Name: Courtney Jay TCRG Position: Director and Instructor, all levels How long have you been working at SRL? Why SRL? It was my dream to create SRL! Since I was 12 years old I knew I was going to own an Irish dance studio. While I did not fully comprehend what that meant at the time, I had files upon files of documents on my computer with all my plans and visions. Looking back, it is pretty incredible that I had an idea at a young age that I committed to and brought to life in adulthood. I opened SRL in 2014 when I was 22 years old and since then it has taken on a life of its own, much bigger and faster than my 12 year old self could have ever envisioned! My work at SRL includes the day to day operations, managing our team, teaching classes, protecting and executing the vision, and implementing business strategies to ensure we continue to grow and thrive. Everyday is different! What are you interested in that most people aren’t? Two things – competitive gymnastics (Elite and NCAA) and The Sims. Gymnastics is the only sport I’m interested in, and I can tell you in great detail what skills are being done while watching routines, about NCAA line ups, and watch every meet I can for both divisions. The Sims is something I indulge in during my VERY rare and sporadic moments of free time and I love to build things and get lost in my imaginary world. How long have you been dancing? Why Irish dance? I started Irish dance when I was six, after starting gymnastics and ballet as a two year old. I was really drawn to the quick movements and the driving music as a kid who was getting bored at the ballet barre. I begged my mom to let me switch to Irish for an entire summer before she agreed to sign me up, on the condition that I continued ballet. I was the kid who liked to quit everything, so I’m sure she wasn’t very confident I’d stick to Irish dance but here we are 23 years later! As I got more into Irish dance, the draw that has kept me after all this time is you’re never done learning. There is always something new to learn or create – movements that trend and work their way into our repertoire each year, new rhythms that come to you in your sleep, and different pieces you’re creating to showcase a particular dancer’s strengths. No matter how good you get at it, there is always something more you can do, improve, or learn! What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of? Why? I actually prefer to watch the same movies over and over again – my go to’s are: Any of the Harry Potter movies, Mean Girls, and Catch Me If You Can. I hate the process of picking something new to watch and wondering if I’ll like it, so I’m perfectly content to watch something tried and true. How has dance affected your everyday life? There aren’t very many areas of my life Irish dance hasn’t touched – my best friends and closest social circle is from Irish dancing. My oldest friends and I grew up dancing together elementary through high school and now we’re experiencing adulthood together. So many of my best experiences in life have been because of my involvement in Irish dancing – traveling the globe for competitions, attending events that have made me a better and stronger person, and building this business living out my dream career. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? (Remember travel?!) Hawaii; if it wasn’t so far away and expensive, I would have already gone back. I really love the beach but there’s something about Hawaii that feels more magical and exotic than other beach destinations I frequent. Why do you think people dance? Ultimately I think it brings people joy – you get to move your body and release the endorphins that make you happy. Your mind gets to focus on something outside of the ‘everyday’ thoughts, worries, and stressors that we often get lost or caught up in. You are surrounded by people drawn to the same activity and have a common interest that bonds you. Going to dance class is like being surrounded in pure joy. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? For quite some time, I wanted to be an architect. Part of that may come from my love of the Sims, which I’ve played since it was released in 2000. I was always drawing floor plans on paper, building in the Sims, and then in high school took drafting and architecture classes. While it ultimately wasn’t for me, I’m glad I got to experience those classes before I needed to make college decisions. What advice do you have for aspiring dancers? It sounds cliché, but never give up. I was not naturally talented and Irish dance was not easy for me when I started. I struggled until I decided I wanted to get better at it, started practicing at home, and then eventually reaped the benefits. Even once I had success, there were still times where certain steps, dances, or competitions challenged me and required me to be patient and dig deeper. If I had given up early on or once I was frustrated for a period of time, I wouldn’t be where I am today! This post is part of a series. Read our Q&A with another instructor, Bailey, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.
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Name: Erin Kate Dancer at SRL: Avonlea How long has your family been with SRL? This is our 2nd year. Why Irish dance? We are very Irish and my daughter really wanted to do it. What do most people not know about you? I used to sing opera in high school and college. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? I always wanted to be an opera singer. I loved all the old musicals that I used to watch with my grandfather. I always wanted to travel and see the world. What’s your favorite thing about having your dancer in an online class? We can be at home and for the safety factor. Favorite fall family activity? Outdoor Halloween movie with a fire at our house. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? You have to set aside 30 mins every day to have your child practice and have them stick with it even if they get frustrated. If your dancer were a fictional character, who would they be and why? She would be Mal from Disney Descendants. She would be Mal because she can do magic, sing, dance, and is a good person. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? I feel it gives her more responsibility and lets her personality come out. What’s the most important quality to have in life? The most important quality to have in life I think is empathy. You need to always be able to put yourself in someone else's shoes in order to truly understand life. This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Irelyn's mom, Jill L., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Avonlea Age: Freshly turned 6! How long have you been dancing with SRL? 2nd year! How did you get started with Irish dance? I asked for it for my 5th birthday instead of gifts. If you could rename yourself, what name would you choose? Or would you keep your own? Why? I would keep my own name. I love it and my name comes from one of mama's favorite books when she was a kid. What’s your current obsession? My current obsession is Mal from Disney’s Descendants. What’s your favorite thing about your online class? My favorite thing about online class is I can dance at home safely and there’s more one on one with the teacher. Plus, my mom is there to help if I'm struggling. What’s your favorite thing about your personality? My favorite thing about my personality is my kindness. I always want to make sure everyone is happy. What’s the best advice you can give a brand-new dancer? You have to practice every day, especially if you want to do hard shoe. Who do you look up to? I look up to my Auntie Carol because she saved my life delivering me. She is so kind and smart. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? I would go to Paris, France to see the Eiffel Tower and do a jig in front of it. What’s your favorite thing about dancing? My favorite thing about dancing is that it makes me happy! This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Irelyn here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Bailey Position: Instructor, assists all class levels How long have you been working at SRL? Why SRL? I have been working at SRL for the past month, and absolutely love it! SRL is an amazing community where all the dancers and teachers are very motivating, inspiring, and caring. How long have you been dancing? Why Irish dance? I have been dancing for 18 years! My mom chose Irish dance for me and my sister when we were very young to help express our Irish heritage. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? (Remember travel?!) The coolest place I have ever visited was either Vancouver, BC or Edinburgh, Scotland. What are you interested in that most people aren’t? Math! I love math, as I am currently pursuing my graduate degree in Secondary Education with concentration in mathematics! Why do you think people dance? People dance to feel something and to express emotion. I dance because it made me feel strong, powerful, and motivated. What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of? Why? Harry Potter (any of them!)… I am a huge fan! How has dance affected your everyday life? I cannot go a day without thinking about Irish dance, listening to Irish music, or dancing! What do most people not know about you? I have 2 different colored eyes. Who’s your biggest inspiration? Aly Raisman (2012 & 2016 Olympian) because she is such a hard worker, but also, she is a team leader and always wants success for her teammates. What advice do you have for aspiring dancers? Always be the hardest worker in the room; hard work goes a long way. This post is part of a series. Read our Q&A with another instructor, Codi, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Jill L. Dancer at SRL: Irelyn How long has your family been with SRL? 7 Years Why Irish dance? I always loved watching it and wanted my daughter to just try it if I could find a class. My lucky day happened when I saw a sign for SRL in front of the South Windsor library that a new studio was opening in town. I was so excited! And here we are 7 years later! What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little? Why? I always wanted to be either a travel agent or a flight attendant. I shadowed a travel agent when I was in high school. I love to travel and planning is half the fun for me. I didn’t follow that path but am in the aerospace business so I guess I partly fulfilled that dream. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? It’s given her confidence in herself to be able to perform in front of large audiences. She is able to give herself goals to work towards and she knows that it will take time and hard work to achieve and is willing to put the effort in because she can see the progress happening. Favorite fall family activity? Watching football! What’s your favorite dance-related memory? St Patricks Day performance time, it is definitely crazy on some days, but it is so much fun! You get to travel to all different types of places to perform and it’s the one time of year that I get to see dancers perform that I haven’t seen in a while. And how much each dancer has learned over the year! If your dancer were a fictional character, who would they be and why? She would be Moana, Irelyn not only resembles her, she has a big heart, a love of nature, the ocean and singing. If you could meet any historical or famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would like to meet Walt Disney. I would love to see what his imagination was like and what his future vision was, and what he would think of how the Disney brand has grown to what it is today. What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Irish dance is great because it is completely up to you and your dancer as to how involved you want to be. Competition and performances are optional or you can choose to compete every weekend if you want. It’s a unique skill to have and fun to get to show it off! What’s the most important quality to have in life? To have a positive attitude. There is not a lot that we have control over in life but choosing to look at the positive side definitely helps! This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Natalie J.’s mom, Siobhan, here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Irelyn Age: 13 How long have you been dancing with SRL? 7 Years How did you get started with Irish dance? My mom has always loved Irish step dancing so she asked me if I wanted to try it. Then I fell in LOVE with it! If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Avocados! What do you daydream about? Going on vacation. What’s your favorite dance memory? The party we have before Oireachtas because I get to spend time with my friends and everyone is excited! What’s the best gift you ever received? Our trampoline. What’s your favorite thing about dancing? Learning new steps that are at a higher level or more difficult. If you were an animal, which one would you be and why? I would probably be a monkey because they like to have fun and so do I! Who do you look up to? I look up to my parents. What’s the best advice you can give a new dancer? If you are having a tough time with a step, don’t give up because you’re frustrated. Just focus and you’ll get it! This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Natalie J. here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. If you’re reading this, it’s fair to say that you’re probably browsing the SRL site. And if you’re browsing our site, you may be considering signing your child up for Irish dance. One of the most common questions any studio gets asked is: how old does my child need to be to start dance lessons? Our answer is always the same: If you can walk, you can dance! While dance has been proven to be beneficial to all age groups and we’ll never discourage an older student from beginning, there’s upsides to starting early. First of all, let’s acknowledge the elephant in every single room: it’s 2020, so your kids have been spending ALL their time with you. And as much as some extra family time has been the major benefit of this year, it does mean less opportunities for your child to develop a sense of independence and personhood, as well as for practicing social skills outside the home. There’s no “Mommy and Me” classes at SRL—we see even our Tiny Jig classes (for 2 to 3-year-olds) as a way for our students to not only learn to dance, but also: practice taking turns and sharing attention with others, being kind and respectful to peers and adults, learning about personal space boundaries, as well as a myriad of other not just social, but developmental skills they may not have a lot of chances to practice right now. Beyond the developmental benefits dance can foster, are the physical benefits. Our youngest classes concentrate not only on dance skills, but help improve motor skills, as well as help catch and correct any issues with right-left dominance. And, of course, it’s excellent exercise. (Especially during New England’s winter months!) Innumerable studies confirm that dance also improves cognitive ability and can led a better quality of life. Why? While there can’t be a downside to forging a mind-body connection early in development, dance classes also help kids practice patience, goal setting, and routine—all things that will benefit them in their future studies—as well as musicality. We’ve all seen the reports about how stimulating music is for the brain—why not develop that appreciation early? Additionally: if your child is already interested in dance, they may want to continue with it as they get older. Early dance classes aren’t a requirement, but they will lay a good foundation for your dancer’s success later on by instilling technique and creating a well-rounded dancer. In fact, it will be beneficial for any physical activity they choose—haven’t you heard the stories about NFL players taking dance classes to improve their coordination, flexibility, and footwork? With fewer children attending in-person preschool or even elementary, SRL’s dance classes provide a safe, socially distant space (with small class sizes to assure safety and close attention to all students and online options) for your kids to grow, learn, and play. It may not be easy right away—your kids may get discouraged or have the occasional tantrum or issues listening—but that’s what dance is about: learning, growing, and pushing through. Irish dance, like life, only has a couple moments of instant gratification…but isn’t that what makes real, earned successes all the sweeter? Here at SRL, students get moved up levels as soon as their skills have progressed, not by any specific age designation (that’s just to start!) Your child’s hard work is the only thing rewarded. And what better lesson to instill in your kids at a young age than that? Hear our Director, Courtney Jay, TCRG, discuss the benefits of our programs (for children as young as two!) here: This is our second Saturday bonus post! Check out our first here, all about battling back to school burnout. And check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram
Name: Codi Position: Instructor: Tiny Jig, Pre-Beginner, Beginner, Adult classes What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of? Why? Pretty much every Disney princess movie. They remind me of going to Disney world with my family when I was little and just always make me happy! What do most people not know about you? I cosplay once a year, dressing up as a twist on a Disney character and hanging out with other people who do the same. How long have you been working at SRL? Why SRL? 2.5 years, after college I stopped dancing because I couldn't find somewhere to continue but a few years later I found SRL's adult class. Once I was there, I got to talking to Courtney about my previous experience and that I had taught before. I started with subbing in some classes for her that year then started teaching full time that spring. It's a joy to be able to help the students develop all of their skills and watch them grow. How long have you been dancing? Why Irish dance? I’ve been Irish dancing for 19 years now. I chose it because at the time it was something new and exciting but continued because it was always a challenge to improve and learn new skills. How has dance affected your everyday life? It's a fun thing to connect with others about, and a little crazy sometimes to see how many people actually have some experience with something you might think is not as widespread! What’s your secret talent? Normally this would be the question I answer "Irish Step" to, but I don't think I can do that here, haha. My secret talent is that I can drive miniature horses. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited? (Remember travel?!) The coolest place I've ever visited is France. I was able to go up the Eiffel tower, walk down the Champs-Élysées, and visit Normandy. Why do you think people dance? I think people Irish dance to give them a fun challenge. The feeling of satisfaction after mastering something becomes a little addictive and drives you to accomplish more and more. Dance in general is also a great way to connect with others and form friendships. What advice do you have for aspiring dancers? There is always something to work on, whether or not what you’re practicing seems challenging. Add an element to keep improving, for example if you think your turnout is good, work on your upper body posture, holding yourself straight and keeping your arms still, while practicing your turnout skills. What’s the most important quality to have in life? Perseverance, the ability to continue to work towards what you want even if you're pushed backwards or have to find a new path. This is part of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Siobhan J. Dancer at SRL: Natalie J. How long has your family been with SRL? I think it’s 4 years, starting 5th year. Natalie’s sister danced for one year as well. Why Irish dance? A few reasons; we had started with “regular” dancing, but it lacked something. I’m Irish, I’m involved in the Irish community, and I thought this might be another way to engage my daughters in an activity that would be great for them and also tied to their ancestry. How did you pick your dancer’s name? Before my husband and I were even married, we knew if we had a girl she would be “Natalie” . He loved Natalie Portman, I had a favorite student named Natalie. How do you think dance has positively affected your dancer? Natalie is competitive and she wants to do well but she is a little girl who can be easily more interested in other things. Dancing with SRL and Miss Courtney has given her ways to practice at setting goals and working toward them. This was never more true than her second year when she was struggling with reading in first grade and simultaneously did poorly at a feis. Right after that, she set two goals - which she even wrote down - to get better at reading and to get better at Irish dance. By the end of that year, she had improved dramatically at both. I believe that Natalie’s competitive nature to do well or be the best she can be, combined with the skills that she has been taught by Courtney in dance, and the positive reinforcements she’s gotten from her achievements are inextricably linked, but in short, dance has been the vehicle to hone those skills. If your dancer was an animal, which one would they be and why? She might say a kitten; cuddly, cute, fun to play with. But seeing she can be a little powerhouse, I suspect that kitten will grow up to be a lioness. Would you relive your high school years if you could? Ironically NO. Ironic, because I teach high school, but my goal is to be the teacher I felt I never had. What’s your favorite dance-related memory? In the beginning, it was seeing Natalie (and her sister) go to the performances during the St. Patrick’s Day season, particularly the senior homes. The first time I was overwhelmed with joy was the performance at CCSU when she and Roisin came out from the side “stage” and joined the large group for the big performance. Favorite fall family activity? Normally we love going to fairs like the Big E or the Berlin Fair. Apple picking is another favorite. If you had to work, but didn’t need the money, what would you do? Something creative; making crafts, painting, taking art classes as a professional student. :) What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance? Go for it!!! Some of the reasons I love it are because it is a YEAR ROUND outlet for my daughter (and her dance mates). She does not have to wait a whole year for one recital. She has competitions in the fall, performances throughout the winter and early spring, more competitions in the spring and summer, camp and other regular opportunities to dance, hone skills, perform, and become close with her friends. She has become good friends with several of the dancers, has role models in the older dancers; and the families get to know one another and become friends too. There is a great deal of support among the parents for each other and for the dancers. Furthermore, the dancers support one another! They stay at competitions and cheer for each other, they help each other with tricky moves, and they commit to their teams. Irish dance is as much community (however much one wants to commit) as it is individual. Of course, there’s the movement, the exercise and athleticism, the focus that some children need to burn off the extra energy while learning self discipline in a fun way. On a uncommon comparison, I often think it has similar qualities to karate with the discipline, athleticism, and focus. But, Irish dance has joy and musicality that takes it to another level; this is why I think it’s also very good for boys even though it may not be the first thing one thinks. This post is a part of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. Name: Natalie J. Age: 9 How long have you been dancing with SRL? Since Kindergarten, going on my fifth year. If you could only bring one thing to a desert island, what would it be and why? My house, because it has a lot of stuff in it. How did you get started with Irish dance? I started at the church basement; Roisin Walsh was already dancing there. If you were a fictional character, who would you be and why? Hermione Granger (from Harry Potter.) What’s your favorite dance memory? Harry Potter Summer Camp! What’s your favorite snack? Fruit roll ups. What’s your favorite thing about dancing? Being with friends. What’s your favorite show to binge watch? iamSanna on YouTube (she has Roblox videos.) Who do you look up to? Miss Courtney Jay. What’s the best advice you can give a new dancer? Even though it is hard, you can do it! This post is part of a series. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram. We are so excited to re-open our doors this Monday June 29, 2020! It has been too long since we've heard giggles in our halls, seeing practices of the latest Tik-Tok craze, and the sound of trebles on our wooden floor. While the reopened studio will look and feel different than pre-pandemic times, the heart and soul of our community will bring the warmth and comfort we're all seeking. Our last in-person classes were Friday March 13 and I will never forget how that week unfolded in slow motion as we all watched our world change in disbelief. Right in the midst of St Patrick's Day excitement, events that our dancers look forward to and work hard for as long as 6-months prior, everything came to a sudden halt. Schools were announcing two week closures, businesses were shutting down, and families sheltered in their homes to stay safe and healthy. Never again will we take for granted trips to the grocery store, play dates with friends, or hugging others for greetings or goodbyes. During our time at home, students continued their dancing online in our virtual studio (thanks Zoom!) and we heard so many times from parents how dancing was the bright spot in their child's day, the meeting they most looked forward to, and how on days they had dance class their mood was better. Others struggled with only being able to connect with their instructors and classmates through the computer screen or losing the huge dance floor and mirrors they were used to. Our re-opened studio is outfitted with changes for everyone's health and safety - small class sizes, physical distancing during classes and within the building, mask wearing when less than 12ft apart, restrooms outfitted with new faucets and dispensers to prevent surface contact, new entry/exit and drop off procedures, and of course - lots of hand sanitizer. While on the surface it looks cold, clinical, and that some of the joys have been taken away, we're confident that our people make the studio: our dancers, their families, and our staff. We know that bringing together (6 or more feet apart, of course) our community safely, the mental and physical health of our dancers will improve long after they've left the studio from the in-person interaction, returning to a familiar place, and experiencing class outside of their computer screen. Stay tuned for program options for new students. We know there are families who are looking for safe activities for their children to resume movement and social interaction over the summer and we want to be your destination for dance! What’s the best way to get 2-4 year olds started Irish dancing? It’s Jump’n Jig, and Scoil Rince Luimni is the only school in Connecticut to offer this program for pre-schoolers! The program was designed by Irish dance teacher, adjudicator, and early-childhood expert Fiona Holmes ADCRG and is tailor-made for our youngest dancers to learn and understand how to be in a dance class, develop their motor skills and musicality, and of course enjoy every moment of their class. Each portion of class is designed with the preschooler in mind, from the inviting welcome, a reminder of our expectations and manners within the studio, social engagement between the dancers, working on our listening and dancing skills, and rewards and positive reinforcement. There are two movement stations within the class - one in a circle so all students can engage closely with each other and the instructor and a long line acting as a ‘track’ for dancers to practice various skills. We open and close class in the circle and incorporate props kids love - teddy bears, wands, musical instruments, and more! Along the track, we work on our single leg balancing, single leg balancing with accessory movements, leg and foot strength, moving on or around markers and targets, foot placement for Irish dancing, and the concept of right/left and front/back. As dancers become more proficient with their motor skills, they progress to dance skills that will help them transition to our Beginner program when they are old enough. Dancers also practice actively listening to the music and finding the beat by clapping and utilizing props so they can dance WITH the music instead of TO the music (the hardest thing to teach a dancer!). Our Pre-Beginner program is all about setting each preschool dancer up for success - and by success we mean happy, confident, and comfortable with their abilities and in their class. Dancers who love to dance and have strong foundations will grow to work through the inevitable bumps in the road or challenges they may face as they progress. Ready to join in? We have limited space in our Saturday morning class and we have a brand new class opening Friday mornings in October. Looking for some fun events to celebrate St Patrick's Day? Here are our final public events where you can catch the dancing for this year's high holy day!
Scoil Rince Luimni shares Irish dance with everyone in our community this March and our youngest fans can catch us perform at:
It's parade weekend and you can celebrate the season with us there - or at one of our other public events this Saturday or Sunday!
We'll be marching with the town of South Windsor at the Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade - look for the red, white, and black Irish dance squad! We are also performing Saturday night at the Indian Valley Family YMCA Childcare Center's Multicultural Fair. The event showcases different cultural arts from around the globe and a great way to catch unique entertainment. On Sunday we have our St Patrick's Day Irish Dance Lesson & Open House! at our South Windsor studio. Our Beginner class still has some openings and you can visit the event page for information on how to save your spot. And finally, Sunday afternoon we'll be performing and giving a mini lesson at the Farmington Libraries, CT at the Main Branch from 2:00-2:45pm. Hope to see you over the weekend! Join us in celebrating St Patrick's Day at Scoil Rince Luimni! On Sunday March 10th, we are holding a free class and open house at our South Windsor studio!
We’re opening our studio for you to come experience our classes, tour our studio, and see if Irish dancing could become part of your child’s life in the future. You don’t ever need to be Irish to enjoy Irish dancing - it’s an artistic sport that has so many amazing benefits for children & adults! Irish dance is fast paced, highly social, and has infectious music which make it exciting and dynamic for kids to learn. We celebrate our milestones and successes along the way while always presenting a new challenge to keep students motivated, engaged, and proud of their work. Our young dancers experience:
Scoil Rince Luimni is thrilled to welcome Christian Cairone TCRG to our studio family! Christian 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! We are excited to have additional feedback, expertise, and support for all of our dancers as well as bring our growing contingent of male dancers a role model they can aspire to emulate in their dancing! To all of my amazing dancers on the (almost) eve of the Oireachtas, I am so proud of you. Thank you for your hard work in preparing for this big event and I want to let you know how honored I am to be part of your team. After months of classes, practices, private lessons, competitions, and an emotional breakdown here and there, I want you to know that no matter what happens you’ve already won. There are not many kids these days that are willing to make the sacrifices you have made to excel at their sport. There are not many kids dedicated enough to something to keep putting in the work day after day, week after week, when the reward isn’t guaranteed and is often far in the future. As long as you stay calm, project confidence, dance like you do in class, and show great sportsmanship, there is nothing more I can expect or ask of you. Please let that comfort you and lighten the load you feel on your shoulders. I’m sure you have put greater pressure and expectation on yourself and I don’t wish to add to that. Remember to be kind to yourself and be your own number one fan. I hope that you can celebrate your result no matter what your ranking is - after all, this is one day among many in your dance journey. This is one little mile-marker along the marathon that is your continual self improvement and you HAVE improved just by peaking for this event. Even if you feel a sting of disappointment, remember that it’s okay to feel that pain temporarily but it’s also important to not let it keep you down or become a limiting belief. Instead, dust yourself off and be ready to cheer on your friends. Just because you’re not happy with your own results doesn’t impact your ability to support others. Whether you win the whole thing or fall all the way to the bottom of the results, we turn the page together at the conclusion of the Oireachtas. Either way we move on to an improvement season, learning new choreography, and setting new goals and my opinion of your potential of a dancer does not change based on the outcome of this weekend. Your power is in your ability to take your result and use it for motivation. Finally, say thank you to your parents. While they may not receive a medal for their efforts, they should not go unnoticed or under appreciated. Together, we all stand behind you on your team and they make sure you get to class, get to competitions, have the supplies and equipment you need, and experience everyday’s ups and downs along with you. Now go out there and be fiercely you! You can do this, I believe in you! Courtney Scoil Rince Luimni Irish Dance Academy, based in South Windsor & Farmington Connecticut, will have 31 dancers representing our school at the 2018 New England Regional Oireachtas held from November 16-18, 2018 in Hartford, Connecticut. Our dancers will be competing against the best of New England across three disciplines for regional ranking, National qualification for the North American Irish Dance Championships in July 2019, and the World Irish Dance Championships in April 2019. Dancers in the Traditional Set Dance competitions will be competing in the lower-tier competition designed to give up and coming dancers an opportunity to compete on the big stage against all the New England dancers in their age group. SRL is well represented in the traditional set dance competition with dancers hailing from:
The premier event in the solo championship which is for the highest level dancers that have climbed the ranks of competitive Irish dance over many years. These dancers are looking beyond improving their ranking and looking to place in the top 50% to be awarded their ranking on stage or qualify to a higher championship such as the North American Irish Dance Championship or World Championship. SRL will be represented in the solo championships by dancers from:
In the final team discipline, dancers perform standardized group dances called “ceilis.” Team competitions require precision in every movement, pattern, and step as each team is judged solely on execution. We have four 4-member teams that will compete in the 4-Hand Team competition:
We also have an 8-member team eyeing a result that would move them forward to the World Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina in April 2019. The girls competing on this team are: Gabby Gorman & Ellie Diver (Farmington), Emma Magnani & Emma Feeley (Springfield), Paige Miele (Westfield), Emily Messier (Glastonbury), Mackenzie Richards (East Longmeadow), and Cayla Batz (Coventry). Please keep all of our dancers in your thoughts and sending them positive vibes as they head into competition this weekend. These dancers have been working since the spring to fine tune their dances for their moment on stage and we wish them the very best of luck! We’re just giddy with excitement over our new dance year starting! We know you might be concentrating on getting your kids back to school and aren’t ready to complicate things by adding new activities, but you still have time to join us this year! Our classes for new students begin September 8 - 13 and you can schedule a complimentary trial class before you commit to more classes. We know just how much Irish dance can add to your child’s life, but we’ve narrowed it down to our top 10 to share with you! For more details, like our Facebook page and follow along as we go in depth about each of our top ten and countdown to our September 10th launch!
"[I appreciate] Courtney's structured, patient, and kind approach. She has her finger on the pulse of her students, knowing what they need and when, and I believe she had a lot to do with [my daughter's] growth this year." We’ve just come off of a grand total of 145 hours of camps for both new students and our returning dancers. It’s a humbling juxtaposition of dancers who are falling in love with Irish dance for the first time and those who love the sport and are chasing every aspect of it with everything they have. Dancers ages 2 through almost 30 worked to develop their repertoire, technique, and joy for dance over the last four weeks. Each with different goals - some just finding their feet and others chasing big dreams - they came to the studio each day with open minds, purpose, and their unique personality that reminded me why we take an individual approach for each dancer. We have standards and expectations that set a framework of mutual respect between teacher & student, commitment to the process from both sides, and the support of classmates and teammates while pursuing individual goals at the right pace for each dancer. I’ve always held the belief that two dancers that appear very much the same on paper will end up with two very different journeys on two very different timelines. Some journeys require more patience, more sacrifice, more sensitivity, or more reassurance from either parent, student, or teacher. It’s like we’re all walking through the same park but taking different paths and some will arrive on the other side later than others - and that’s okay. Our goals at Scoil Rince Luimni are to first and foremost develop a love for Irish dancing - all of it, some of it, or simply an appreciation for movement, fitness, or expression. Next we aim to expose dancers to different routes of exploring dance outside the studio walls - performing, competing, exams - whether they try one, all, or a combination of the three. Some dancers will respond well to all avenues while others will have one or two that really speak to them. Finally, we support the whole dancer as they walk their chosen path(s). We make sure they are supported in just about every way - mind, body, and soul by bringing in outside experts where appropriate, continuing to innovate and adapt to new research and technology, and checking in with the dancer often on their approach, goals, and expectations. Every dancer’s journey is met with challenges along the way - scheduling conflicts, choosing their primary activity, injuries, slumps in motivation and results, etc. While the road isn’t always smoothly paved, we like to help guide parents and dancers through the detours with our expertise and dancer-centric approach. In many families, Monday morning (or even Sunday night) through Friday afternoon feeling running the gauntlet - school, work, activities, homework, projects, meetings, CCD, scouts, the list just never seems to end. You might not even have a free night, but on the rare occasion you do it might be your only chance to have a family dinner or have time to slow down. We totally get it, and in our effort to make Irish dance classes as accessible as possible we hold classes on Saturdays in addition to our weekday schedule! Designed for first and second year students, our pre-beginner and beginner classes on Saturday mornings are perfect for busy families. Whether sports are on the calendar in your house or not, there’s something about Saturday morning that just has more ease to it. Our Saturday classes are open and ready for new student enrollment! Irish dance classes are very active - even for those who aren’t into sports (psst, I never was!) - while also being extremely social and engaging. We have dancers from all over Connecticut so there are so many new friends waiting for your young dancer to meet. We have fun at every class while learning strong basics and encouraging a love of dance. Children ages 3-5 are able to join our pre-beginner program from 9:30-10:00am each Saturday while children ages 6+ can join our beginner program from 10:00-11:00am. We have weekday offerings for both programs but they are filling fast! You can register on our website, https://www.irishdancect.com/register.html Have you been wanting to try a class but waiting for the right time? Are you counting down the days until the kids go back to school and looking for something to do? Has your calendar looked more like advanced calculus all year and summer has finally opened up some time? No matter the reason or occasion, we hope you can join us for a free "Try It Out" class on Monday July 23 Monday July 30 If your little dancer is age 3-5 you can join us on either day at 5:30 for a 30min class. If your dancer is 6 or older, you can join us either day from 6:00-7:00pm. This "Try It Out" trial class opportunity is in conjunction with our 2018 summer camps for new students, so there will be plenty of first timers in class for your dancer to meet. Irish dancing is ⚡ High energy 👨👩👧👦 Enjoyable for boys and girls 🎵 Upbeat with infectious music 👋 Social and encourages students to meet new friends And most importantly, FUN! Come see what all the buzz is all about! You can RSVP by sending in the form below. Please join us in wishing the very best of luck to our six dancers attending the North American Irish Dance Championships this week in Orlando, Florida. They have qualified through the regional championships and/or achieving Open Championship status, the highest level within the competitive ranks.
They will represent Scoil Rince Luimni, Connecticut/Massachusetts, and the New England Region in the championships against the United States, Canada, Mexico as well as dancers traveling from Australia, Ireland, the UK, and beyond. We are proud of their hard work through their preparation and are looking forward to their training shining on stage. Colleen Williams, 11, of Amston, CT and Bella Jensen, 11, of Somers, CT will compete in the Girls Under 12 division on Wednesday July 4th. They are best of friends and are practically inseparable, making training enjoyable for them while they make each other laugh almost constantly. It will be Colleen's second time attending the NAIDC and Bella's debut. Emma Magnani, 15, of Springfield, MA and Kayla Purcell, 15, of Hebron, CT will compete in the Girls Under 15 division on Monday July 2nd. Both are first time qualifiers and looking forward to experiencing this heightened level of competition together. Tara Lynch, 17, of Cheshire, CT will compete on Sunday July 1 in the Girls Under 18 division. She is a second time qualifier and learned a lot at her previous NAIDC in New Orleans last year. She is bringing her wisdom and experience with her this year and loves to perform on the big stage. Lindsey Hoffman, 18, of Columbia, CT will compete on Saturday June 30 in the Girls Under 19 division in her fourth appearance at the championships. After recovering from injury last year, she is giving it everything she has and brings more maturity and perspective than ever before. Each division has approximately 130 - 180 competitors and the top 50% of each group will be recalled to dance a third round before being awarded at the end of each day. No matter the outcome, we are proud of each dancer for qualifying for this major championship and their growth as dancers, performers, and competitors in their preparation for this week. You can follow the highlights on our Facebook page or for a more detailed look at each day, you can follow us on Instagram through our posts, stories, and IGTV. Exciting news out of our class of 2018! Among our Scoil Rince Luimni dancers, two have been named their class valedictorian for 2018. We congratulate Lillian Bluestein, St James School Class of 2018, and Tara Lynch, Cheshire Academy Class of 2018, on their outstanding achievement in their respective schools. Both Lilly and Tara exemplify how Irish dancing and academic achievement go hand in hand.
As dancers progress, their time in the studio increases and coupled with getting older, dancers quickly have to learn how to manage their time in order to stay on track in school and with their dancing aspirations. We tend to see dancers figure out how to manage their time rather than curtail their dance career, a trend that is seen not only within our school but the greater Irish dancing community as well. Over the last few years we've seen the oldest competitive age bracket expand and split to manage the higher number of dancers pursuing their competitive goals after college graduation, joining the workforce, and beyond. As dancers learn how to manage their time, they also learn to prioritize what is really important to them. It's no surprise that both Lilly and Tara find time to fit in community and family time as well as other commitments - Lilly is involved in her church and Tara is a soccer player. Other dancers within our school are involved in school clubs and sports which gives each dancer 3-5 priorities that come before screen time, trivial activities, or getting into trouble ;) Irish dancing is a disciplined and fairly regimented sport so this continues to feed the goal-focused, work-first, and continuously striving mindset that brings achievement in both academics and dancing. We teach goal setting and maintaining a positive mindset in ways that go beyond dancing and can be practiced in real life. We are sure Lilly and Tara will continue to do great things both in and out of the studio! Lilly will continue her studies at Northwest Catholic High School in the fall and Tara has been accepted to Ithaca College for communications. |
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