Dancing Through Every Hurdle: Lola’s Dream Journey to the World Stage
A Rising Star in the Dance World
Lola is an incredibly talented 13-year-old dancer with a passion for performing. She recently auditioned for the Dance World Cup 2025 and has been lucky enough to qualify, representing Scotland in the finals in Burgos, Spain, this July. This competition is the most prestigious all-genre dance event in the world for children and young adults.
Years of Dedication and Achievements
Lola has been dancing for several years and has already achieved incredible success. She has won numerous Scottish titles, including Dancer of the Year in Blackpool and Standout Dancer of the Day at multiple competitions. She recently traveled to England to audition for various advanced training programs and successfully secured placements, competing against over 120,000 dancers worldwide.
An Unforgettable Opportunity
This is an incredible opportunity for Lola, who is beyond excited to compete in solos, duos, trios, and multiple team performances alongside her dance school peers from Carol Mclaren Dance Academy in Hamilton. The dance styles she will be competing in include lyrical, jazz, contemporary, acro, commercial, and show dance.
Dancing Through the Challenges
Lola has autism and faces daily struggles, but dance is her passion and her way of expressing herself. She is also affected by a rare genetic condition called Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED), yet she refuses to let it define her. She is an incredibly hardworking and determined young dancer.
Lola’s ED definitely makes dancing that little bit harder for her. She trains just as much as everyone else, but her body has to work overtime, which means recovering takes a lot longer.
After a tough training session, she can be completely wiped out—overheating, feeling agitated, and struggling to cool down. Sometimes, her body feels so heavy that even breathing feels like hard work. To help, she takes cool showers, uses cooling towels, and has a fan on all night. But even with all that, she often wakes up the next day “feeling like a total zombie”, needing extra time to bounce back.
With the Dance World Cup coming up, the heat is a big worry, but with air conditioning at the event and hotel—and plenty of prep—she’s ready to take it all in stride. No matter the challenges, her love for dance keeps her going!
An Unforgettable Opportunity
This is an incredible opportunity for Lola, who is beyond excited to compete in solos, duos, trios, and multiple team performances alongside her dance school peers from Carol Mclaren Dance Academy in Hamilton. The dance styles she will be competing in include lyrical, jazz, contemporary, acro, commercial, and show dance.
Dancing Through the Challenges
Lola has autism and faces daily struggles, but dance is her passion and her way of expressing herself. She is also affected by a rare genetic condition called Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED), yet she refuses to let it define her. She is an incredibly hardworking and determined young dancer.
Lola’s ED definitely makes dancing that little bit harder for her. She trains just as much as everyone else, but her body has to work overtime, which means recovering takes a lot longer.
After a tough training session, she can be completely wiped out—overheating, feeling agitated, and struggling to cool down. Sometimes, her body feels so heavy that even breathing feels like hard work. To help, she takes cool showers, uses cooling towels, and has a fan on all night. But even with all that, she often wakes up the next day “feeling like a total zombie”, needing extra time to bounce back.
With the Dance World Cup coming up, the heat is a big worry, but with air conditioning at the event and hotel—and plenty of prep—she’s ready to take it all in stride. No matter the challenges, her love for dance keeps her going!
Supported by the ED Society
“It means the world to Lola and I that the ED Society is sponsoring her, helping her fulfill her dream of competing in the Dance World Cup. She is extremely grateful for all the kind donations, which will go towards entry fees, flights, and the Scotland team kits.” Stacey – Lola’s Mum.
A Message from Lola
“Hi! Thank you so much for your support. I am so proud of myself for qualifying for so many dances at the Dance World Cup. I will be performing 3 solos, 4 duos/trios, and 10 team performances.
I have honestly never been this excited for anything in my life! Now it’s time to put in extra training to achieve my goals.”
A Dream Come True
This journey is a dream come true for Lola, and her family and supporters couldn’t be prouder. With hard work, dedication, and the incredible support of the ED Society, Lola is ready to shine on the world stage!
So, what is the Dance World Cup?
The Dance World Cup is a prestigious event that gathers thousands of young dancers from around the world. Last year’s finals in Prague featured:
- 9,500 dancers from 54 countries
- 20,000 supporters in attendance
- Competitions running daily from 08:30 am to 10:00 pm across three stages
- 37 world-renowned judges and 120 masterclasses with industry legends
- Spectacular performances from international dance companies
The event is known for fostering international friendships and celebrating dance as a universal language. The 2025 finals in Burgos promise to be another unforgettable experience!