Dance World Cup finals in Dublin: ‘This is the best of all of the dancers around the world’

Dancers as young as four years old perform to a full house in the discipline’s most elite competitionPerrie Carnduff, from Excel Dance Company in Co Down (right), with sisters Ava and Darcy Stewart at the Dance World Cup in the Convention Centre Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Stephen ConneelySat Jul 18 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READThe finals of the 2026 Dance World Cup this week brought more than 11,500 young performers from around the world to Dublin to compete at the highest level of their discipline.Dancers represented more than 60 countries on stage at the Convention Centre, showing off their high kicks, pointed toes and pirouettes.Among them is 10-year-old Millie Young of Team England, still on cloud nine after placing second in the “showstopper” category and winning a bronze medal for her jazz solo. Accompanied by her team-mates Poppie, Holly, Hope and Arianna, she spares a few moments before the Harry Potter-themed group dance takes the stage to talk to The Irish Times.She says she’s “a little bit nervous” before going on stage, but after hours of rehearsals, they’re “definitely ready” to perform.“The kids love it, they literally live for the adrenaline,” her mother Ricarda says, adding that the idea of a cold drink is getting her through the day.And the Dance World Cup finals provide far more than cherished childhood memories or equally-important parenting anecdotes. “It’s about 50,000 people in Dublin for the event over 11 days,” the competition’s director, Chris Stapelberg, is quick to point out. And its chairman, John Grimshaw, adds that the event puts “about €1.8 million a day into Dublin’s economy”. But for Grimshaw, his pride in the competition comes not from its bottom line, but its quality: “This is just the best of all of the dancers around the world.”From left: Poppie, Holly, Hope, Millie and Ariana from Berkshire Dance Academy in England, at the Dance World Cup in the Convention Centre Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Team England dancers warm up at the Convention Centre ahead of performing at the Dance World Cup. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Lucy Muotune from Scotland warming up in the Convention Centre Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Dancers representing more than 60 countries took to the stage at the Convention Centre Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Tiara Izz and Ivana Iman, from Yloanda Dance Studio in Malaysia, at the Dance World Cup in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Freydis Erla, from Iceland, gets ready ahead of her performance at the Dance World Cup in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Warming up for the Dance World Cup at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill About 50,000 people are estimated to have attended the Dance World Cup in Dublin over 11 days. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Team England competitors at the Convention Centre Dublin for the Dance World Cup. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Showstoppers, choreographed by Bill Deamer, performing on stage at the Dance World Cup in the Convention Centre Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Moghian Arts from Scotland on stage at the Dance World Cup in the Convention Centre Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Unity Project from Scotland performing at the Dance World Cup. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill John Grimshaw (left), chairman/founder of the Dance World Cup, with Chris Stapelberg, director of the event, in the Convention Centre Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill IN THIS SECTION