Irish dance ‘not pageant, but competitive sport’
David Bassett, 22, from Southampton in England, is competing in the Senior Men’s category, and recently returned from Azerbaijan, where he was performing to crowds who “loved it” – an example, if it was needed, of the global appeal Irish dancing has garnered over the years. He started aged 11 after watching Irish dancing megastar Michael Flatley on TV, and has previously been placed in the top 20 at world championship level, and ranked in second place at the Great Britain championships.
The dedicated dancer said he does not think the scale of the World Irish Dancing Championships, and the commitment required, is understood by people who do not have inside knowledge about the dance form.
