It’s not often children, youths, and adults from the Fraser Valley get to train with a six-time world Irish dance champion and a trainer for the International Olympic Committee. That's why it's exciting that for five days this week, the Fraser Valley Irish Dance Association (FIVDA) is sponsoring Lauren Early’s “Reaching New Heights” seminar for dancers in the Sionnaine (pronounced Shannon) Irish Dance Academy (SIDA).
Lauren Early is a six-time world champion in Irish Dance. She was undefeated twelve times in the Ulster Championships and six times in the All-Ireland Championships. Early started dancing when she was five years old, and recently finished competing at the age of 21. She has now embarked on a teaching career, and has been travelling the world with partner and trainer, Robert McAvoy, presenting her “Reaching New Heights” seminar.
McAvoy is a former Commonwealth Games competitor for Northern Ireland. Currently, he is a strength & conditioning coach for the International Olympic Committee, working alongside several Olympic and world-class athletes. He is also a London-based personal trainer. McAvoy's private clientele include members of the Game of Thrones main cast, as well as several other actors, models and athletes.
When Early and McAvoy embarked on their venture to train Irish dancers internationally, they decided they would only work with a small, select group of schools. The Sionnaine Irish Dance Academy was the only North American school chosen.
The Reaching New Heights seminar is being held at the Abbotsford Exhibition Park at the Sports Legacy Building. For more information, contact Tara-Leigh Marwick, Communications Liaison with the Fraser Valley Irish Dance Association at info@fraservalleyirishdance.com, or at 604-575-3235.