Young dancer Vaughan Cooper will be bringing home a huge trophy back to WA after being named the world champion in Irish dancing.
The hard work has paid off for the 19-year-old, who dances with the WA Academy of Irish Dancing, when he took out the Men’s U20 World Title for Irish dancing at the championship in Glasgow.
His great aunt Judy Cooper, who refers to Vaughan as “happy feet”, said as soon as he started lessons at the age of seven he became enthralled.
“He practices up to four hours a day just at home,” she said.
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READ NOW“He came third last year, which made him train like you wouldn’t believe and now it’s paid off.
“He won by a big margin so we were all absolutely thrilled for him.”
The Helena Valley resident already has a long list of accomplishments including being the Australian champion for three years, the WA champion for the last eight years and wins in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
Ms Cooper said Vaughan also learning ballet had given him an edge over other competitors.
“He thought joining ballet would give him some extra tricks he could put into his dancing and that is what makes him unique as he does spins and pirouettes that he learned from ballet into his Irish dancing,” she said.
Irish dancing has taken him all over the world as he has danced in tours in New Zealand, Taiwan, and is currently dancing in Germany in the cast of Lord of the Dance.
“Despite touring his focus has always been on winning the world championships,” Ms Cooper said.
“As his family we have always thought he was amazing but for the world to think the same is reward for effort for Vaughan.”