®

Irish Dance

The Flying Irish Studio offers a comprehensive program in Irish Dance, where participants learn proper training and technique, traditional and modern Irish Dances and the history of the dance form. Classes, open to students ages 4-adult, maintain a low student-to-teacher ratio. Good class and practice habits, correct technique and skill in performing are emphasized while personal and artistic growth is encouraged.

Little Leprechauns Learn the basic movements of Irish Dance and beginning steps at an age-appropriate tempo. Use Irish Dance and creative movement to learn a performance routine. Ages 4 & 5.

Beginner Soft Shoe Irish Dance basics and beginning reel and light jig steps are taught at a reduced tempo. Students proceed to the correct speeds of the dances when they are ready. Ages 6 & up.

Intermediate & Advanced Soft Shoe Students learn reel and slip jig steps appropriate to their ability level. Steps are placed in group ensembles in the year-end recital.

Hard Shoe Hard shoe techniques are taught by breaking the movements down into individual components. Students may learn group performance routines, solo heavy jig and hornpipe steps and/or modern set dances in jig and hornpipe timing, all at a level appropriate to the student's ability. Ages 7 & up, with a minimum of 1 year of soft shoe.

Adults Adults learn a combination of hard and soft shoe dances and group and solo material. Each year the class focuses on mastering one or two dances while increasing the student's dance vocabulary and mastery of the movements. Advanced adult dancers may take advanced classes with the performance troupe.

Flying Irish Dance Troupe The studio's pre-professional performance troupe for our most dedicated dancers. FIDT members take soft shoe, hard shoe, team classes each week. The troupe performs an average of 25 times a year, giving its members invaluable experience in front of many diverse audiences. Our performance team costumes and classes are priced to make this activity affordable. Ages 8 & up for dancers at the intermediate and advanced level.

Private Lessons--Privates are offered in addition to group classes as a way to give individual attention to a student to improve technique, reinforce class lessons and/or teach solo material.

Cross Training At the Studio
Classic barre, floor-barre and center exercises from ballet are incorporated into classes to improve turnout, balance, directional acuity and to strengthen the feet, ankles and knees for injury prevention. Flexibility and core strength are improved with pilates and yoga exercises. Classic and modern dance movements are introduced to teach students to move with grace and poise while using their whole bodies. This type of cross-training has been proven to be effective in reducing or eliminating over-use injuries and is introduced in all classes at The Flying Irish Studio, which particular emphasis during the Flying Irish Dance Troupe's team classes.

Workshops & Master Classes
Master classes in a variety of disciplines are routinely offered to introduce students to new aspects of artistic performance.Classes may be offered in any discipline, such as flying trapeze or belly dance. Past classes have been taught by Riverdance creative director Eileen Martin and aerialist Tito Gaona.

   Flying Irish® Academy:  PO Box 351, Ashby, MA 01431, (978) 386-2325

  email at dance@nospam.irishstepdancing.com

Remove "nospam." when sending email.