All level descriptions are listed in a way to ensure full comprehension of the technical training standard at each level. We are NOT a competitive Irish Dance school. We offer an incredible traditional Irish Step dance training experience in a dedicated, performance-focused, family-friendly environment. If you wish to compete, please ask us for recommendations of local competition-focused schools; we will be very happy to assist you.
Our Traditional Irish Step Dance Classes are the foundation of our Academy training, so each dancer can expect to be placed in one of the three class types. Classes follow a specially-designed syllabus that ensures students learn and master everything they need to know at a given level, so they have a solid foundation on which to advance to the next. All of our classes are taught under the careful instruction of our dedicated and experienced instructors, and the class environment is carefully paced and supportive.
Most classes are offered separately for children of different age ranges; so students will not only work on their dancing ability, but also will have the opportunity to build a community with other dancers around the same age. And at times, the instructor may choose to divide the class into smaller groups, so students can learn to work together with their peers when tackling new moves and combinations. And our adult classes are truly for all ages: we have students in their late teens, all the way into their sixties!
Pro tip: students who want to progress faster can register for a class all the times a week it is offered!
Tiny Toes is for beginning students aged 3-5. Students will learn the foundational positions, techniques, and timing used in traditional Irish dance. Coordination, balance and timing are carefully tackled via fun Irish dance-themed games and activities. Dancers are taught how to build their strength and flexibility gently in a fun stretch and chat session. In turn this encourages our students to interact, build their social skills and find new friends by getting to know their fellow classmates. Spaces are extremely limited in this class, so sign up quickly to avoid disappointment — this class fills up fast.
These specially designed introductory classes are for students new to Irish dance, and can be started any time of the year. The Intro A class syllabus ensures that students will be taught the essential foundational techniques and positions used in light shoe Irish step dancing, along with beginning to build the strength needed to execute the movements properly and safely. Students will then move into Introduction B, where they will continue to refine the skills learnt in Intro A, and start to learn hard shoe techniques.
This structure ensures students will have a solid working knowledge of the terminology and techniques needed to successfully transition to our Level 1 class, where the focus shifts from practising individual techniques to putting them together in full traditional-style choreography. The instructor will let a student know when she thinks the student is ready to move on. However, we fully recognise that everyone is an individual and will progress through the introduction classes at a different pace; and so it's ultimately left up to the dancer to decide when he or she feels comfortable to move up.
As stated above, students with a solid grasp of soft and hard shoe basics will move into Level 1, where emphasis is placed on piecing techniques together into full dances. From this point on, students will move into the next level when they demonstrate competency in their current level's techniques and dances at a Level Proficiency Review. As students progress up through all six levels, they will continue to add more complex traditional dances, powerful jumps, intricate footwork, and exciting rhythms to their repertoire of skills.
Although we are non-competitive, the levels in our syllabus roughly correspond to the ranks used in competitions:
We offer additional unique classes to help students further develop and show off their skills!
This exciting class fuses traditional Irish dance steps with other styles of dance, to create energetic, fresh choreography to modern film and pop music! Students then get the opportunity to perform the final product on stage at one of our bi-annual full-length Company productions.
Academy students are offered a chance to perform at Celtic Legacy and Celtic Christmas, our bi-annual stage productions; and this is the class where they will learn and rehearse their custom choreography. The class typically runs every other Saturday afternoon for a few months before the show. This is a great opportunity for students who want to perform and show their family and friends what they can do, but haven't joined our performance Company just yet!
If you love Irish dance and wish to perform and share your passion with others, then we invite you to join our dedicated Performance Company! Anyone with a solid knowledge of the basics (Level 1 or equivalent) is eligible — and that includes dancers from other schools as well! Our only requirement is that our performers be actively receiving Irish dance training (taking classes either with us or another Irish dance school) so they can continue to hone their skills. We perform all year at a wide variety of events. Check out our Company page for more information.
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