Dublin dancer on the rise as she chases dream on Broadway

Amy Cummins (22), from Donaghmede, began freestyle disco dancing when she was just four years old with Dance AMAD in Raheny.

She danced competitively until she was about 15 before joining a local stage school. Now, she’s taking on the Big Apple.

“Broadway means so much to me,” Amy told the Irish Independent. “I have been obsessed with New York since the first time I visited in 2017.

“I’ve been accepted into two summer training programs in Broadway Dance Center – Musical Theatre and Contemporary Dance.

“My biggest inspirations are the Radio City Rockettes. I’ve been fortunate enough to take classes from Rockettes here and dance alongside some of them. Another major inspiration for me is an American choreographer called Molly Long.

“I’ll be doing over 50 dance classes in the next five weeks, learning from some of the greatest choreographers in the world. I will also be filming two concept dance videos and have two mock auditions while I’m here too.

“To see people with such skill and confidence perform on a stage is a feeling like no other, and now to be able to learn from, and dance alongside, those professionals in classes in New York still blows my mind.

“I’m constantly on the go, so New York suits my vibe perfectly. I think it’s a beautiful city filled with amazing people, free from judgement and everybody is just living unapologetically, which I adore,” she added.

Amy thanks her Irish roots and the people from Dublin who have helped her achieve success.

“I started dancing at the age of four with Dance AMAD School Of Dance in Raheny, which helped me to learn the foundations of dance and how to work in competitive environments,” she said.

“My stage school, Sean Gilligan Performing Arts, really helped to shape me into the person I am today and taught me everything that I know.

“I’ve trained in jazz, lyrical, tap, contemporary, hip-hop, freestyle disco dancing, acro and ballet. I have been very lucky to have choreographed multiple shows in Dublin, for stage schools, theatre productions, and pantomimes at Christmas.

“There are so many teachers in Dublin I’m grateful for, with all their knowledge, I’ve got to an amazing point in my dance career.

“Recently I performed at the Scene and Heard Festival in the Smock Alley Theatre. I’ve worked as a dancer with Irish entertainment companies, I teach dancing to many schools in Dublin and hold my own open dance classes in Dublin city centre.

“In New York, everybody is always so intrigued when they hear my accent and ask questions about Ireland which is lovely. I’ve two Irish tattoos so the first thing people usually ask me is to translate them.”

One of Amy’s tattoos says “Tóg go bog é” (Take it easy), while the second simply says “grá x” (love).