Our Academy
A modern approach to a traditional art.
Scoil Rince Luimni ("Limerick School of Dance" in Irish) was established in 2014 by Courtney Jay TCRG. After spending four years studying at the University of Limerick (Ireland), Courtney decided to name the academy after her Irish home.
SRL offers quality instruction with a modern approach to training and pacing dancers in our professional and supportive environment. Our community of families and passionate staff help newcomers feel included and welcomed both in and out of the studio.
SRL creates dancers who are strong in technique, passionate about their dancing, and driven to achieve their goals through structured lessons, encouragement from staff, and opportunities to grow. We guide & nurture your dancer down the path that is right for them - whether it is as a recreational dancer, participating in casual performances, or pursuing the competitive track.
Scoil Rince Luimni ("Limerick School of Dance" in Irish) was established in 2014 by Courtney Jay TCRG. After spending four years studying at the University of Limerick (Ireland), Courtney decided to name the academy after her Irish home.
SRL offers quality instruction with a modern approach to training and pacing dancers in our professional and supportive environment. Our community of families and passionate staff help newcomers feel included and welcomed both in and out of the studio.
SRL creates dancers who are strong in technique, passionate about their dancing, and driven to achieve their goals through structured lessons, encouragement from staff, and opportunities to grow. We guide & nurture your dancer down the path that is right for them - whether it is as a recreational dancer, participating in casual performances, or pursuing the competitive track.
Our Director
Courtney Jay has been dancing for 23 years. She trained for 12 years under Sheila Stevens and she found her love for Irish dancing and passion for teaching. Courtney decided to attend college at the University of Limerick where she earned her BA Irish Music and Dance with first class honors. While in Ireland she studied under the Fleming-Ball School of Irish Dance where she became Munster Champion in both solos and teams, an All-Ireland, Great Britain, All-Scotland and World Championship medalist, and top 10 finisher at the North American and All-Ireland championships. Courtney has passed the rigorous certification process that allows students to compete worldwide in Irish dancing through An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha and now gives workshops in championship choreography and training around North America.
Courtney has been teaching and coaching dancers since she was 13 years old. Helping each child become the best dancer they can be has been a rewarding experience for her. For Courtney, Irish dancing has always gone beyond steps and technique; Irish dancing helped her grow as a person and in character. She hopes her students learn to love dancing, make life-long friends, and strengthen their character during their time at SRL.
Join us and become a part of our vibrant academy to learn, perform, or compete in Irish dancing!
Courtney has been teaching and coaching dancers since she was 13 years old. Helping each child become the best dancer they can be has been a rewarding experience for her. For Courtney, Irish dancing has always gone beyond steps and technique; Irish dancing helped her grow as a person and in character. She hopes her students learn to love dancing, make life-long friends, and strengthen their character during their time at SRL.
Join us and become a part of our vibrant academy to learn, perform, or compete in Irish dancing!
About Irish Dance
Irish dance had humble beginnings as a folk dance and as a means of expression of national identity for Ireland. Throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries, Irish dancing was taught at the crossroads in towns and villages of Ireland by traveling dance masters. The dance masters would travel from town to town teaching dancing steps and technique along with deportment and social graces. By the late 18th century Irish dancing became more formalized with traveling dance masters establishing schools and classes in a fixed location.
In 1893, the Gaelic League was established in Dublin. The Gaelic League sought to promote Irish nationalism through their native Irish arts (dance, music, song, language, and sport). Ireland wanted to create it’s own national identity that was distinct from British identity. The Gaelic League enhanced the demand for Irish dancing classes, competitions, and performance and its work is still evident today. The Gaelic League became the governing body over Irish dance and still exists today as An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the world’s largest and most global organization of Irish dancers and teachers.
Today Irish dancing in its competitive form has evolved into a highly athletic and very technical artistic sport. It is enjoyed by people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities so I invite you to give it a try at SRL!
In 1893, the Gaelic League was established in Dublin. The Gaelic League sought to promote Irish nationalism through their native Irish arts (dance, music, song, language, and sport). Ireland wanted to create it’s own national identity that was distinct from British identity. The Gaelic League enhanced the demand for Irish dancing classes, competitions, and performance and its work is still evident today. The Gaelic League became the governing body over Irish dance and still exists today as An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the world’s largest and most global organization of Irish dancers and teachers.
Today Irish dancing in its competitive form has evolved into a highly athletic and very technical artistic sport. It is enjoyed by people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities so I invite you to give it a try at SRL!
OUR TEAM
Devon Bohm is our new Office Manager/Director of First Impressions!
Devon’s so excited to become a part of the SRL team and come into the office a few nights a week to assist families with their journey into the world of Irish dance. While Devon was never an Irish dancer herself, she was a competitive lyrical jazz dancer for 10 years and couldn’t be happier to be around dance again. She hopes she can positively contribute to each family and dancer’s experience from her administrative position—she’s always happy to answer any questions you may have!
Outside the studio, Devon received her BA from Smith College and her MFA from Fairfield University in Creative Writing. These days, she can usually be found with her nose in a book or on a walk with her fiancé and their dog, Harry Pawter.
Devon’s so excited to become a part of the SRL team and come into the office a few nights a week to assist families with their journey into the world of Irish dance. While Devon was never an Irish dancer herself, she was a competitive lyrical jazz dancer for 10 years and couldn’t be happier to be around dance again. She hopes she can positively contribute to each family and dancer’s experience from her administrative position—she’s always happy to answer any questions you may have!
Outside the studio, Devon received her BA from Smith College and her MFA from Fairfield University in Creative Writing. These days, she can usually be found with her nose in a book or on a walk with her fiancé and their dog, Harry Pawter.
Christian Cairone TCRG has been Irish dancing since he was 3 years old. He trained under Irene and Maureen Horgan who helped instill the love and passion for dancing he has today. While there, he assisted teaching with all levels of classes which helped to increase his love of dancing and teaching.
Christian has competed around the globe with career highlights including: becoming Senior Men's Oireachtas champion, placing 4th at the All Ireland's, and medalling at both the North American Championships and the World Championships. At the 2018 World Championships, he had the opportunity to perform with the Fusion Fighters during their performance and would love to dance in a professional show in the future. Since passing his TCRG exam in January 2018, he is focused sharing his love and passion with his dancers and helping them to reach their goals.
Aside from dancing, Christian majored in Culinary Arts and Culinary Nutrition at Johnson & Wales University. He is currently working on becoming a Registered Dietitian to eventually specialize in Sports Nutrition to help dancers understand proper nutrition and to also give them easy recipes to use as well!
Christian has competed around the globe with career highlights including: becoming Senior Men's Oireachtas champion, placing 4th at the All Ireland's, and medalling at both the North American Championships and the World Championships. At the 2018 World Championships, he had the opportunity to perform with the Fusion Fighters during their performance and would love to dance in a professional show in the future. Since passing his TCRG exam in January 2018, he is focused sharing his love and passion with his dancers and helping them to reach their goals.
Aside from dancing, Christian majored in Culinary Arts and Culinary Nutrition at Johnson & Wales University. He is currently working on becoming a Registered Dietitian to eventually specialize in Sports Nutrition to help dancers understand proper nutrition and to also give them easy recipes to use as well!
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Bailey began Irish dancing at the age of five years old with the Boland School of Irish Dance, located in her hometown Rochester, NY. She started competing when she was 8 years old, qualifying for preliminary championship by age 10, and competing at her first Mid Atlantic Oireachtas in 2007. Some of her accomplishments include: 9th place at the 2017 World Championships, 5th place at the 2016 North American Nationals, 10-time World Championship qualifier, 7-time World recaller, and 7-time podium placer at the Mid Atlantic Oireachtas. After 18 years of competitive Irish dancing, Bailey decided to hang up her ghillies following the 2019 Mid Atlantic Oireachtas to pursue her journey to become a TCRG and pass her love, work ethic, and passion for Irish dancing to the next generation!
Bailey is a graduate of Nazareth College, where she majored in mathematics with minors in computer information systems and data analytics. She decided to move to Connecticut this year to pursue her Master’s degree and teaching certification at the University of Bridgeport in Secondary Education, specifically focusing on mathematics. Bailey is extremely excited for the opportunity to work with the teachers and students at Scoil Rince Luimni! |
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Codi McNeff is very excited to continue her work with our youngest students! She started dancing at age ten and knew immediately it was the kind of dance for her. Her passion only increased as she grew up dancing under Terry Houlihan in Massachusetts. She went to the University of Connecticut and joined the UConn Irish club there, participating in performances, ceilis, and the annual UConn Lipsync competition with the group. Since college, Codi has also taught at Showcase Dance Productions in Wrentham, MA. She enjoys disc golfing with friends, creating cosplays, and playing board games.