Roisin stepping into new role
Dancing took Roisin Di Giacomo from her mum’s dance studio to New York’s Madison Square Garden. Now she is embarking on a new career in Inverness, writes Susan Welsh
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WHEN she presents potential employers with her CV, Roisin-Alana Di Giacomo always gets the same reaction.
“I could have the most impressive CV in the world, showing I’d landed the biggest clients, but the first question everyone asks me is always about my dancing,” said a smiling Roisin, 27.
That’s because the Inverness-based public-relations expert used to have a very unusual job – as a dancer with Michael Flatley on the dance spectacular, Lord of the Dance.
Riverdance, starring Irish-American dancer Michael Flatley, was first performed during the interval of the Eurovision Song Contest in April 1994. It received a standing ovation and has been voted the best interval act in the history of the contest.
Through his theatre musicals, Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames, Flatley is regarded as an international superstar.
Roisin, who is an account manager working in PR with Weber Shandwick Worldwide at the firm’s Inverness office, is a professional dancer who also has an MA (Hons) in English Literature and Film and Television.
“I remember watching Michael Flatley’s Riverdance on the Eurovision show and, from there, decided to pursue a career as a professional dancer,” said Roisin.
“I had been dancing since the age of three and competed in the Irish Dancing World Championships, both individually and as a team performer.
“I ranked in the top 10 for many years and was part of the team which won the World Championship title numerous times.”
By the time she was 12, Roisin was such a good dancer that she was teaching Irish dancing for pocket money at her mum’s dance school.
After school, she was expected to go to university and duly signed up to study law at Strathclyde University, but she survived only a week as her dream of becoming a professional dancer was too strong to ignore.
“While doing my standard grades, I auditioned for Lord of the Dance and was offered a job with his show in Disneyland, Florida, but couldn’t accept as I hadn’t completed my education.”
Roisin got in touch with Flatley and, in 1999, joined Lord of the Dance, where she was quickly made lead dancer.
“It was a great job and allowed me to do a lot of travelling,” said Roisin, who is mum to two young sons, Paolo, 2, and eight-month-old Rocco.
“We toured in North America, Canada and Europe and all the shows were sellouts. I was with the show at the peak of its success.
“Memorable shows included performing to a crowd of 100,000 in Budapest; appearing at the Royal Variety Show and Radio City Music Hall, and Madison Square Garden in New York.”
After two-and-a-half years, Roisin left to pursue a career in media and gained an MA (Hons) in English, Film and Television at Glasgow University, where she supported herself by teaching dancing five times a week.
After completing her degree, she joined a PR firm in Glasgow before husband Paolo’s work – he is a forward with Ross County football team – brought her to the Highlands.
“I now know all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make events, and companies, a success.
“In my new post with Weber Shandwick, I work on media relations, social media and public affairs in the public and private sector, working with clients including Albyn Housing Society, the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverlochy Castle and Rocpool Reserve, to name but a few.
“I am enjoying my new life in Inverness and am very happy to be working with a reputable and global firm such as Weber Shandwick.”
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