Hard work, practice result in dancers' trip to Ireland for competition

There were no shamrocks, leprechauns or lucky charms when Kelsey Niehoff, 11, and Meggie Layer, 12, qualified for the 2008 World Irish Dancing Championships.

The third time might have been the charm, but the pair say it took years of after-school lessons and hard work to earn a spot in Irish dancing's top event.

In March, Kelsey of Algonquin and Meggie of Crystal Lake will head to Belfast, along with 4,000 dancers from around the world.

"It was undreamable, everyone was screaming," said Kelsey, whose fifth-place finish at the Midwest regional competition in Chicago last fall granted her a spot at the worlds for the first time in three attempts. "I just tried to do better and better every year."

Meggie finished seventh in her age group at the world qualifying event.

Kelsey and Meggie practice four times a week -- and more when competition is near -- at the Mayer School of Irish Dance in West Dundee under the tutelage of Paul Mayer.

Mayer said other dancers from the dance school have qualified for the world championships, but Layer and Niehoff are the first from the northwest suburban area.

"It is a lot of hard work," Kelsey said. "Some people think dancing is easy, but it is harder than some other sports because it takes stamina, extreme stamina."

Meggie and Kelsey have been spent more than half their lives working on that endurance. Both began Irish dancing as 4-year-olds in a class at the Crystal Lake Park District.

Though both took lessons in other disciplines, Irish dancing piqued their interest.

While the music and fancy dresses attracted Kelsey, Meggie said the chance to see the world charmed her.

"I like the places you get to go. I have traveled a lot with Irish dancing," Meggie said, who has competed across the U.S. and Canada.

The March trip to Ireland won't be the duo's first trip across the pond.

The girls competed in the All Scotlands last fall where both dancers placed in the top half of about 80 competitors.

That trip should serve the girls well when they head to Belfast over the Easter break, said Lesli Layer, Meggie's mom.

"The bar is always set a little bit higher and somehow you get there," Lesli Layer said. "They trained with a teacher in Ireland who encouraged them to go for it. It is great to think what's possible."