Julia O'Rourke

During her career, O'Rourke was described as an "ambassador" for Irish dance and as a symbol of the increased diversity and globalisation of the dance form. In 2017, shortly before her retirement, O'Rourke was named one of five "Top Irish dance influencers" by IrishCentral.

O'Rourke now began attending the University of Delaware in 2017 and has announced her intention to study physical therapy.

O'Rourke won further titles at Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne in 2015 and 2017. She announced her retirement in June of that year.

In 2012, O'Rourke suffered a major back injury, which resulted in an unusually low placing of 24th at Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne 2013. She did not compete for some months, but trained intensively throughout 2013 and won a second world title in 2014. That year, Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne was held for the first time in England and O'Rourke featured on the BBC program Newsnight.

Julia O'Rourke is a former competitive Irish stepdancer. After being featured in the 2010 Sue Bourne documentary Jig as a competitor at the 2010 Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (Irish Dancing World Championships), O'Rourke became known as a public face for the dance form globally. She won several further titles before her retirement from competition in 2017.

In 2010, O'Rourke was selected to be featured in Jig. The documentary followed her preparation for the World Championships, that year held in Glasgow, Scotland, including competition at several other major competitions held by An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha around the world that year. O'Rourke won her first World Championship that year in her age group. As her career progressed, O'Rourke competed at three to five competitions outside the United States each year, usually including the All Ireland and All Scotland Championships.