Meghan Crownhart is always dancing.
The 17-year-old junior practices her Irish dance steps an hour or two every day. No matter what.
She even goes through the steps with her fingers or taps her feet under her desk when she's in class.
It's that dedication that has landed her and five other students of Celtic Steps dance studio a spot at the World Irish Dancing Championships, dubbed the Olympics of Irish dance, in Glasgow, Scotland.
Allee Ellershaw, left, chats with Meghan Crownhart, right, at the Tucson Irish Dance Company on March 15, 2018. Allee and Meghan along with four other dancers AKA Celtic Steps have qualified to go to the worlds competition in Scotland.
"If I'm not feeling well, I'll train and do workouts rather than dance for cardio," Meghan said. "But I do dance every day and that's probably what it takes. Persistent dancing and training for it."
It's a tough competition that draws "the best of the best" to compete for world titles, said Christopher McGrory, instructor at Celtic Steps.
To prepare, students typically practice in studio two to three hours at least three times a week. When they're not in the studio, they're practicing at home for an hour or two each day.
"It's the biggest competition for the entire world," McGrory said. "All the best come together to compete. That's why it's important to do that much practice. You have to keep up with the best in the world. And that's what we try to do in Tucson."
Competing in worlds is an amazing feeling, Meghan said. She's competed twice before.
"There's no other feeling like it," Meghan said. "You just feel so accomplished and it's like that's the highest level you can reach."
Each of the students — Tristan Holmes, 15, Eric Crone, 15, Allee Ellershaw, 15, Meghan Crownhart, 17, Olivia Murphy, 10 and Liam Boyd, 16 — won regional competitions to secure their spot at worlds.
From left to right Chris McGrory, Tristan Holmes, Eric Crone, Meghan Crownhart, Allee Ellershaw, and Olivia Murphy all speak at the Tucson Irish Dance Company on March 15, 2018. These dancers AKA Celtic Steps coached by Chris have qualified to go to the worlds competition in Scotland.
Most of the kids have qualified and gone to worlds multiple times, but for Olivia Murphy, it's a first.
She qualified in the youngest age group, 10-11.
"It's amazing," said Caroline Murphy, Olivia's mother. "I cried when she qualified. I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' They say only one percent of Irish dancers qualify for worlds."
Olivia is super excited.
"I'm kinda nervous, like what's gonna happen?" Olivia said. "But otherwise, I'm just really excited."
It's the seventh time qualifying for Liam. He said it was "kinda surreal" the first time he went as a fourth grader.
"You get there and see all of the amazing dancers and you're like, 'Whoa that's crazy I'm gonna look like that,'" Liam said. "And then you get to my age and you're like, 'I look like that.'"
In the worlds competition, dancers are guaranteed to dance twice, once in soft shoes and once in hard shoes. The top dancers are recalled to do a third performance for judges.
Last year, Liam got recalled and placed 20th in the world. He credits his athleticism, especially since he started working with a personal trainer.
"I think since I started working with a personal trainer, I've really been able to get off the ground and do everything it requires," Liam said.
Eric Crone, 15, practices his set at the Tucson Irish Dance Company on March 15, 2018. Tristan along with five other dancers AKA Celtic Steps have qualified to go to the worlds competition in Scotland.
It's the sixth time going to worlds for Eric Crone, who is also the six-time regional champion for the southwest region.
Eric has big goals at worlds this year — to place in the Top Ten.
"I got 18th last year and 17th the year before," Eric said. "It's close."
Tristan Holmes says competition is "really fun." It's his fourth time going to the worlds competition.
"It's exhilarating being up on the stage," Tristan said. "It's definitely really fun. It's been a lot of work."
Although competition is fun, it's one of the hardest parts about dance, Tristan said.
"Just getting yourself out there and really showing that you want to be on the stage and not looking nervous," Tristan said.
McGrory is proud of his students for their hard work and dedication.
"These kids work very hard. They're very dedicated," McGrory said. "It makes me very proud. It makes me feel like we must be doing something right."
Eric Crone, 15, practices his set at the Tucson Irish Dance Company on March 15, 2018.
Tristan finds inspiration in his instructor's drive.
"He's humorous at times, which can help and he's always telling us to keep pushing and to keep going," Tristan said. "And getting to know him has definitely helped to push through."
Outside of competition, Irish dance impacts other aspects of the students' lives.
"I think it's crazy how much discipline dance has given me," said Allee Ellershaw, 15. "I'm always like, 'I have to focus and pay attention.' And I think it has impacted me as a student too because I have such a better focus in class and I know what I'm working for and set goals."
Allee lives in Phoenix and attends the Celtic Steps studio there, but also makes her way to Tucson every week to attend classes here.
Meghan has found her core group of friends through Irish dance.
"This is where I met them. Either in this studio or the studio in Denver," she said. "Those are my best friends."
