Steps to success: Canton dancer on tour with 'Lord of the Dance'

Canton resident Mary Nally said when her daughter, Aisling was 10 years old, she can remember the two of them sitting and watching a videotape of "Lord of the Dance," Michael Flatley's elaborate stage show featuring electrifying Irish dancing.

A decade later, Mary is no longer watching that videotape - she's watching her daughter dance and perform in the show, which is currently on tour.

This Sunday, Aisling is coming home to Massachusetts and performing in "Lord of the Dance" at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

"I just get so emotional when I think about it," said Mary. "After all the years of traveling and getting up in the morning with her, this is the payoff," she said referring to Aisling's years of Irish dancing lessons and competitions. "She's worked so hard for so long. Being in this show was always a dream of hers."

"Things are going great," Aisling added when she was reached on her tour bus. "It's just incredible to be doing this. I've always wanted to be part of this show. "

Mary said Aisling has been taking part in Irish step dancing since she was 4 years old, and has always had the same two North Shore-based teachers-Rita O'Shea and Lisa Chaplin of the O'Shea Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance.

Mary said there are two other students from Aisling's dance school already on tour with "Lord of the Dance." Only seven Americans are dancing with the troupe, she noted. There are a total of 100 dancers in the group, most of who are from England and Ireland.

Aisling said the show in Lowell is a big one for her, with friends and family coming to see her. She said people from the O'Shea Chaplin Academy will also be on hand for the event.

Aisling's journey into celebrity has been going on for years. Since learning her first steps and jigs as pre-schooler, Aisling has competed all over the East Coast, traveling as far as Canada, Ireland and Scotland for competitions, Mary said.

Two years ago, Aisling's hard work and joy for dance was recognized and rewarded when she was recruited as part of the Dublin-based Irish Thunder and Emerald Beat, performing in Florida and Virginia. In the fall of 2006, she also had the opportunity to join the Trinity Dance Company on a two-month tour of Japan.

All this time, Mary said Aisling had been sending resumes to the "Lord of the Dance" headquarters in England, because she desperately wanted to be in the famed Flatley production. After a long time with no response, Aisling updated her resume last fall and once again sent it off to England.

<p style="text-indent: 0in;"> "Aisling wasn't sure what was going to happen," Mary said, indicating there are many people who apply for the job, "but she updated and sent it again in October."

With her updated resume and videotape, Aisling sent a letter which read, "If you are looking for someone who is personable, mature, dependable, well-traveled, has great work ethics, gets along with her peers, along with a passion and desire to dance, I am that person."

Someone on the other side of the pond agreed with her.

In November, the call from London finally came. Mary said the man on the other end of the line-show recruiter Pter Mersey-left a message indicating good tidings for Aisling.

<p style="text-indent: 0in;"> "The message said, 'Aisling, when you get this message, if you could call me at my U.K. number at your earliest convenience, I have some good news to share with you,'" Mary said.

When Aisling called Mersey back, he asked her if she would like to tour Japan with Michael Flatley's "Feet of Flames" production.

"We were dancing around the room, screaming and laughing," Mary said, adding her husband, Jim and other daughter, Siobhan were also thrilled when they were told about the phone call. "It is still so surreal."

Mary said she still has that voicemail from England on her answering machine she won't be erasing it any time soon.

In addition to the "Feet of Flames" tour Aisling was told the troupe she performed with would also be doing a "Lord of the Dance" tour in the United States after that. She wasn't asked to join the U.S. tour right off the bat.

"He told her he couldn't make her any promises at that time," Mary said regarding the U.S. tour.

With that news, Aisling felt she had to prove herself.

And that she did.