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McGinley lands lead in
Letterkenny
30.07.08
World Champ's sister
to star in 'The Rising Step'
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
BUNCRANA Irish Dancer Rachel McGinley has won a lead
role in a new production by former Riverdance
performer Michael Pat Gallagher and director Carol
Leavy Joyce. Entitled 'The Rising Step', the show is
set for An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, in August.
Rachael, 19, is the younger sister of 2008 Irish
Dancing World Champion Aidan McGinley. She is a
student of the McConomy School of Dance in Derry.
Rachel doesn’t think she will suffer nerves on the
first night. |
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“I am used to competing
on stage in front of an audience, I’ve been doing
Irish dancing since I was three years old, so no, I
won’t be nervous,” said the former North West
Institute student.
Rachel has competed at World Championship level for
the McConomy School and is the current Ulster
championship runner up.
'The Rising Step' tells, through music and dance,
the story of Irish dancing from the time when the
dance master visited homes to teach the steps, to
famous tales of dancing at the crossroads right up
to the present day and the high-octane performances
such as Lord of the Dance.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent yesterday Mr
Gallagher said he saw a natural confidence |
in Rachel during
auditions in April that led to him naming her one of
his three female leads for the show, which premiers
on Wednesday the 13th of August.
“Rachel’s technical ability is excellent and she
shows great composure up on the stage. She’s very
professional,” said the Carrigart Irish dancer a
lead with Riverdance since 1997 and holder of two
World Championship titles.
“After the success of Riverdance in Letterkenny last
year, we saw that there was a market for this type
of show in Letterkenny. Hopefully it will appeal to
locals and tourists,” said Michael.
Rachel hopes her run in 'The Rising Step' will help
launch a career on stage.
“It’s my aim to become a full-time dancer and to get
a show like Riverdance and travel the world would be
brilliant, I would love to do that. Hopefully I will
get more work after this show is over,” added
Rachel. |
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