Stepping lively

Irish ambassador Paul Kavanagh meets with Chinese kids after their dance at the Irish embassy in January.

"I'm the youngest. I've only practiced for four years."

Wu is in her mid-20s but is perhaps the group's most dedicated member. She practices for hours daily.

She recently fractured her left leg, but she still sticks to her weekly practice.

Her years of hard work has paid off.

The troupe won third place in the 5th International Feis & Championships held by the Echoes of Erin School of Irish Dancing in Hong Kong in May.

She took home four trophies in several individual categories－two first places in the slip jig and hornpipe respectively, a second place in reel and a third place in treble jig.

"I am very proud of all my students－Wu especially. She is my most talented dancer," says Dominika Cedro, who has taught the dance genre in Beijing since she arrived in China to learn Chinese in 2013.

Cedro is Polish but has practiced Irish step dancing for 16 years.

She believes it's difficult. Those who start younger go further.

"But the majority of my students here are adults," she says.

"That's why, in my eyes, it is even more amazing."

Cedro has taught around 40 Chinese.