The biggest picture in Dublin: the world final's backstage through a mother's eyes

The series "A conversation with a champion's mother", part 5 of 6. ← Previous part

We have already written about Dublin's medals. But every championship has a second life — behind the scenes. Where props travel halfway across Europe, where dressing rooms hug each other, and where a judge, without knowing it, sits beside a finalist's mother. Anna, Liza Sahalai's mother, told us this part of the story.

A picture 1.8 by 2 metres

The routine "Painting the World" — the one where Liza paints the world with a brush — needed a picture frame measuring 1.8 by 2 metres. You cannot take that to Dublin in a suitcase.

"The metal structure came apart and two metre-long rails folded down. But the mouldings — 1.8 metres is 1.8 metres," Anna says. "They were painted by hand; there is an enormous amount of work and time in them. We packed them tight as anything: film, bubble wrap, cardboard."

Then came a route worthy of a logistics company: by Nova Poshta to western Ukraine, where the props were collected by a carrier who runs to Dublin. Thanks to a friend of one of the trio's families, the picture arrived two weeks before the championship and was waiting for the children in Ireland. Two days before the performance it was assembled in The Convention Centre. And after the final it was taken apart, packed and sent home by the same route.

Backstage the prop became a local celebrity: "It was very easy to explain to the lads working there what our prop was. The biggest picture? — Yes, we know exactly what you mean."

Dressing rooms where everyone hugs

Anna's warmest memory of Dublin is neither the stage nor the podium.

"The dressing rooms had groups from all over Ukraine. And the children went to each other with such warm hugs, with congratulations — not from the same group at all, from completely different cities. At the award ceremonies they ran onto the stage to hug their own. It wasn't only the children congratulating each other — choreographers from different studios did too. It is one enormous Ukrainian dance family. Goosebumps — I can't describe it."

There were international moments too: "You walk down a corridor and the British come up and say to Liza: you painted that world beautifully. Then the Germans: what a predator! People saw her in different characters and asked: how can you be so different?"

And at the grand final a well-known Ukrainian choreographer sat next to Anna with her daughter — she had judged Liza's performances at some point, but had no idea Liza's mother was beside her. "She danced Liza's routine through with every cell of her body — and each time said: our Liza. It was such a sight," Anna smiles.

Honestly about winning: "Don't go for the win"

Dublin 2026 means 3 gold medals for IDC students and 10 children from Irpin in the Ukrainian national team. But Anna is probably the best person to explain why you cannot travel there chasing those numbers.

The family was in the final last year too — and came home without a podium place. "We sat in the centre with other parents then and said: don't go for the win, don't expect it. Seeing the standard in the world, letting the children see other children — that is so worth it in itself," she recalls.

This year, Anna says, "the stars aligned" for Liza as well: her age category, where the competition is fair. "When you're five and competing against a nine-year-old, it's unreal: you've only just started walking and someone else has been dancing for years. And next year everything could be different — different rivals, a different age, the judges' preferences. Not because you got weaker." So she prepares her daughter in advance: it will not be easy, and it does not have to be.

And about the ten children from Irpin in the national team she speaks without a hint of "we got lucky": "These are children I saw in the studios every day. Who set themselves a goal, stumbled and got back up. This is the fruitful work of the full trio: parents, choreographer and child. When hearts beat in unison — that's what this is about."

The series finale: "You are not coaches. You are parents" — Anna's advice for those who are still hesitating. Read part 6 →

Quotes lightly edited for readability. The results of all IDC routines in Dublin are in "Liza's road".