Classes
Orlando - Sarasota - Lakewood Ranch - South Tampa
Tiny Tots Irish Dance (ages 3-4)
Our Tiny Tots Irish Dance class promotes a scaffolded approach of learning Irish dance, thus ensuring success is achieved and celebrated daily by each of our Tiny Tot Dancers. Our dancers have the opportunity to form friendships, learn to work as a team, practice listening skills, be creative and following instruction. Our Tiny Tots program is designed to instill skill sets included but not limited to counting, memorization, balance, and rhythm in a fun and creative environment. Our Tiny Tot Dancers progress to our Beginner Class upon receiving a certificate at our annual Tiny Tot Irish Dance ceremony at the Finnegan Academy of Irish Dance.
Beginner Irish Dance (ages 5+)
Our beginner Irish Dance program encompasses the aforementioned learning outcomes set out in our Tiny Tots program with a slightly accelerated emphasis on technique, posture, turn out, and step memorization. Finnegan Academy beginners learn their Reel, Light Jig, Slip Jig and Single Jig. Our beginner Irish Dance program encompasses many performance, competition and Grade Exam opportunities, for those who wish to partake.
Intermediate Irish Dance
Our Intermediate Irish Dance Class caters for dancers at Novice and Prizewinner levels. Intermediate Dancers train more vigorously, mastering more complex choreography with an accelerated emphasis on Irish Dance technique, fitness and stage presence. In this class, dancers train with a combination of choreography workshops, weekly drills, strength and conditioning classes and various performance workshops in order to become stage ready! Intermediate Irish Dancers are invited to partake in grade exams, competitions and events throughout the year.
Advanced Irish Dance
Our Advanced Irish Dance Class caters to students at Preliminary Championship and Open Championship levels. At this level, The Finnegan Academy tailor choreograph all steps to compliment each individual dancers style. This showcases each dancers strongest skill set, thus equipping each dancer to reach their personal best. Training at the advanced level is the most demanding of all classes, encompassing all workshops and methodologies aforementioned in the Intermediate Irish Dance Class at a much more accelerated, technique intensified and demanding pace. Preliminary and Open Championship Dancers are afforded various opportunities to compete, perform at events and complete grade exams throughout the year. Open Championship dancers have opportunity to compete in Majors yearly. (Oireachtas - Regional Championships, the North American Championships - Nationals, and the World Championships.)
Adult Irish Dance
Learn the basics of Irish dance in a fun and social environment! Whether you are a beginner or retired Irish Dancer wishing to return to Irish Dance, this class is for you. Our adult Irish Dance class encompasses a mixture of light shoe, heavy shoe and team dancing. Adult Irish Dancers are afforded the opportunity to dance for fun and fitness or train for competition and performances.
Grade Exams
"The purpose of the grade examinations scheme is to provide a structured framework within which dancers can work towards an achievable goal and to provide a strong foundation in Irish dance. Grade examinations are unlike competitions in that each candidate is individually examined and receives a detailed written assessment of their performance and knowledge of the grade being attempted. The scheme consists of an optional preliminary grade, followed by 12 grades with each one becoming increasingly more demanding on the candidates' skill, knowledge and ability. All 12 grade examinations must be completed to be eligible to apply for the TCRG examination as of January 1st, 2018. " (Official statement regarding Grade Examinations sourced from CLRG Website) Can you please hyperlink the words CLRG to this web page https://www.clrg.ie/index.php/en/feiseanna-exams/graded-exam.html