At just 19 years of age, Liam Costello from Pennant Hills, NSW already has three consecutive World Irish Dance Championships under his belt. Now the reigning champ is starring in Eireborne, which hits the Canberra Theatre on Saturday 20 August.

CW had a quick chat with Costello in between shows to chat dance, music, and the importance of taking time for yourself.    

1. How did you get started with Irish dancing?

When I was five, my parents put me into jazz dance classes, and we had the end of year dance concert which had an Irish dancing section. Then I watched it back and had it (Irish section) on repeat the entirety of the summer holidays. As soon as the classes returned, I enrolled in Irish dancing.  

2. Eireborne isn’t a traditional Irish dance performance. What can audiences expect?

Eireborne is quite a unique and new concept of Irish dance to bring it into the 21st century. Revolutionising the dance, not the stiff arm down by side that it used to be. It’s bringing together tap, Irish and contemporary to create an immersive experience.

It’s all accompanied by a six-piece band playing hits from Irish musicians like Van Morrison; I didn’t know he was Irish until this tour.

3. Dancing since the age of five, sometimes for hours a day, do you get time to just enjoy being young?

I try and make time for myself to relax and step away from that world. If you let it consume your life completely that’s when you fall out of love with it. I really like to spend time alone because I’m always surrounded by people.

4. Have you got anything on your to-do list while here in Canberra?

I’ll have to check the schedule. I like seeing the main sites; I think I’ve been to Parliament House. I like the scenery of places, just seeing what’s around. I like to wander.  

5. You’ve already won three world championships. Where do you go from there?

I could keep going on and winning them but at the moment I’m seeing what I want to do, seeing what my next step is. I’m taking it slower; I will keep doing shows and learning off the people around me.

See Liam Costello in Eireborne at Canberra Theatre, 20 August; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

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