Laura hopes a ‘swing vote' will realise her dream

A SELF-EMPLOYED swing dancer from Bandon is hoping that her dream of dancing across America with her ‘bud’ is one step closer to being realised. 

Laura Hicks (25) from Bandon, who teaches swing dancing in the Crane Lane in Cork, has made it to the final round of the Budweiser Dream Big competition where she is up against three other finalists, all chasing their American dream.

‘We’re so delighted to be in the final and excited for this crazy adventure and all it brings,’ Laura told The Southern Star.

‘I’ve been swing dancing for the last few years and it has its roots in America. There’s so much history there and it would be amazing to experience that first-hand. There are also so many fantastic and experienced teachers there and I could learn so much from them and bring that knowledge back home.’

Laura has also travelled all around Europe to learn as much as possible, and to dance with as many people as she can, but her big American dream is to visit Harlem, the home of swing dancing along with her ‘bud’, best friend Norah Winter from Kilbrittain.

Members of the public, aged over 18, can vote at the competition website www.BudDreamBig.ie or by tweeting the finalist’s hashtag until Monday June 27th at 11.59pm. The overall winner, the finalist who receives the most votes, will be revealed on Monday July 4th.