Wicklow Dancers Join Prestigious Irish National Youth Ballet.

These dancers will represent Wicklow in The Nutcracker.

Wicklow is celebrating as four local dancers—Elwood Sweeney, Mika Kelly, Anna Keaskin, and Anna Shields—have earned spots in the Irish National Youth Ballet (INYB), the premier youth ballet company in Ireland. These dancers will represent Wicklow in The Nutcracker, part of INYB’s 30th anniversary performances this December.

Elwood Sweeney, from Delgany, trains under Duane Watters and returns to INYB for another exciting season. Alongside him is Mika Kelly from Rathdrum, who trains with the Wicklow School of Dance. Mika will be taking on the prestigious role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in one of the casts—a major achievement for such a young dancer.

New to the company this year are Anna Keaskin, who trains with the Bray School of Dance, and Anna Shields, one of INYB’s youngest members. Anna Shields, in particular, marks an inspiring example of emerging talent from Wicklow.

Lindsay Ashe-Browne, Artistic Director of INYB, highlights the dedication of these dancers, saying, “To be selected for INYB, you really need to be among the best dancing talent on the whole island. The level of performance is similar to elite athletics. Our dancers undergo a strict and competitive audition process and are highly trained.”

Funded by the Arts Council, INYB provides an exceptional platform for young dancers, giving them the opportunity to train with internationally acclaimed teachers and perform in semi-professional productions. Many former members have gone on to professional ballet careers, and this opportunity gives Elwood, Mika, Anna Keaskin, and Anna Shields a strong foundation for their future in dance.

Wicklow’s community is invited to show their support as these talented dancers take the stage at Samuel Beckett Theatre in December. The Nutcracker will be the highlight of INYB’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, with performances running from Friday, December 6th, to Sunday, December 8th, including matinee and evening shows.