The newly formed Wallace High School Dance Team, made up of 14 pupils from Years 9 to 12, recently participated in the prestigious Northern Ireland Creative Movement & Aerobic Championships (NICMAC) at Lisburn Leisureplex. As one of the longest-standing and most renowned dance competitions in Northern Ireland, NICMAC attracted fierce competition from across the province.
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What is NICMAC?
NICMAC is a vibrant annual competition showcasing talent in dance, gymnastics, and aerobic performance. Open to schools, clubs, and independent teams, NICMAC provides a platform for participants of all ages to demonstrate their creativity, athleticism, and teamwork. The event features a variety of categories, including cheerleading, freestyle dance, and acrobatic routines, judged on technique, choreography, and presentation. NICMAC fosters confidence, discipline, and a love for movement, celebrating the dedication of young athletes. With an enthusiastic audience and a spirit of friendly competition, the championships are a highlight of Northern Ireland’s sporting calendar.
The Wallace Dance Team entered 5 performances into the competition on Thursday 6th March, showcasing a variety of dance styles. The routines included two group performances, a Commercial-Lyrical solo, a Lyrical duet, and a Contemporary-Jazz trio. They competed against over 250 entries from 37 schools, including Glenlola, Banbridge Academy, Hunterhouse College, Belfast Royal Academy, and Friends School Lisburn.
Performances
The first group performance came from the Jazz group, which included 10 pupils who performed an upbeat routine to ‘That Man’ by Caro, earning a Silver medal in the Intermediate Schools Team category. Meanwhile, a Lyrical group performance featuring 9 pupils to ‘Mark on You’ by The Mountain Goats won 1st place and a Gold medal in the Intermediate section.
In the Intermediate Trio category, Year 11 pupils Isabelle Mullin, Lucy Walker, and Emilia Harris performed a contemporary-Jazz routine with a touch of Spanish flair to ‘In The Heights’, securing 1st place and a Gold medal. Angel Spence (Year 10) and Aleks Jakubianec (Year 10) competed in the Lyrical duet category, performing to ‘Parisian Enclave’ and finished 5th in the Junior Pairs division.
Year 12 pupil Alexa Yeung also impressed with a Commercial-Lyrical solo to ‘Just Us’ by James Arthur. Her performance showcased both maturity and her technique, earning her a Bronze medal in the Year 12 Solo category.
The Wallace High Dance Team
The Wallace High Dance Team is a new extra-curricular activity, that was only established this year, by teachers Miss Cairns, a former Wallace pupil and Biology teacher, and Miss McCallister, a History teacher. Both teachers bring external dance experience and qualifications from the Amber Gordon School of Dance and the Rowan Academy of Dance. Throughout the year, they have worked closely with the team, choreographing routines and leading weekly rehearsals. Former Head Girl, Jasmine Cairns (Class of 2020), also provided invaluable support in choreography. Additionally, Miss Allen (Teacher of French and Spanish) contributed by sourcing costumes for each performance.
Reflections
Commenting on the Dance Team’s inaugural success, Miss Cairns said, “I am so proud of the hard work, dedication, and commitment the girls have shown throughout the year. These results are outstanding, especially given that this is the first Dance Team in Wallace High’s history and their inaugural competition. Their professionalism and grace on Thursday were exemplary, and they have truly proven themselves to be a credit to Wallace.”
Miss McCallister added, “As a new teacher to Wallace, it has been wonderful to participate in the extra-curricular life of the school. It has been a joy to get to know our students better, collaborate with fellow staff and share in the success of the Dance Team.”
Looking ahead, the team aims to continue expanding, with plans for new competitions and further opportunities for the students.
You can keep up to date with Dance Team via http://www.instagram.com/wallacehighlisburn
You can also discover how Wallace is leading the way in extra-curricular opportunities:
Last modified: March 19, 2025
