QE Hall steps in to host world dance qualifier

ORGANISERS of a world-famous Irish dancing contest have dubbed the QE Hall amazing and are hoping to bring the event back to Oldham next year.

The three-day North-West Regional Qualifying Championships event involved more than 400 boys and girls competing for spots in the 2013 world finals, being held in Boston, USA.

It is the first time Oldham has hosted the event, after organisers looked at other venues in the North-West.

Rose Fitzgibbon, one of the organisers and treasurer of the North-West Irish dancing council, praised the “magnificent staff and great facilities” at QE Hall.

“The event went really well and we have provisionally booked a place to hold the event in Oldham again at the end of November next year — we just need to run it by our council,” she said. “For years we ran the event at UMIST but now that’s been taken over by Manchester University we can’t use it.

“Then we tried The Forum in Wythenshawe, the new conference centre in Southport and a theatre in Stockport but they couldn’t really accommodate us very well. QE Hall had a great stage and places to eat, adequate changing facilities and also practice rooms to use before they went on stage.”

The popular event, which was split into age classes, saw dancers over 11 years of age, completing two dances — one with heavy shoes and one wearing light shoes.

Those who were recalled to do a third dance and were successful, competed again to take away trophies and medals.

The six top dancers have now qualified for the World Championships.