Local Irish dancer earns World medal

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Gibbons (left) and her teammates will now prepare for the North American Irish Dance Championships in July. ( Hailey Moore )

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local teenager is now regarded as one of the top Irish dancers in Canada after earning a World medal in Montreal earlier this month.

Reese Gibbons, a dancer from the Watt School of Irish Dance, placed 16th overall at the World Irish Dancing Championships in the girls 13-14 category.

Gibbons’ performance also placed her fourth in North America for her age group. She is one of five Canadian girls under the age of 18 to win a World medal.

Gibbons wasn’t the only dancer from the Watt School of Irish Dance to obtain notable results. Mélodie Kemp reached the fifth and final round of the two-day ladies 17-18 competition, earning a finalist medal for placing 20th overall. Emalee Chapple made it to day two in ladies 18-19 reaching the fourth round and earning a semi-finalist medal.

Gibbons, along with 15 of her teammates from the Watt School of Irish Dance, will now prepare for the North American Irish Dance Championships, which kick off in Nashville this July.

More information and updates can be found on the Watt School of Irish Dance Facebook page.