Smyrna Girl Heads to Scotland for World Dance Competition

SMYRNA, GA -- Smyrna's own Emmy Pickard, age 11, is headed to Scotland on Thursday to compete in the World Championship of Irish Dance.

Emmy is a Griffin Middle School 6th grader, but she's been a student at Midtown's Burke Connolly Academy of Irish Dance since age 5.

"She fell madly in love with Irish dance after one class," says Michelle Pickard, Emmy's mom. "Within a couple of weeks, she said her goal to qualify for the world championships," which she did in Dallas, TX, last December.

Irish Dance world championships are held in different cities each year, with the 2016 competition set for Glasgow. The competition itself is set for this Sunday, and the family plans to spend a week overseas.

Emmy is Burke Connolly's first world qualifier.

"We have this amazing, entire village of support," says Michelle. She says Emmy and her twin sister were born prematurely, and only had about a 40-percent chance of survival. Both encountered numerous health and development issues that resulted in countless medical treatments and therapies.

"And now we're here, enjoying this incredible moment," says Michelle. "This is just a miracle, and all because of the grace of God."

Image courtesy of Michelle Pickard. Emmy is pictured with Burke Connolly teachers Erin Connolly (L) and Emma Burke (R).