Fiona Jagelewski in front of the Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver. Photo submitted

Hub Staff

Fiona Jagelewski is just shy of her 17th birthday and will soon be on her way to Dublin, Ireland to compete in the 2020 World Irish Dancing Championships. Jagelewski competed at the North American Irish Dance Championships held in Vancouver, British Columbia in July, 2019 where she secured her spot as a solo competitor for the world competition in April.

The World Irish Dancing Championships will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2020, making it a truly momentous occasion for this young dancer. Jagelewski has previously competed at the worlds level as part of a team but this will be her first time participating on her own. Across all divisions, the 2020 competition is expected to shine the spotlight on more than 5,500 participants.

In a July 17 interview, Jagelewski elaborated on her dancing career which began in September 2012. At 10 years of age, Jagelewski was older than the typical beginners at the Irish dance academy and many girls her age already had a few years' experience but hours and hours of studio time and fast feet took her down an extraordinary path.

“Most of the dancers started when they were four years old,” said Jagelewski. “I didn’t think I would make it this far.”

For the majority of her training, Jagelewski attended Celtic Academy Canada in Southampton, guided by Saugeen Shores Celtic dance teacher, Mary Foley. About a year ago, she began training at the Doyle Corrigan Academy in Waterloo. When asked what prompted the switch, Jagelewski explained that there weren’t many kids her age at Celtic Academy and because she plans to attend the University of Waterloo for Kinesiology after graduating high school, Waterloo seemed a good fit.

“I’d like to keep dancing for as long as I can,” she mused. "But at least for the first year of university.”

As for what it is about the Irish dance that’s kept her feet hopping for seven years, Jagelewski said she appreciates the level of fitness involved, which she compared to running, another of her hobbies, but her true passion is performing. “I love the performing and the Irish music," she said. "I don’t care if I’m competing but I love performing.”

Jagelewski admitted she gets a bit nervous before competitions but it’s not really an issue for her. “When I’m on stage and the music starts, the nerves go away and you just enjoy what you do," she said.

The 2019 North American Irish Dance Championships were held at the Vancouver Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver. Photo submitted

Fiona Jagelewski competed in the 2019 North American Irish Dance Championships in Vancouver, where she secured her spot in the 2020 World Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin, Ireland in April. Photo submitted