Dancers have all the right moves for talent contest

Published on Friday 30 October 2009 08:59

AN IRISH dancing group were the surprise winners of Edinburgh's Got Talent, following a nail-biting finish to the competition.

The Haughey McAuley Academy of Irish Dance, based in Penicuik, beat runner-up Jack Robertson by just one point to scoop the first prize at the Assembly Rooms last night.

The eight dancers, aged between 12 and 21, won 1,000 and will be performing at the Radio Forth Awards on 18 November.

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Around 700 people packed into the George Street venue to watch the glittering finale, hosted by Forth One presenter Arlene Stuart. Tens of thousands had already voted for the final ten contestants after seeing their online entries.

City-based TV reality show singer and judge Keith Jack kicked off the show by singing Luck Be A Lady Tonight.

The Haughey McAuley Academy were the first act of the evening. The six girls, wearing black tops and sparkling shorts, and two boys, skipped on stage. They performed a breathtaking routine to the song Tell Me Ma.

After the performance, head judge Liam Rudden, the Evening News' arts and entertainment editor, said: "They had magnificent co-ordination. I was tired just watching."

Port Seton singer Jackie Nisbet brought a poignant note to the evening when she sung There You'll Be, in memory of her grandmother who died nearly two weeks ago. She said it had been her favourite song, and she would have been proud.

Mark Smith, 12, one of the youngest contestants, had the audience tapping their feet to his rendition of KT Tunstall's Black Horse and The Cherry Tree.

Jack Robertson's act suffered from a technical hitch to begin with, forcing him to make a second entrance and swap microphones. But he recovered and held the audience spellbound with a confident version of Never Forget You, before a standing ovation.

Speaking after the show, Jack, 14, a Liberton High School pupil, said: "I'm disappointed but you can't win all the time. I thought it was a great show, and I thought I did the best I could."

There was a palpable tension in the room as the five judges retired for their deliberations. The final decision was based on a points system, with half the points going on the judging panel's decision, and the other half on the result of the public vote.

The judges, including Forth One presenter Boogie, Radio Forth events manager Richie Jeffrey and Evening News promotions manager Deborah Welsh then joined the ten contestants on stage. The final five were asked to step forward, before the winner was announced.

One of the dancers, Becky Smeaton, 13, from Broxburn, said: "I'm so happy. I didn't expect it at all. We usually do solo dances, so we haven't even been dancing together for very long."

Aine Edwards, 12, from Penicuik, added: "We were just really happy to get in to the final ten. I've been dancing since I was two or three – my mum, sister and two brothers do it."

Instructor Michelle Haughey-Edwards, Aine's mum, founded the dance academy 13 years ago. She said they would use the prize money to pay for costumes and transport to competitions.

Ms Stuart said judges had been impressed by the high standard. "One thing is certain – Edinburgh has talent," she said.

HOW THEY FINISHED

1. The Haughey McAuley Academy of Irish Dance: Aine Edwards, Becky Smeaton, Jessica Gray, Megan McKay, Judith Clyne, Grant Morrison and Aodhan Sheridan.

2. Jack Robertson, from Liberton, performed Never Forget You.

3. Matthew Smith performed This Is The Moment.

4. Kelly Mackie, from Prestonpans, performed Out Here On My Own.

5. Sarah Dingwall, from Blackhall, performed Make You Feel My Love.

6. Kai Thomas, performed Out There.

7. Mark Smith, performed Black Horse and The Cherry Tree.

8. Jackie Nisbet, from Port Seton, performed There You'll Be.

9. Dansation performed a routine entitled Fusion.

1O. Charlotte Jones, from Loanhead, performed Listen.

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