"You Never get a Second Chance

To Make a first Impression"

Mona Roddy Lennon

Carla O'Brien, aged 22, has been involved with Irish Dancing for the past 17 years and she is the proof that dancers can have it all.

Carla holds an amazing litany of titles:- Ulster, All Ireland and World Champion and she has just recently graduated from university.  What a year 2005 has been for this all round star and what a journey it's been to reach these dizzy heights.  Carla began dancing when she was 5 years old at the Mona Ni Rodaigh School and she has nothing but gratitude and respect for the teachers that helped form her into the dancer and person that she is today.  With Mona herself at the Helm and Maria Mohan and Dearbhla Lennon all working tirelessly, this school has a reputation that is known world wide.  "I couldn't have even dreamt of what I have achieved, if it hadn't been for the support and dedication of my teachers."  Carla says.  "They have all so much experience and they guide all of our school in the right direction and teach us lessons about life. not just dancing.  They are truly amazing women."  Indeed, the Mona Ni Rodaigh school has much to be proud of and Carla is just one of the many stars in Irish Dancing that this school has produced.

Carla admits, however, that the journey along the way did not always run smoothly.  "It's been a long one", she says "And one with many ups and downs and plenty of hard work in between."  In fact, Carla is resolute about the importance of hard work.  She attended class 4-5 times a week, showing amazing dedication to her art form but above and beyond this, she is adamant that practise is "Essentail, Crucial" she says.  "There is no way that you can improve if you don't practise and I think practising on your own is just as important as your teacher being with you in the class.  You need to get the steps in your own head and in your own way.  It's just wasting your teacher's time and your parents' money if you don't practise at home."  I can hear teachers from around the globe applauding these words of wisdom.

There you have it.  Carla O'Brien is the proof of the pudding, as she now stands crowned World Champion with hours and hours of practise under her belt

 Carla certainly has managed to lead a balanced life, even with all the practise that she was required to do.  This year, she not only won a World Title, but she also sat her finals at university and graduated only a few months after becoming Senior Ladies World Champion.   How did she cope with all the demands?  Balancing a dancing career with school work is never easy but Carla happily points out the positive facts.  "It was difficult at times", she admits, "And travelling to and from class was tiring but I knew that my teachers were giving me 110% commitment so I knew that I had to do the same."

Her advice is simple for any dancer struggling to balance their academic career and their dancing -"Be Realistic."  She is quick to point out that every dancer knows what they have to do to stay on form and she reveals the positives of having to learn how to balance two very important aspects of her life.  " Education was always a priorty for me and I found that the discipline needed to succeed in one area of my life actually helped me to be disciplined in the other."  She recognises the skills  she's had to develop in order to be successful in both dancing and school.  With time management and a little planning everything is possible.

So now, Carla feels it is time to retire from the competitive scene in Irish Dancing.  She has no regrets about this decision as she has achieved everything that she possibly could in dancing.  But she is certainly not hanging up her dancing shoes.

"Oh no," Carla laughs, "I'm continuing to dance." And indeed she is, all over the world, for "Riverdance" spotted the talented lady and snapped her up immediately.  Carla is heading to Japan in October with the show and she can't wait to experience a whole new side of Irish Dancing.

Her ambitions, though, stretch beyond show life.  Carla is always looking ahead and setting new goals for herself.

"I hope to take my teacher's exam," She says and, with characteristic humility adds, "It would be an honour to teach in the Mona Ni Rodaigh School."

Carla emphasizes that she has learnt a lot and has come a long way in her dancing career and she still has words of encouragement for those just starting out.

She advises plenty of Feiseanna for anyone who has to cope with nerves.  "The stage experience helps everyone" and what about disappointment?

"Try not to let it get you down for too long," she says.  "Of Course, you're going to get disappointments but shake them off.  They're history.  Positve things happen to positive people".

This is definitely Carla.  She is positive, controlled and ambitious and her future certainly looks bright.  She carries around with her the best piece of advice she has ever been given and who did it come from?  Mona Roddy Lennon, her teacher, of course,

"YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION"

This is the motto that has helped to shape the Carla we know today, a talented, focussed and determined young lady with an illustrious future ahead of her.

We, at idanceirish, wish you every success in the Future Carla.