0:00:07 > 0:00:09Over the last two decades,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Irish dancing has become ever more competitive.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Winning big on the amateur circuit can often lead to a lucrative
0:00:18 > 0:00:21career in professional dance shows.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25CHEERING
0:00:25 > 0:00:28But to reach the coveted podium places,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31the modern dancer must be in peak physical condition.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36And with stamina now a necessity,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40increasing numbers of dance teachers are seeking external help
0:00:40 > 0:00:43from professionals in the world of sport and fitness.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Enter Angela Mohan,
0:00:47 > 0:00:50whose skills as a fitness trainer have won her much
0:00:50 > 0:00:52renown in the dancing world.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Since 2009, her fitness regime
0:00:58 > 0:01:01has helped train three world champions...
0:01:02 > 0:01:05..and helped to place 10 more on the top five podium...
0:01:08 > 0:01:10..results that have others clamouring to join her
0:01:10 > 0:01:13winning team, Angel's Army.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Irish dancing has become a sport.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22My job is to make sure, when they get up on stage
0:01:22 > 0:01:25that they're ready for it.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28My sister-in-law is a dance teacher and a judge so we sat down
0:01:28 > 0:01:32and she talked to me about what the teacher is looking for.
0:01:32 > 0:01:38And then my job is to work on the conditioning part of the dance.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Stamina, strength, endurance, mobility.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45And if they start to lose it, everything drops.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49We have to train now for the task of dance.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52CHEERING
0:02:02 > 0:02:05I played camogie in Philadelphia for a number of years,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08and myself and a few other people were cofounders of the first
0:02:08 > 0:02:11ladies' football team in Philadelphia.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14I played into my early 40s and it was time to pull the plug.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19'So I decided to go back to school and become a personal trainer.'
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Hello. Good morning. Angel's house.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25'My main client base would be Irish dancers.'
0:02:25 > 0:02:30I prefer working with younger people cos I'm a hyperactive person.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36I would say I probably work with at least 500 kids.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Everybody wants to make the box. Top five, top ten in the world.
0:02:40 > 0:02:41You've got something special.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45If you train with me, you're a part and a member of Angel's team.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04CHEERING
0:03:04 > 0:03:06At the World Championships,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08as teachers run through the steps with their students,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Angela focuses on her client's physical preparation.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15In through your nose, out through the mouth.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17I only go to national and the worlds
0:03:17 > 0:03:21and my own Oireachtas, which is in Philadelphia.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I have a lot of private kids in different age groups,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28from under 11s right up till senior.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I go meet them at the competition and I prep them for dance.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I do their warm-ups and then in-between competitions,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37I roll out and stretch out every muscle.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Keep your arms swinging. Good girl.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43It's extremely important to prevent injuries.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Kids at a young age getting hurt, breaking their growth plate,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and they continue to dance,
0:03:48 > 0:03:53then they just set themselves up for injury after injury.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56This weekend, I've seen a few people going around with crutches
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and hobbling along.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01But it's when injuries do occur that Angela's
0:04:01 > 0:04:06secondary role as motivation coach comes into play.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Earlier, 14-year-old Brendan Gaffney rolled his ankle
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and was forced to pull out of the competition.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16For Angela, his recovery starts immediately.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19And I'm so proud of you for doing that.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21So we're going to build on this.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24We're going to get the ankle taken care of, get you back, strong,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26and ready for the nationals.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28It wasn't the worst thing that happened.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I could have broke my foot, but it was probably the worst feeling in
0:04:32 > 0:04:37the world yesterday, knowing that I sprained it and it just really hurt.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41It wasn't as though you danced badly,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43but we know you can do more than that.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47And I just know from personal experience with injuries,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49- doing a soft shoe... - It's not worth it.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Jumping and landing on that.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54It's not worth it.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57While primarily his injury means that Brendan can no longer
0:04:57 > 0:04:59compete in the solo competition,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03it also has wider implications for the rest of his dance school.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Their ceilidh team is due to perform tomorrow.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09And Brendan is supposed to be the lead dancer.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13It puts us in a difficult position as a school.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Because we don't have any boys that can replace him
0:05:16 > 0:05:19and if we don't have anyone who can replace him,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22we can't dance the team, so it is really not just about him
0:05:22 > 0:05:25at that point, it's about seven other dancers.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29And there are a handful of dancers on that team who are just
0:05:29 > 0:05:32here for that one event. So...
0:05:34 > 0:05:37..we're going to just say a prayer tonight
0:05:37 > 0:05:41and we're going to wait and see what happens.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43All right, darling?
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Love you.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46And I'll talk to you later on.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49We'll talk this evening and we'll see maybe
0:05:49 > 0:05:51if we can get the physical therapist
0:05:51 > 0:05:54later on and assess if you're able to do ceilidhs tomorrow,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56but that's not my decision to make.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58OK, darling? Love you.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02I think I could do it, but I don't think I should be doing it.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06I think I could freeze it up and tape it all together
0:06:06 > 0:06:10and it would feel fine enough to dance on it, but it's a very
0:06:10 > 0:06:13risky situation out there, so it's going to be very tough.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16I don't know if I want to do it or how I'm going to do it.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19But, you know, just hope for the best at this point.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24But concern for Brendan must be put to one side,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27as there's another recruit from Angel's army who requires attention.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31- Good. How are you?- You sleep good? Yes. Ready for action?- Mm-hm.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- Ready to kick arse?- Yes.- OK.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Sarah's someone I've been working with for quite a while now,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49probably one of the hardest workers I'd ever met -
0:06:49 > 0:06:52a kid that really does everything you ask her to do.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Get down low, medium, high.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58One day, it just clicked in me that I had to start working
0:06:58 > 0:07:03and that's when I won the nationals for the first time in 2009
0:07:03 > 0:07:06and I won it five times after that.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12I went on to win the All Irelands, the Oireachtas, the All Scotlands,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and I've been the top two in the world.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18So it all came with hard work.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Sarah's one of those kids that's not a natural,
0:07:25 > 0:07:29wasn't born with everything lined up naturally,
0:07:29 > 0:07:34but wanted it and proved we can do it, and look where she is today.
0:07:34 > 0:07:35She is number two in the world,
0:07:35 > 0:07:39she won the All Scotlands, she's amazing.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41You can achieve your dreams, you can do whatever you want,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43but it's hard work.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49My normal sneaker size is a six and a half, but these are a two.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53You don't feel anything when you get on the stage,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55so it doesn't matter what size they are.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59The first time I won the nationals, I was like, "Wow. I am good at this.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02"I can win things."
0:08:02 > 0:08:07It wasn't until then where my goal was to win the worlds
0:08:07 > 0:08:10and I know I'm right there and I just have to keep pushing
0:08:10 > 0:08:14and I really hope that it's my turn, and if I do win, it would
0:08:14 > 0:08:18just... It would be amazing cos I can say I'm the best in the world.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Under Angela's watchful eye, Sarah performs
0:08:32 > 0:08:37the routines she hopes will win her top spot at the World Championships.
0:08:37 > 0:08:38As the results come in, however,
0:08:38 > 0:08:43it's soon becomes clear that this is not her year.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48Although she placed fourth overall, Sarah is devastated.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I think when it all dies down, Sarah will be happy.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57She has got the globe.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58She's got one. There is a lot
0:08:58 > 0:09:00of kids that go home without one.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02So, you know, you got to keep that perspective.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10It just comes out, you know, at the end.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Like, all that hard work and the results come out
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and it is just like, "Ugh..."
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- Yeah.- Comes out.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34The next day, it's time for the group dances.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36And after sleeping on his injury,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Brendan has good news for his teammates.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40- ALL: Are you dancing?- Yeah.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43CHEERING
0:09:46 > 0:09:49But the team's elation is short-lived.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Even with Brendan involved, they fail to get a recall.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59With all hopes of winning any silverware dashed,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Brendan returns home to Pennsylvania empty-handed.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26Although based in Philadelphia, Angela also has clients in Ireland.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30She regularly comes home to work, connect with family,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32and of course, indulge her love of golf.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Today, I am golfing at Ardglass, which I'm really excited about.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43I am addicted to golf, actually.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47It keeps me going. I walk the course, it keeps me fit.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49I just love it. This is heaven.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51I grew up in the Brantry,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55just outside Dungannon in the middle of the country,
0:10:55 > 0:10:59overlooking the sheep and the cows in the field.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01I have three brothers and one sister.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03We all got into dancing when we were young.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05I don't even remember, you know.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08It must've been seven, eight, nine years of age.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10We all loved the music. It was just... It was in us.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13You went to dancing class, you travelled to feiseannas,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16and it was great because it was like a day out for the family
0:11:16 > 0:11:20and Mammy would make sandwiches and the flasks and off we'd go.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30It was great. We enjoyed doing it.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35We were trying to get a medal and it was more social than anything else.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39My sister was a much better dancer than me. And we did teams.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42But I had the passion to be out in the field with a camogie stick.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48My passion was always camogie and football.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Irish dancing and the Gaelic football,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54they're both our natural... That's our culture right there.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57They're not worlds apart. That's our Irish culture. It's fantastic.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05That was a good play there, wasn't it?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19But it is not all leisure time for Angela.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22She works with young dancers at the Clann McCaul school of dance,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24where her sister-in-law teaches.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- Just put the runners on, guys. - Everybody, runners on.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47So how are we feeling, guys?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Everybody been working on what they had to do?
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Irish dancing, traditionally, is a beautiful dance form.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56OK, I spy with my little eye...
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Personally, I wouldn't really like it to be referred to as a sport.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05You know, it's a dance form. That's first and foremost what it is.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10But I think if one area sees that fitness has been successful
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and has brought their dancers forward, others are going to say,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16"Right, we need to get onto this fitness thing,"
0:13:16 > 0:13:19and to a degree, that did influence us.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Wall squats are a great start.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24So hold this one and I want to make sure she can stay in a nice
0:13:24 > 0:13:27stable position with shoulders in line with the hips.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29And in that position, could you hold it and give me
0:13:29 > 0:13:31a couple of shoulder presses?
0:13:31 > 0:13:37And really square at the shoulder. Give me three.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42Two, and breathe. And up. How did that one feel?
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- Yeah. It's hard.- Yeah, it's hard.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Without the fitness, they can't do the moves that Irish dancers are
0:13:49 > 0:13:51now doing, the moves that they're
0:13:51 > 0:13:54doing are so athletic, balletic, tap,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57all of the different influences that have shaped Irish dancing.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58They have to learn the skill.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01They have to learn the footwork, all of that,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03but if you don't have fitness, forget it.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05You get up onto that big stage,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07you're not going to be able to do it.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17One of the school's dancers who has felt the benefits of Angela's
0:14:17 > 0:14:21regime on the big stage is Olivia Murray.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Currently ranked third in the world, she also took first
0:14:25 > 0:14:28place at the Irish Nationals last year.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Stay lateral. Higher, higher, higher!
0:14:31 > 0:14:35My results definitely have become more consistent
0:14:35 > 0:14:37since I've started working with Angela.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Before, I'd be up one minute and down the next,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42and we were left wondering, "Why is this happening?"
0:14:42 > 0:14:44And you'd be getting sore muscles
0:14:44 > 0:14:49and you weren't able to consistently train for the period of time
0:14:49 > 0:14:53that you want to, but now I'm working with Angela,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56I'm able to really train as hard
0:14:56 > 0:14:59as I want because my body is able to deal with it.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Higher! That's it. Good girl.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05If we look at Olivia here,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08and we're looking at what is the perfect dance body, we're going
0:15:08 > 0:15:11to look at her turn out, because it is really all about that turnout.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14So I'm going to ask Olivia to stand on the turn board
0:15:14 > 0:15:17and I'm going to go to the opposite side
0:15:17 > 0:15:19and I'm going to put my hand on her hip,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22so I want her to stay square... Turnout, Olivia.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25So I'm looking for that nice turn out there, without her cheating
0:15:25 > 0:15:30and sticking her butt out, she's almost 100% there.
0:15:30 > 0:15:3290 degree turnout.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36Turnout is in Irish dancing an element of rotation from the hip,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38the knee, the foot and the ankle.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40And it has to be from those
0:15:40 > 0:15:43three places for the perfect turnout.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Some of the little things I look at is,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49I look at the top of the patella here and then I find the shinbone.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52And here we have the tibialis anterior that runs alongside it,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55and, you know, this bone comes right up
0:15:55 > 0:15:57and comes through the middle of the knee and I like to see that.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01You know, you have some kids that I'll see this tibialis anterior
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and this shinbone and it runs through the side of the knee
0:16:04 > 0:16:07or it runs up through the front of the knee.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09So they're not perfectly lined up,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11and teachers wonder why we can't straighten their legs,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13you can't do certain things.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15But that's their bones and ligaments, you know.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17You can't change that.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30While she does train highly successful dancers,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Angela's family are always keen to remind her
0:16:33 > 0:16:37that her own dancing career wasn't quite so illustrious.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41- Her dancing career was...- Terrible.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Short and shorter.
0:16:44 > 0:16:45I didn't want to dance any more,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48so I thought, "Well, how am I going to get out of this?"
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- I'll just get up there. - So she went to America.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53LAUGHTER
0:16:53 > 0:16:55And that was the end of it.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59I'll never forget. The first time we went to Philadelphia and Angela was
0:16:59 > 0:17:01only taking an interest in this and we had girls competing.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03I said, "Could you stretch them or do something?"
0:17:03 > 0:17:05She started stretching the girls
0:17:05 > 0:17:07and then the next day they got up to dance.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Well, the legs went this high.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11And I was standing there going,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14"Oh, my goodness. How did that happen?"
0:17:14 > 0:17:16It's discipline, you know, because you have to work out.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20- The steps are extremely difficult. - But then the person comes along.
0:17:20 > 0:17:25They have that bit of extra natural flair and it's just magic.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29And no matter how hard you train, you can never beat that.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31CHEERING
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Back in the States, with the mid-Atlantic Championships
0:17:53 > 0:17:57just around the corner, Angela is in the gym with Brendan Gaffney.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Now fully recovered from the foot injury
0:18:03 > 0:18:07he sustained last year in Montreal, he must place in the top five to
0:18:07 > 0:18:10qualify for next year's World Championships.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Feel like doing a workout here myself today.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18They only let five boys out of the whole competition
0:18:18 > 0:18:20recall for worlds.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23It's very important to me because I really wanted to just come
0:18:23 > 0:18:26back after my foot and just really dance again.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27How do you feel?
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Pretty tired. But good.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32No, no, you're supposed to say beyond fabulous. Come on!
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Feeling great.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36Good job.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Before Montreal, my mom was just diagnosed with cancer
0:18:39 > 0:18:42and my mother couldn't watch me dance in Montreal
0:18:42 > 0:18:45and that was where I hoped I could at least bring her home something,
0:18:45 > 0:18:49and when I hurt my foot, that just made it all worse for me.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52And I just couldn't come back home without nothing.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55This year, she's coming back, so it's very helpful just to have her
0:18:55 > 0:18:59there as a mom and that really just makes me feel comfortable and safe.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Makes me feel like I can do my best.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05- I see you've two different socks on.- Yeah.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Take it easy, easy. It's not a race, Brendan.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Come on! Move forward.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Just pretend that ground's on fire.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- And if you don't lift your foot, what happens?- It'll burn.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22You're going to get burned, correct. So how do you feel?
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- Fantabulous.- Beyond fabulous.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Another familiar face who had a disappointing
0:19:31 > 0:19:35result at the worlds will also be competing at the mid-Atlantics.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Sarah Oldham will be defending the title
0:19:40 > 0:19:43she has won the last three years running in the ladies' under 20s.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49The worlds was kind of disappointing.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53After the fact, I took a step back and I was like,
0:19:53 > 0:19:57"I still am third in the world and that's something to be proud of."
0:19:57 > 0:20:01This is the mid-Atlantic regional Oireachtas, so it's my region.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07I'm feeling pretty good. I'm feeling confident.
0:20:07 > 0:20:13When I first came to her, I got home and I cried to my mom.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Kids tend to forget about from the knee down, you know,
0:20:17 > 0:20:22because they don't realise they have these muscle imbalances.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25These muscles. I didn't even know about half of them.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29They come and they say, "I need to do this exercise and that exercise,"
0:20:29 > 0:20:31and I say, "It's not about the exercises.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35"Let's correct what is already hurting the body."
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Let's go, girl!
0:20:39 > 0:20:42I'm attending Monmouth University at the moment.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44I am doing health and physical education with
0:20:44 > 0:20:48a minor in business cos I want to be like Angela.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50It's hard, definitely,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54trying to get to practise all the time, with all the homework.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58I just have to remind myself that I am a competing athlete
0:20:58 > 0:21:03and as much as it stinks because I see all my friends going out, after
0:21:03 > 0:21:08the fact, I'm winning competitions and I get to go to all these places.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- I'm fine with missing out a little. - That's good.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33It's the Thanksgiving weekend,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36and crowds take to the streets to enjoy the parade.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40But it's pageantry of another sort in downtown Philadelphia,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43where the mid-Atlantic Oireachtas is kicking off.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Good luck. Good luck. Make it happen.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Is that good enough for you?
0:21:56 > 0:21:59At 51, the energy's short.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07I entered the Jesuits in 1992, but before that, I was a TCRG,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11so I had a school of Irish dancing in New Jersey.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16Brendan's mom wasn't here last year and he came to me
0:22:16 > 0:22:20and asked me if I would pray for his mom,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24so I knew what kind of faith Brendan had, so when I saw him
0:22:24 > 0:22:29here this year, I wasn't surprised when he asked me to bless his feet.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32We ask God's blessing on you, Brendan,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and your feet and your legs, through your hard shoe,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38your soft shoe, and especially your spirit.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41We ask this blessing in the name of the Father and of the Son
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- and of the Holy Spirit.- Amen.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45I think it's important that we always have our faith
0:22:45 > 0:22:48because it allows us to accept some of the difficult situations
0:22:48 > 0:22:50and then obviously celebrate the joys,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54so sometimes you don't get the answer to why.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56But it helps you to accept why.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Unfortunately, I missed the worlds when Brendan danced
0:22:59 > 0:23:03because I was in the middle of battling stage four breast
0:23:03 > 0:23:07cancer, but thank God, all of the prayers were answered
0:23:07 > 0:23:11and I am cancer-free now.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15So this is my chance to watch him qualify all over again.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Today is the big day.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Today is what you have been waiting for. All right?
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Today is what all the work's been about.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25You're going to get on stage and you're going to turn it on, Brendan.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28You're going to dance like there's no tomorrow.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31You own this stage today.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35As both parents watch on, Brendan takes to the stage,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38knowing that finally his chance has come to qualify for the next
0:23:38 > 0:23:43World Championships and make up his disastrous showing last year.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Competitor 113.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC PLAYS
0:24:20 > 0:24:23CHEERING
0:24:45 > 0:24:50Reach for the stars! Hayley, smile, be happy. It's not a funeral.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- Did you warm up?- No.- Right. Let's get ready.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I just like to zone everyone out.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02I mean, sometimes it might seem rude
0:25:02 > 0:25:04but I just don't like talking to anyone,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06cos I concentrate better.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Right now, I'm listening to Justin Bieber's new album,
0:25:09 > 0:25:14so, yeah, hopefully he helps today.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I'm just looking to dance my best, like I did last year,
0:25:17 > 0:25:21and hopefully end up first again and a perfect score.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22That's very positive.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25You know, if you don't go on the stage positive,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27might as well pack your bags and go home.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30And Sarah hopes that positivity can help her become
0:25:30 > 0:25:33mid-Atlantic champion for the fourth consecutive year.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC PLAYS
0:26:00 > 0:26:03CHEERING
0:26:08 > 0:26:10CHEERING
0:26:10 > 0:26:14With the dancing out of the way, it's results time,
0:26:14 > 0:26:18and Brendan needs a place in the top five to qualify for the worlds.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Whatever he gets, he gets, and we'll be happy.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24APPLAUSE
0:26:24 > 0:26:28And in seventh place, 113, Brendan Gaffney.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Finishing in seventh place means that Brendan will miss out
0:26:33 > 0:26:34on the worlds next year.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Bit bummed out, but it's OK.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Just got to work harder next year, so... It's all good.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43He's an excellent dancer.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47He's a great performer and he's a great sportsman.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50I'm so proud of the way he behaves.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52I really am.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- I love you, baby.- Thank you.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01I know what Brendan went through to get where he is today
0:27:01 > 0:27:03and, you know, we pick up the pieces
0:27:03 > 0:27:05and we move forward to next year
0:27:05 > 0:27:09and the North American Championships and we're just going to come
0:27:09 > 0:27:13back stronger and better and it'll be a great year.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17Disappointment for Brendan, but for Sarah,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20it's been a successful title defence.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25Number 117, Sarah Oldham, from the Heritage Irish Dance Company.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33CHEERING
0:27:33 > 0:27:35What's next is I'm going to work my hardest
0:27:35 > 0:27:39and hopefully achieve my dream of winning the worlds.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43The World Championships are in Glasgow.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47I believe Sarah's dancing on March 28th. I'm a very happy daddy.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51I'm delighted for her, you know.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56She works extremely hard, so when you see that, it's a good result.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04Angela has helped me get on the road to becoming a world champion.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Angela is an angel.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15Next for me is finishing off school next year and in October of 2016
0:28:15 > 0:28:19be a master of applied functional science, then after that,
0:28:19 > 0:28:25I am hoping to return to Ireland in 2017 and set up shop at home
0:28:25 > 0:28:29and do it all over again.