A Derry woman with a life-long passion for dance has already achieved one of her biggest goals by opening her own studio.
Irena Noonan launched 'City Dance' earlier this month with dozens of new attendees already skipping to her new premises to learn everything dance.
Irena has had a passion for dancing, having danced all her life and even studied it at university.
Read more: Gerry Anderson's family launch website after BBC Radio Ulster clip goes viral
The 35-year-old had dreamed of opening a studio in the city one day and three weeks ago that dream became a reality when she opened her own studio in the Springtown Industrial Estate.
Speaking to MyDerry, Irena explained that she decided to take the untraditional path of dance as a career after her father passed away when she was 15 years old.
"I do put it all down to my daddy passing away," Irena said. "I saw all of my friends heading off to do health and social care and other careers but I wanted something different for myself and that's why I decided that I would have to be a bit courageous and take the path less travelled.
"I was only 15 and when you're that age you usually don't know what you want to do for a career, but I knew that I loved to dance and that's what I wanted to pursue."
Irena has been highly influential when it comes to the modern dance scene in Derry, with new facilities being established at Studio 2 as part of Greater Shantallow Community Arts (GSCA).
Endeavouring to establish better dance opportunities for young people in the city, Irena originally turned to GSCA's Art Director Ollie Green, someone she describes as being a "great help and support".
She continued: "Ollie [Green] really took me under his wing in the early days and he helped me get into a lot of the things that I wouldn't have had access to before. I'm talking about the Halloween parade, St Patrick's Day, and other opportunities like that.
"It just got bigger and bigger for me and my students. We even got to meet Diversity in 2010 after we performed before them. It was a fantastic experience and it has just taken off from there.
"The local community was really good for my career because it helped expose me to different people and that's helped me continue to grow what I have.
"Ollie believed in me from the very start and I always knew what I wanted and he would always do his best to get it for me.
"He knew that I had a vision for the dance scene in the town and he really pushed the boat out for me when he could.
City Dance opens five days a week between Tuesday and Saturday, with lessons on offer for all ages and Irena also offers a number of dance styles and classes, catering to every need.
"The response to the classes has been really great so far, it's been amazing," she added.
"Dance is a huge confidence builder for people and I hope I can help others who decide to come along. I know I wouldn't have done a lot of things that I've done if it wasn't for dance.
"I just want to pass that on. I've just entered my third week and opening my own place wasn't easy. A lot of hard work went into it and I had to turn the place around in a month. I am very proud of what I've created.
"I wanted to open the doors and I wanted people to know that I put my time and effort into it, and money, and I want people to be able to invest in me as a teacher.
"It's the biggest privilege getting to do what I do every day and I can't wait now to start moving forward with my future plans that I have for the place and my students."
READ NEXT:
NI mum on how autistic son inspired new higher education qualification
How one NI man overcame the odds to become a Jiu-Jitsu world champion
To get the latest breaking news from Co Derry straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
