Willowbrook freshman wins third World Irish Dancing Championship title

Since he was born, Peter Dziak has been surrounded by Irish dance. His cousins participated in Irish dance, as did his siblings.

So it’s no surprise Dziak, a freshman at Willowbrook, has been dancing for 11 years.

“I like being able to share my talent with less-fortunate people,” Dziak said. “It makes me happy to make others happy.”

And Dziak has certainly proven himself in the Irish dance community, as he recently won his third consecutive World Irish Dancing Championship title. He said that title was extra special because his family (which includes six siblings and his parents) was able to attend the competition. To compete in the World Irish Dancing Championship, Dziak had to first qualify for the regional competition, called the Oireachtas. He then had to place well enough at regionals to advance to the World Championship.

Dziak trains four to six hours a week – and about 14 hours a week before a big competition – at Trinity Academy of Irish Dance in Elmhurst, where he also helps teach the younger students. He said part of the reason he’s interested in Irish dance is because his family is originally from Ireland, and he enjoys paying tribute to his heritage.

Through his experiences, Dziak has performed in Ireland, Belfast, Belgium, England and Canada. He will return to England this summer to perform with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, along with his older brother. He also will perform during Villa Park's Summerfest, which will take place June 21 and 22.

Outside of dance, Dziak enjoys being a normal teenager and is a member of the Willowbrook Baseball Team. But his true passion remains Irish dance, and he looks forward to working hard to continue his success.

“Everybody struggles with different aspects of Irish dance,” Dziak said. “The secret to success is to improve your weaknesses.”