Newbridge dancer aiming for the World Cup after Golden Buzzer win

It has been a whirlwind few months for Newbridge dancer Keeley Byrne, the 17 year-old finished top of the pile in the Aaron Dwyer Golden Buzzer Grand Finals, has begun teaching and is now in the midst of preparations to earn a spot for the Dance World Cup this summer.

First up was the Aaron Dwyer competition and, after initial success in the Golden Buzzer qualifiers, Keeley made it to the Grand Finals in Dublin where she beat 16 solo and group acts from Ireland and the United Kingdom.

“There are loads of styles, jazz, hip-hop, lyric and tap dance. I did jazz that day,” Keeley said. “The first round was in Cork and the Finals were in the Scientology (Church of Scientology & Community Centre). The first round that we did in Cork had golden buzzers and everyone who got one went into the finals and my solo got one. All 14 of us, groups and solos, which got golden buzzers went against each other and I won that competition.”

Former actress, and now of Dance Mums fame, Jennifer Ellison presented the award and led her announcement with “Our first place actually walked it by a mile…” before reading Keeley’s name and presenting her with the winning prize of €1,000 and her trophy.

Keeley recalled, “I didn’t think it was me. I thought it could have been the other group beside me. I was shocked.
“It was a great feeling. I was very happy with myself.”

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Keeley decided to save the €1,000 and was full of praise for her coach from Steptacular dance school for getting her to this point. As well as travelling to Saggart for her own classes, Keeley has turned to teaching and now does so three times a week in Angels Gymnastics Dance Theatre in Kilcullen.

“We met the people from the (Kilcullen) school in Cork and they contacted me to ask to come help out and teach,” she explained.

“I feel like I’m quite used to it now and the kids are so lovely. Everyone makes you feel at home. I like to express and see everyone improve too, and they really have as well.”

After success earlier in the year, Keeley’s focus has turned to getting to the Dance World Cup, which is coming to Dublin's Convention Centre from July 8 to July 18 this year. Keeley is preparing for auditions to get onto the Irish team and hopes to represent her country against the best dancers from all over the world.

The young dancer is no stranger to international competition though, having travelled to Los Angeles with KNC Performing Arts Company from Newbridge to compete in the 2022 World Championships of Performing Arts at the age of 14. Keeley travelled to that event as both a group dancer and soloist and KNC returned from LA to Kildare after receiving a whopping 154 medals across their 15 travelling members. KNC had one group and eight solo entrants in the championships.

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