.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Even if we get one more contact from tonight,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07that's an absolute bonus for us.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09And you never know where it can take us.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12We love the performance end of it, as you can tell.
0:15:12 > 0:15:13This is our full energy into this.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Not that we don't with competitive dancing,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18but we all love this part much more.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24One of the girls earlier on was saying
0:15:24 > 0:15:28she felt like being here tonight was like hitting the big-time.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32And do you know, it really is, because it's a massive event.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36It's a bit surreal that we are here.
0:15:36 > 0:15:42Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Innova Irish Dance Company.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44CHEERING
0:15:44 > 0:15:46MUSIC STARTS
0:15:46 > 0:15:48WHISTLING
0:16:26 > 0:16:28CHEERING
0:17:12 > 0:17:16CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:17:20 > 0:17:22# Shake that
0:17:22 > 0:17:24# Every day I'm shufflin'. #
0:17:36 > 0:17:37# Yeah!
0:17:37 > 0:17:39# Everybody dance now! #
0:17:39 > 0:17:40# Who run the world? Girls!
0:17:40 > 0:17:42# Who run the world? Girls!
0:17:42 > 0:17:44# Who run the world? Girls!
0:17:44 > 0:17:46# Who run the world? Girls!
0:17:46 > 0:17:48# Every day I'm shufflin'. #
0:17:48 > 0:17:52CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Absolutely amazing performance.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Real combination of traditional dance and contemporary music.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02It was awesome.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06People may think we're a bit stuffy, but it was, honestly, outstanding.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Everyone at my table absolutely loved it.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10I had to follow the girls, like,
0:18:10 > 0:18:12and the audience were up and excited,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14so it made it a lot easier for me tonight.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19It was actually like the Riverdance, but with a whole new vibe.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Whole...it was amazing.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Because they done the footwork,
0:18:24 > 0:18:28but they put a bit of a disco twist on it.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29Loved it. Loved it.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31WHOOPING
0:18:31 > 0:18:32How was that for you?
0:18:34 > 0:18:37It went absolutely amazing. I'm so, so pleased.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38For once, no mistakes.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Not that we're owning up to anyway right now!
0:18:41 > 0:18:43I don't think I've ever performed so well.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Just the whole atmosphere, the audience,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47and all of us were in such good form,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50so you just fully went for it. It was so good.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Still on a high from their performance,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57the girls return to the main hall in search of that one valuable contact.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01CHEERING AND WHOOPING
0:19:01 > 0:19:02I can't get on my toes like you.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06- Oh, you can! - WHOOPING AND CHEERING
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Come on! Come on! Come on!
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- Perfect, it's great. That's great. - JASON LAUGHS
0:19:15 > 0:19:17- Thank you very much. - Well done, girls.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24After a long summer of endless performance commitments
0:19:24 > 0:19:26and very little competition practice,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29it's time for a number of the Innova seniors to face the music
0:19:29 > 0:19:32at the Northern Ireland Irish Dancing Championships.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Under 16's competitor Ailish Deeney
0:19:37 > 0:19:40plans to take this routine in front of the adjudicators.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22APPLAUSE
0:20:26 > 0:20:30After a successful solo performance, Ailish rejoins her fellow dancers
0:20:30 > 0:20:34and it's clear the group feel more comfortable when they're together.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37I can't remember what dancing's like without these two.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39They've just been a part of it all.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42And we got a lot closer during Britain's Got Talent as well,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45because we just spent so much time together. We were like inseparable.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Whenever we went home we were like, "Oh, I miss each other!"
0:20:48 > 0:20:50All lonely.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Yeah, we had no-one to play with.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Courtney is also dancing solo tonight
0:21:05 > 0:21:07in the under 17s championship
0:21:07 > 0:21:09and she too has found it difficult
0:21:09 > 0:21:12to switch between performance and competition modes.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Going from this competition
0:21:16 > 0:21:19to events like the National History Museum
0:21:19 > 0:21:20and Britain's Got Talent,
0:21:20 > 0:21:22you're out there to perform, entertain.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26As we're here in Northern Ireland, it's a total different story.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Everyone's watching you, this school, competition, you know,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32and it's very difficult to live up to the standards.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35But with the competition imminent,
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Courtney hopes that when the judges see this routine
0:21:38 > 0:21:40they'll be impressed.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17APPLAUSE
0:22:20 > 0:22:22After a very long day of competing,
0:22:22 > 0:22:26it's time for the girls to see if their love of performance
0:22:26 > 0:22:28has dashed their competition hopes.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33- ANNOUNCER:- Adjudicator A gave first grades to number 9.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Adjudicator B gave first grades to number 12.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- Adjudicator C gave first grades to number 9.- Yes!
0:22:48 > 0:22:52In first place, with a total of 26 points,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55number 9, Courtney McAlister from Innova.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:23:06 > 0:23:11'I just won the dance championships under 17 and I am ecstatic.'
0:23:11 > 0:23:13To win the Northern Irelands, it's everything.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15I haven't been dancing well lately,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17but then I just gave it all tonight -
0:23:17 > 0:23:18might as well, nothing to lose -
0:23:18 > 0:23:20and it paid off.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Courtney also do took first place with Ailish in the two-hand...
0:23:27 > 0:23:29..and again in the three-hand with Lauren.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Ailish also took the top spot in the under 16's category.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Proud teacher Catherine leaves with an armful of trophies, too.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46I'm so overwhelmed by the results and how they danced
0:23:46 > 0:23:49and I'm just so pleased that all the hard work and everything they put in
0:23:49 > 0:23:52has kind of, you know, they've got back now what they deserve from it.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55On nights like this, you love competition as much as performance.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- Yes!- We can't complain.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05After a busy season of performance and competition commitments,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09the girls finally return to their beloved hometown of Portstewart
0:24:09 > 0:24:12to take on their toughest challenge yet -
0:24:12 > 0:24:14an open-air performance
0:24:14 > 0:24:16to an eager crowd of motorcycle enthusiasts.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Portstewart is known for its stunning promenade
0:24:23 > 0:24:25and its variety of windswept golf courses,
0:24:25 > 0:24:30but its biggest event by far is the annual North West 200,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32and Innova are kicking off the main event.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Over 150,000 motorcycle fans from around the globe
0:24:38 > 0:24:40have converged on the tiny coastal town
0:24:40 > 0:24:42over the course of the week-long event,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45culminating with today's final race.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49The Innova girls are making the short walk
0:24:49 > 0:24:51from Catherine's home to the racing grid,
0:24:51 > 0:24:56where local celebrity DJ Brian Moore is busy warming up the crowd.
0:24:58 > 0:24:59Are you able to stamp your feet
0:24:59 > 0:25:02and clap your hands above your head at the same time?
0:25:02 > 0:25:05One, two, one, two, one, two.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Get the feet stamping. Come on!
0:25:09 > 0:25:10I think it will go down a storm,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12because the crowd aren't expecting it.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16It's so out there, so left field, to have Irish dancers
0:25:16 > 0:25:19on the starting grid of the North West 200.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22I mean, it's... I think it's going to be amazing.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24- Hi, ladies!- Hello!
0:25:24 > 0:25:26- You're very welcome.- Thank you.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28We're going to bring out some guests here
0:25:28 > 0:25:31and we're going to start the North West 200
0:25:31 > 0:25:34as it's never been started before, OK?
0:25:34 > 0:25:36Right, go, go, go. Good luck.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39We need you clapping your hands and stamping your feet along to it.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Please welcome... Give a round of applause for the Innova dancers!
0:25:43 > 0:25:46WHISTLING AND APPLAUSE
0:25:49 > 0:25:51IRISH FOLK MUSIC STARTS
0:25:55 > 0:25:57MUSIC WARPS AND STOPS
0:25:57 > 0:25:58# Shake that. #
0:25:58 > 0:26:02# Born to be wild!
0:26:06 > 0:26:09# Born to be wild!
0:26:13 > 0:26:15# Whoa, Black Betty, bam-a-lam
0:26:15 > 0:26:17# Whoa, Black Betty, bam-a-lam
0:26:17 > 0:26:19# Black Betty had a child, bam-a-lam
0:26:19 > 0:26:21# The damn thing gone wild Bam-a-lam
0:26:21 > 0:26:23# She said, I'm worrin' outta my mind, bam-a-lam
0:26:23 > 0:26:25# The damn thing gone blind Bam-a-lam
0:26:25 > 0:26:27# I said oh, Black Betty Bam-a-lam
0:26:27 > 0:26:30# Whoa, Black Betty, bam-a-lam
0:26:52 > 0:26:54APPLAUSE
0:26:56 > 0:27:02The Innova dancers kicking off big style the North West 200, 2015.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04There is always something very special about
0:27:04 > 0:27:06doing something that's local,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09to get together with the town, and be part of that
0:27:09 > 0:27:12and showcase another bit of Portstewart,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14because that's essentially I suppose what we are.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16You're going to something like the North West,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19where bikers are at it, so you want to deliver something
0:27:19 > 0:27:21they're going to be able to relate to,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24so whether that's putting in biker music or, you know,
0:27:24 > 0:27:25a few different moves.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30We are pushing to achieve the best we possibly can.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34We're never going to be just happy with what we're doing.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37That's been our dream from the start, so, you know,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39we'll absolutely just keep on going,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41doing the best that we can for us
0:27:41 > 0:27:44and for festival dancing and Irish dancing in general.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50If Innova can keep on going the way that it has for the past year,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52that would be the absolute dream.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55For us to still be this busy next year, in five years' time,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58in ten years' time, fantastic.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00If we can build on top of that, you know,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04particularly in terms of maybe more international gigs -
0:28:04 > 0:28:06tradition with a twist, international.