Kian Tallon just secured his second World Globe – one of the most prestigious accolades in Irish Dancing. In Spring the 16-year old finished 3rd place in his age group at the World Championships. Kian represented ’O’Hehir School of Irish Dance’ from Spennymoor at the event held in the US. His coach Katrina O’Hehir was a professional dancer herself – former Top 10 in the world and was part of ’Lord of the Dance’.
An SWDN-interview by Anton Weineck
SWDN: How is it looking back to you, starting to dance as a little kid and now winning the World Globe again?
Kian Tallon: I started dancing very young. And really it’s the hard work over a decade that makes a difference and helps with the success. We do three classes a week – that’s about seven hours. Before a Championship it can be up to 10 hours a week. And if I’m not dancing, I’m home revising or doing homework. But then when I’m at the dance class it’s laser focus. It’s very intense but it’s all worth it in the end.
SWDN: What is the motivation to do that – to put in that work, to invest the hours every week?
Kian Tallon: The motivation for me is just the enjoyment of dancing. It’s a real passion. There’s no feeling like dancing and just enjoying yourself on the stage. I think maybe it’s just a natural thing – like, I enjoy it so much because that’s just what I’m supposed to do.
SWDN: Your older sister was the one who introduced you to Irish dancing. How is that – having a bigger sister you can look up to and orientate on?
Kian Tallon: There’ll be times where we dance together in class or watch each other and might get a bit hostile – you know what I mean? As siblings are. But then it’s the honesty of: If I haven’t done my best, I know she will tell me. And if I have danced well, she’ll be like: ”That was very good – we need to keep going.” It’s always good having a sibling’s real honesty and someone to make you work harder.
SWDN: Another important woman is obviously Katrina. What kind of role does she play in your dancing?
Kian Tallon: She’s the architect of everything. Really – the commitment, the corrections, the choreography. It feels amazing to be taught by such an amazing dancer and then to follow in her footsteps and do so well at the World [Championships].
SWDN: Then maybe you could describe a bit of your trip to the US – how was it?
Kian Tallon: It’s obviously tiring. It’s a long day of dancing. So you do three dances, the last dance – that’s usually my best. And simply: I nailed it. I knew I did the best I could. Then it comes to 8pm and the results are in. Really the goal was to get back into the top five. And it was very, very nerve wracking. It was just as much relief as it was happiness to be back in the top five. And then to be anything above that – it’s just, it’s just amazing.
SWDN: With all the travelling and tiring stuff around the event, how did you get on mentally? How was it like to be spot on when you had to?
Kian Tallon: You need to realise that for just one day, for 12 hours, you have to be in the zone and ready to go and ready to dance your best. Everyone who’s at the World Championships has worked extremely hard – hundreds and hundreds of hours. And it’s really like a culmination of everyone’s hard work. It’s like the Olympics of Irish dancing. You have to stay focused – and then you can go and enjoy yourself.
SWDN: And now – I mean, after the championship is before the championship – what are the next steps?
Kian Tallon: The next focus is the Scottish Nationals. It’s in a couple of weeks. I’ve been doing exams as well, which can be quite difficult to balance. But still that’s the main focus – I’m going to the Scottish Nationals and I’m going to do my best to win.
SWDN: And then afterwards, in a year, the World Championships are coming up again. Did you already think about them?
Kian Tallon: When it comes to December, January, when we’re starting to put the work back in again – we’re going to work harder than anyone. We’re going to win. I’ll try to anyway.
SWDN: Looking further into the future – could you imagine to dance fully professional?
Kian Tallon: That would be something I’d love to do, whether it’s in something like ’Lord of the Dance’ or ’River Dance’ – that is a dream, really.
SWDN: How about becoming a teacher?
Kian Tallon: I would definitely – a teacher, a judge, anything like that. I’d love to do that in the future.
SWDN: Your life is planned with and for Irish dancing?!
Kian Tallon: Yes.
Anton Weineck
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
