Credit: MediaMoments.com
Credit: MediaMoments.com
Celtic Academy of Irish Dance
For 30 years, Celtic Academy of Irish Dance (formerly Hibernian Irish Dancers) has provided training for all ages from beginner to championship level. Particularly instilling self-confidence in its instruction, the troupe currently has over 140 dancers and has notably performed with many national and international bands such as Gaelic Storm, The Elders and Scythian.
“Irish dance is aerobics on fire,” said co-director Mary Laffey Beemsterboer, who shares leadership duties with her sister Laureen Laffey and began her Irish dance career at age 5 with Hibernian. “Irish music and Irish dance is just so infectious. As soon as you hear Irish music you want to dance! It’s a genuinely happy feeling. As we put specialized dance to that music, we try to make the (movement) happy, joyful and enjoyable. It’s been a wonderful 30 years.”
>> Feel the luck of the Irish with these St. Patrick’s Day dishes
A significant aspect of Celtic Academy is its motto: “Dance like champions, love like family.” Beemsterboer values the connections the troupe has made through the years, creating meaningful memories for families that will last a lifetime.
“We particularly have a lot of military families within our studio because we are near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” she noted. “When these families move out of the area, we receive notes saying they hadn’t found another dance studio that had the same family atmosphere. We promote togetherness.”
>> The ultimate survival guide to St. Patrick’s weekend in Dayton
Credit: Jim Noelker
Credit: Jim Noelker
The troupe travels heavily throughout greater Dayton, especially on St. Patrick’s Day with scheduled appearances at Dublin Pub, Irish Club of Dayton and Fifth Street Brewpub, and can be seen on the festival circuit at such events as Dayton Celtic Festival, Ohio Renaissance Festival and World A’Fair. They will also host a special Spring Sampler Class March 31 and April 7 and 14 for youth ages 5 to 16 who are interested in Irish dance. Cost is $45 per person. A Summer Sampler Class will be held August 5, 12, 19 and 26. Registration opens in June.
Celtic Academy of Irish Dance is located at 85 Woodman Drive in Dayton. For more information, call (937) 256-6086 or visit celticacademy.com.
Dwyer School of Irish Dance
Centerville-based Dwyer School of Dance, promoting the pursuit of excellence through the joy of Irish dance for ages 4 to 19, was founded in 2011 by Kathleen Dwyer, a former instructor with Celtic Academy of Irish Dance who began dancing at age 6. Currently leading a roster of 65, she views Irish dance as a beneficial tool for children as they grow, allowing them to mature in other areas beyond dance such as time management.
“Irish dancing is fabulous,” said Dwyer, whose classes encompass beginner, novice and championship level. “Kids in our company make a special commitment. They learn everything doesn’t come easy and just you have to do your best. Even though some will place in competitions and others will not, it pushes kids to work harder, to make some small goals and move on. Overall, it creates a lot of determination in kids and (instills) a really good work ethic. Irish dance is mental as well as physical. You have to believe in yourself.”
>> Family friendly St. Patrick’s Day events
The troupe, excited to send a team to the World Championships April 14-21 in Greensboro, N.C., for the first time, performs throughout Dayton at various taverns, schools and nursing homes. Numerous performances are particularly slated for St. Patrick’s Day including appearances at Eudora Brewing Company, Flanagan’s Pub and Jimmie’s Ladder 11.
“Dayton has a really active Irish community and I think it’s wonderful,” Dwyer added. “But I also think people, whether Irish or not, just enjoy the Irish culture, the music, bands and dance.”
Dwyer School of Dance is located at 873 East Franklin Street in Centerville. There is an additional location in Columbus. For more information, call (937) 620-5358 or visit dwyeririshdance.com.
McGovern Irish Dance
Located in Dayton and Troy, McGovern Irish Dance specializes in classes from ages 3 to adult, from beginner to championship level, that seek to build character and potential in a nurturing environment.
“Irish dance was the catalyst for a lot of good things that happened in my life,” said owner/director Shelagh McGovern, whose parents encouraged her to learn Irish dance when she was very young. “And that’s what I want to impart especially to the children. I want them to learn how to be confident, to learn how to be a good team member, to learn how to be a contributing member to an organization no matter what it is, all while having fun. It’s also so important for them to always present their best self to other people.”
In addition to offering a free trial class for youth and adults at its Dayton location, a great incentive to get your feet wet before fully committing, McGovern Irish Dance, currently featuring 80 members, provides a weekly class for anyone who wants to dance strictly for recreation. But for a deeper dive, classes are held multiple times per week with the expectation of practicing at home to better hone one’s skills.
“Our classes are not treated like a gym class,” stated McGovern, who teaches from the Cumann Rince Náisiúnta curriculum. “We’re teaching skills, drills, with the (understanding) that what we’re doing is fun, but you can’t really have a lot of fun until you’re good at it. It’s no fun to go out and dance in front of people when you don’t have a lot of technical skill or ability to do Irish dancing. Irish dancing takes a lot of work. But it’s fun when you can progress to the point where you’ve (mastered) the rhythms and posture because you’re putting on a performance that people will be wowed by. And it’s great when you receive that good energy back.”
The troupe, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, performs all across the Miami Valley, In fact, 25 shows are slated from March 1-17 alone. Prior to March, they notably danced in Missouri and Illinois. You can also look for them at many local spring festivals including World A’Fair, Troy Strawberry Festival, Dayton Celtic Festival, and Festival of Nations. In addition, the troupe will hold a special Spring Fling workshop on April 24-26 for all ages. Cost is $35 per dancer and $35 per duo (sibling duos, parent/guardian duo).
“For me, the history of Irish dance and the future of what Irish dance can hold for somebody is very special,” McGovern said. “The combination of people coming together as friends and becoming family brings such joy.”
McGovern Irish Dance is located at 818 Linden Avenue in Dayton and 29 South Norwich Road in Troy. There are additional locations in West Lafayette and Wabash Indiana. For more information, call (937) 321-6687 or visit mcgoverndance.org.
>> Food truck rally and street party highlight new St. Patrick’s Day celebration
About the Author