PICTURES: Inverness Highland dancer Lily Kelman shakes off injury woes to dazzle at UK championships ahead of another world title tilt at the Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon
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A dedicated Inverness schoolgirl is ready to take another step forward in her dazzling young Highland dancing career after months of patient recovery from injury.
Lily Kelman (17), from Dalneigh, was crowned juvenile world champion at the Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon in 2022.
Now, after more silverware success in March, all focus is on finishing top of the world again at the 2024 junior level event in August.
Among a glittering array of medal-winning performances at home and abroad, she has claimed many titles including becoming British and Commonwealth champion in her age group last year.
Either side of a runners-up finish in the World Junior Championships at Cowal last year, though, Lily suffered injury agony.
The physio’s treatment table became a familiar spot for Lily for good parts of 2023, while she spent the winter and the early part of this year resting up and rebuilding her strength for a huge season ahead.
Her mum Yvonne, also an accomplished Highland dancer, said: “Last year, Lily had to cope with very sore injuries in the bottom of her calf and leg.
“After she won the Central Scotland championships early last year, she was out for March, April and May. She started back in summer for Cowal, but needed time off again in the back end of the year through September, October and November for more physiotherapy.
“Highland dancing is such a demanding sport on the legs, especially calves and Achilles - the lower part of the legs take a pounding and it can be very difficult.
“So she needed time out to rest and recover, which she did, and she’s been working hard over the winter, just to try and get her fitness and her dance fitness back.
“This is her coming out of that difficult period in pretty good shape.
“She was able to stay pretty positive during injury and did a lot of other exercises to keep herself fit, which took pressure off the injuries.
“She has a good temperament, but it is frustrating for her because her mindset is to try to improve all the time.
“But she has had to be sensible and look after her body. She’s been really mature about it and worked in the correct manner.
“That is important so she can dance in the future, especially having got her dancing teacher certificate at Christmas. She wants to be able to do that in the future, pass it on, and have her own school one day.
“She didn’t want to jeopardise that by pushing herself too hard, too soon.”
True to form and back on track, March has already brought four trophies, including the latest victory - the prestigious UKA dance championships in Edinburgh.
Yvonne stressed: “March has been really busy with the start of the championship season and a lot more will be held over the next three or four months, all leading towards Cowal and the world championships.
“These are the next steps in her dancing career, but it has been a really good start.”
