Dancing their socks off
A curly-haired little girl leaps in the air as she warms up on the opening day of the World Irish Dancing Championships in Boston.
Participants on the first day of the event were all children, but most approached the competition with deadly seriousness. They practiced intensely, wore outfits worth thousands of dollars, and strained to get their hair and make-up perfect in hopes of impressing the judges.
Teacher Angela Mohan helps her 13-year-old student Lauren Murray stretch on the first day of the Irish Dancing Championships, when girls as young as 10 came to compete.
Young dancers are silhouetted as they practice at the championships, which this year were held in Boston for the very first time.
A girl has her lipstick done as she gets ready to perform. The dancers prepared their outfits and make-up very carefully as they vied to catch the judges' eyes.
Ten-year-old Simone Loysen squeezes her eyes shut as hairspray is applied to her curls.
Two competitors stand next to fans as they wait for their spray tans to dry.
Part of the idea behind the fake tanning is to help the girls' white socks stand out against their brown legs.
Katie Coites, a 12-year-old Irish dancer from England, watches from backstage as she waits for her turn to perform.
A contestant warms up on the practice floor.
Eleven-year-old Abby Llewellyn waits backstage.
A girl kicks her foot high up in the air during her performance.
A young dancer wears a dress covered with elaborate embroidery.
A competitor's blonde hair catches the light as she practices in the hallway.
A girl grimaces after she fell during her performance. She later got up and was allowed to dance again.
