Local Irish dancers came back from Cambridge last month with a big haul of medals and trophies.

Eight students from the Tina Peet School of Dance competed at the Cambridge Feis, which attracted competitors from Auckland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty.

The girls, aged up to 14 years, came home with 27 medals and eight trophies.

Teacher Tina Peet has been teaching dance for more than 40 years, including 15 years of Irish dancing.

She says the girls ‘absolutely love it'.

I think most of them have parents of Irish descent, and many of them are Catholics too. That being said, I'm not a single bit Irish myself – I just enjoy it.”

She says it's the same style you might see at ‘Lord of the Dance', with dancers competing solo in hard or soft shoes, or in teams.

Initially, dancers start off competing as novices or beginners, progressing through the grades as they improve – usually after two years.

'However, if you were to win something like the New Zealand champs, you would move up out of your level before your time.”

It's a dance style known for its elaborate costumes too.

'The outfits become very expensive as you carry on. Some people can spend upward of $1500-$2000 on a dress.”

Tina says a total of 118 competitors took part in the competition, which was adjudicated by Charmaine May from Australia.