Morgan, 4, taking Highland dance world by storm (From Messenger Newspapers)

Morgan, 4, of Urmston, taking Highland dance world by storm

4:00pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in News By Kate Banks, Reporter

A FOUR-year-old Highland dancer from Urmston achieved silvers across the board in the Perth Highland Games on August 12 and will travel to Chicago to compete in February.

Morgan O’Connor, took part in her first dance competition a week after her fourth birthday, and has notched up an impressive nine medals in five competitions since then.

The dancer competed in the under six category in the Perth games and said she was not at all scared to compete in front of so many people and really enjoyed herself.

Her mother, Sarah Breckenridge, teaches the sport and began coaching Morgan when she was just three.

“It’s good for muscle control and has helped her memory and self-confidence,” said Sarah.

Only two other girls Morgan’s age are taught by Sarah at Humphrey Park Community Centre, Urmston, but Morgan met children from all over the world at the Perth games.
 

Sarah said there are pockets of popularity for Highland Fling in countries such as Canada, New Zealand and Russia and has a big following in Denver, U.S.A.
 

“It’s a great sport because men and women compete equally and I just think it’s very accessible,” said Sarah.
 

“The dances don’t change very much but you just build on them and make them more difficult.”
 

Highland Dance classes for children take place at Humphrey Park at 4.30pm on Fridays and at 6pm on Wednesdays for adults. Visit humphreypark.co.uk for more information.