Dancing duo dazzle to become tops in European Latin dancing

TWO talented children from a local dance school were crowned European Latin dance champions in a competition in Germany earlier this month.

Kai Boyce from Old Bawn in Tallaght, and Lily-Rose Brolan from the city centre, (both now 12) who train at Xquisite Dance Club on the Long Mile Road, have formed a strong dancing partnership.

The duo dazzled the judges at the WDO European Juvenile Championships at the German Masters in Cologne on September 2, and placed first in the juvenile category for Latin dance.

The achievement had a special resonance for Kai – who also plays football for Tallaght Town AFC – it was his last competition in the juvenile category as he turned 12 the day after the championships.

Kai’s dad, Mick Boyce, told The Echo: “I couldn’t believe it when he won, I was crying and everything!

“They lined up the seven couples after they danced, then Kai and Lily-Rose were in the final two against a Polish couple.

“Kai shook the hand of the boy from the Polish couple before they announced who’d won. I was very proud of him.”

Kai and Lily-Rose were ultimately crowned the victors, and the Irish national anthem was played after they were announced the winners.

The achievement was the culmination of many months of hard work and training by Kai, who began dancing somewhat reluctantly at age seven, before realising he had a passion for it.

“He started because his sister used to go dancing and he’d be with me when I was picking her up. Her teacher would ask him to try it, but he’d say no,” explained Mick.

“The teacher kept asking him and, one day, he said yes – and he hasn’t looked back since.”

Kai’s commitment to dancing has never wavered, even as he’s grown older – he trains five days a week and balances this alongside his schoolwork in Scoil Santain and playing football.

“A lot of lads bow out of it as they get older, but he’s just stuck with it and he doesn’t care what other people think,” said Mick.

“When he started dancing, he was introverted and he’d get upset if he didn’t get the result he wanted when he was dancing, but now he takes it all in his stride and if he makes mistakes he trains harder.”

Looking ahead, Kai is planning to compete in his first junior level championship, which will take place in Blackpool next month. His father said Kai has many options for what he wants to do when he grows up.

“I just want him to be successful in whatever he decides to do, whether that’s dancing or football,” said Mick.

“But whatever he does, I know he’ll give it 110 per cent like he always does.”

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