A tragic loss... :(

With the Angels - Elizabeth Claro

No sooner did I hit 'post' then I remembered one of the main reasons that I wanted to post on my blog. The end of last week, the members of the Irish dancing community in Australia woke up to the tragic news that we'd lost one of its own. The newly crowned 2006 Australian National Irish dancing champion for the junior ladies 17 years division, Elizabeth 'Lily' Claro, died on the eve of the NSW HSC exams. (For those of you that aren't Australian, these are the annual year 12 exams for the state of NSW, a very stressful and nerve wracking time for final year high school students).


I didn't know Lily personally, but I have been rocked to the core by the loss of such a young, short life. Lily celebrated her 18th birthday just a week after she won her 5th national title. To the outside world that didn't know her, Elizabeth appeared to have everything just right. She was amazingly talented, bright, loved by everybody that met her; yet for whatever reasons that only those who were close to her could possibly know or begin to fathom, she took her own life. It brought to light the incredible pressure the young people are put under these days to succeed and to reach their own high expectations. I hope that if anyone reads this, that is either a young person struggling with the pressures of end-of-year exams, or parents/friends/siblings of teenagers....please don't feel alone. Seek help and support from those around you or professionals.

Elizabeth's passing made front page across the newspapers in Australia; in addition to the nightly news. I hope that in addition to the memory of this amazing young woman who had so much talent she wanted to share with the world; that the loss of Lily can help save at least one other young person from taking their own life. In her memory I'd like to share with you all a link to one of her final dancing performances.

Elizabeth Claro - 2006 National Champion during the 'Dance of Champions'

A quick persual of the international message boards dedicated to Irish dancing gives you only an inkling of how many people Lily touched in her short life. Hundreds of posts are pasted there recalling everyones fondest memories of her; and the general concensus is that Lily is now at peace and dancing with the angels. Our thoughts go out to her family & the Halloran dance school who have lost one of their daughters. Lastly, I hope that Milton Baar does not mind me using some of his photos from his website to allow everyone to see the beautiful soul that has been lost unto this world.


Elizabeth Claro (1988-2006) - RIP