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 TCRG has been dancing for 25 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!
Courtney Jay TCRG is currently associated with the Bluegrass Ceili Academy to provide instruction & choreography
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
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 and is now a Registered Dietitian and an adjunct professor at Springfield College. Christian hopes to specialize in sports nutrition to help dancers understand proper nutrition.
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 and is now a Registered Dietitian and an adjunct professor at Springfield College. Christian hopes to specialize in sports nutrition to help dancers understand proper nutrition.
Codi McNeff 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 and joined the teaching team at SRL in 2018. She enjoys disc golfing with friends, creating cosplays, and playing board games.
In recent years, Codi has become an active and avid competitor in Irish dance has medaled at both the New England Regional Oireachtas and the most recent North American Irish Dance Championships.
Since college, Codi has also taught at Showcase Dance Productions in Wrentham, MA and joined the teaching team at SRL in 2018. She enjoys disc golfing with friends, creating cosplays, and playing board games.
In recent years, Codi has become an active and avid competitor in Irish dance has medaled at both the New England Regional Oireachtas and the most recent North American Irish Dance Championships.
Colleen Williams has been dancing with SRL since the very beginning and is entering her 11th year with us. During her time at SRL, Colleen has qualified for the World Championships twice, become an All-Ireland medalist, a many time North American medalist, and has completed Grade 11 in her pursuit of becoming a TCRG one day.
Colleen has always been an active member of SRL, both as a dancer and taking on more professional roles over the last two years. Colleen is our office manager and loves helping our new families learn about our studio and our longtime families with any needs and questions they have. Colleen has been assisting with classes for several years and now co-teaches our Advanced Beginner class.
Colleen is now a UCONN Husky, majoring in Business and Marketing, along with dancing competitively and continuing to grow professionally at the studio. Outside of Irish dancing, Colleen loves Taylor Swift, sports, and all things Disney.
Colleen has always been an active member of SRL, both as a dancer and taking on more professional roles over the last two years. Colleen is our office manager and loves helping our new families learn about our studio and our longtime families with any needs and questions they have. Colleen has been assisting with classes for several years and now co-teaches our Advanced Beginner class.
Colleen is now a UCONN Husky, majoring in Business and Marketing, along with dancing competitively and continuing to grow professionally at the studio. Outside of Irish dancing, Colleen loves Taylor Swift, sports, and all things Disney.
Sarah Hall is the newest addition to our teaching staff and will be working with our Tiny Jig and Pre-Beginner dancers this year! Sarah has been dancing at SRL since 2018 and has always been a leader, a creative, and so supportive of our younger dancers. Her love of music and the arts will be a great asset to our youngest dancers as they find their feet in our Jump'n Jig classes.
Sarah has competed as both an individual and on ceili teams and has always poured energy into assisting with classes and performing with SRL. After many years of assisting with our Beginners, Beginner IIs, and Advanced Beginners, we're excited for Sarah to start the next chapter of her Irish dance career.
Outside of the studio, Sarah is active in choir, jazz band, orchestra, and serving the South Windsor community.
Sarah has competed as both an individual and on ceili teams and has always poured energy into assisting with classes and performing with SRL. After many years of assisting with our Beginners, Beginner IIs, and Advanced Beginners, we're excited for Sarah to start the next chapter of her Irish dance career.
Outside of the studio, Sarah is active in choir, jazz band, orchestra, and serving the South Windsor community.
Emily Morehouse began dancing at the age of 2 at Kathy Blake Dance Studios in NH. It was there that she was introduced to Irish dance at the ago of 5. She began competing at 7, dancing for world renowned Rita O’Shea of the O’Shea Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance in Boston.
Emily’s dance career accomplishment on the stage include being an Open Champion level dancer, a Regional medal holder for both solo & ceili teams, a Nationals medalist, and a World Qualifier. Off the stage, Emily has a passion for sharing the culture of Irish dance with the community and has been fortunate enough to dance at state and local level functions, including sporting events, political celebrations, senior centers and schools.
Emily is exciting to continue dancing with Scoil Rince Luimni while attending the University of Connecticut, studying Marketing Communications and Advertising. Emily has completed all 12 Grade Exams to become a TCRG in the future.
Emily’s dance career accomplishment on the stage include being an Open Champion level dancer, a Regional medal holder for both solo & ceili teams, a Nationals medalist, and a World Qualifier. Off the stage, Emily has a passion for sharing the culture of Irish dance with the community and has been fortunate enough to dance at state and local level functions, including sporting events, political celebrations, senior centers and schools.
Emily is exciting to continue dancing with Scoil Rince Luimni while attending the University of Connecticut, studying Marketing Communications and Advertising. Emily has completed all 12 Grade Exams to become a TCRG in the future.
Chris David of Pure Results Personal Training brings our dancers the strength and conditioning support they need to take their dancing to the next level. Chris brings over a decade of experience working with athletes, knowledge, and passion to dedicated functional strength and conditioning classes for our dancers. Classes focus on stability, flexibility, strength, and mobility to prevent injury and optimize dance performance.