Tradition. Passion. Dedication.
 
Welcome to Scoil Rince Luimni, also known as SRL Irish Dance Academy! We’re a small, independently-owned Irish dance studio located in South Windsor, Connecticut and we’re so happy you’re here. A little about us:
 
SRL was founded in 2014 by Courtney Jay, TCRG after she finished her BA in Irish Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. (In fact, that’s why we’re SRL—in Irish Gaelic Scoil (scull) is school, Rince (ring-ka) is dance, and Luimni (lim-nee) is Limerick!) Miss Courtney, as the dancers call her, has been an Irish dancer her whole life and has been teaching and mentoring younger dancers since she was 13. During her time in Limerick, Courtney trained at the Fleming-Ball School of Irish Dance, where she danced her way to 2 solo world medals, regional titles in solo and team championships, and top 10 at every international major competition. Before leaving Ireland, Courtney was certified by the CLRG (the largest and oldest governing body of Irish dance in the world) and then came home to Connecticut to create SRL!

​8 years later and SRL is a tight-knit community that instructs in the storied tradition of Irish dance for those as young as 2-years-old (check out Tiny Jig to learn more!) into adulthood (check out SRL After Dark to learn more!) We take this highly athletic and artistic sport and apply our modern, paced approach to training that helps our dancers find their own, personal goals—whether that be recreation, casual performances, or the competitive track. In this supportive environment, we focus on the whole dancer: technique and whole-body conditioning to be sure, but also the promotion of healthy life skills (such as setting and achieving goals, teamwork, focus, and dedication.) In line with that, SRL offers mentoring opportunities at every turn—from class helpers to buddies at dancers’ first competitions and performances—and cultivates a spirit of support and community that’s really what Irish dance is all about!
 
Our small, but passionate staff is ready to help guide and encourage your dancer—whether they be just starting out or qualifying for Worlds—through structured lessons that optimize their opportunities to grow both as dancers and as people. While Irish dance has a long tradition (read more about its origins here!) and strong ties to Ireland’s national identity, you don’t need to be Irish to do Irish dance. As the Irish diaspora has spread across the world, Irish dance has become more than a traditional art form (though it retains those roots and music)—it’s a global community. All you need to join in is passion, dedication, and someone to teach you—and we’d love to help out!

SRL is registered with the CLRG, the Irish Dance Teachers of North America, and the New England Irish Dance Teachers. Classes run on a school year schedule from September to June--sign up now for a trial class to lock in your preferred class time, or take a look at our 4-week taster sessions to really get a feel for it before signing up for the year! Please feel free to reach out to our Office Manager at [email protected] with any questions. They’re happy to help!
 
This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, all dancer testimonials, here. Also: 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 can walk, you can dance!
 
Think your preschooler is too young to start dance? Think again! SRL Irish Dance Academy is proud to offer the Jump’n Jig program for our littlest dancers, aged 2 to 5!
 
Split into two age groups (2-3 Tiny Jig and 4-5 Pre-Beginner,) this program was designed by early-childhood expert and ADCRG, Fiona Holmes. Classes start with helping our newest dancers learn how to act and engage within a dance class and move on to developing motor skills and musicality (all while making sure there’s plenty of fun in the meantime!) And with each class starting with a friendly welcome where they can bring along their favorite stuffed friend from home, SRL’s adoption of the Jump’n Jig program has helped get even the most reticent new dancer into the studio!

​There’s plenty of benefits to starting your child in Irish dance (and starting them early!) and both our Tiny Jig and Pre-Beginner classes cover all the bases: safe social interactions with peers, instructors, and student mentors, working on not just foundational dance skills, but listening skills, and a way to grow a sense of personhood and independence. Beyond that are the physical benefits! We utilize two movement stations—circle time for direct interaction and a “track” across the room to practice skills solo—to work on single leg balancing (adding accessory movements gradually,) leg and foot strength, foot placement for Irish dance, moving on or around markers and targets, and concepts like right/left and front/back. These skills form a strong base for all forms of movement (think about football players taking ballet!) and many Tiny Jiggers move on through the levels and become life-long Irish dancers!
 
Irish dance has a long and rich tradition and history behind it, but you don’t need to have Irish heritage to be an Irish dancer. While the steps and the music are part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, Irish dance has become a global community—and SRL is a tight-knit and supportive community within that larger sphere. In this encouraging environment, dancers are exposed to a culture beyond their own while they develop a strong sense of musicality and rhythm—learning to actively listen to the music, find 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!)

A successful SRL dancer isn’t just strong on technique—we see success as a confident, happy, and comfortable dancer! While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June, we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open for new dancers 2-12, with two sessions available at work-friendly drop off times for parents. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager at [email protected]. They’re happy to help!
 
This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, about the benefits of Irish dance, here. Also: 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 can walk, you can dance!
 
Think your preschooler is too young to start dance? Think again! SRL Irish Dance Academy is proud to offer the Jump’n Jig program for our littlest dancers, aged 2 to 5!
 
Split into two age groups (2-3 Tiny Jig and 4-5 Pre-Beginner,) this program was designed by early-childhood expert and ADCRG, Fiona Holmes. Classes start with helping our newest dancers learn how to act and engage within a dance class and move on to developing motor skills and musicality (all while making sure there’s plenty of fun in the meantime!) And with each class starting with a friendly welcome where they can bring along their favorite stuffed friend from home, SRL’s adoption of the Jump’n Jig program has helped get even the most reticent new dancer into the studio!
 
There’s plenty of benefits to starting your child in Irish dance (and starting them early!) and both our Tiny Jig and Pre-Beginner classes cover all the bases: safe social interactions with peers, instructors, and student mentors, working on not just foundational dance skills, but listening skills, and a way to grow a sense of personhood and independence. Beyond that are the physical benefits! We utilize two movement stations—circle time for direct interaction and a “track” across the room to practice skills solo—to work on single leg balancing (adding accessory movements gradually,) leg and foot strength, foot placement for Irish dance, moving on or around markers and targets, and concepts like right/left and front/back. These skills form a strong base for all forms of movement (think about football players taking ballet!) and many Tiny Jiggers move on through the levels and become life-long Irish dancers!

Irish dance has a long and rich tradition and history behind it, but you don’t need to have Irish heritage to be an Irish dancer. While the steps and the music are part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, Irish dance has become a global community—and SRL is a tight-knit and supportive community within that larger sphere. In this encouraging environment, dancers are exposed to a culture beyond their own while they develop a strong sense of musicality and rhythm—learning to actively listen to the music, find 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!)
 
A successful SRL dancer isn’t just strong on technique—we see success as a confident, happy, and comfortable dancer! While classes run on a school year schedule from September to June (with every class available as in-person, online, or a hybrid model,) we have a special offer to let new dancers get a taste before they sign up in the fall! SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp sign-ups are now open and is a perfect way to judge your littlest dancer’s interest before committing more fully. With two sessions available at work-friendly drop off times for parents, your session also includes discounts on registration and your first four weeks of classes come September. Learn more about the program here, or feel free to reach out to our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at [email protected]. She’s happy to help!
 
This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, all about our studio, here. Also: 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.

The question Irish dancers get asked the most is: why Irish dance? There’s a lot of amazing things to love about this artistic sport—its long and storied history, cultural enrichment, and beautiful costumes, to name a few—but the benefits of this particular type of dance can be wide-reaching, both physically and mentally, and even life-long! Let’s explore some:
 
Motor Skills & Mind-Body Connection: At the youngest age range—we offer classes starting a 2-years-old!--we concentrate on motor skills and correcting any left/right imbalances early in their development. Starting dance at any age is beneficial, but check out our post about the benefits of starting your dancer early here.
 
Flexibility, Balance, Coordination, and Strength: While many dance studios in the past concentrated more on the steps than the conditioning, SRL has always been committed to providing balanced training that looks at what the whole dancer needs, not just their feet! All age groups are doing more than learning to dance, they’re stretching and completing exercises in class that strengthen the whole dancer.
 
Independence: Whether your dancer is 12 or 2, they’ve been spending A LOT of time with you over the last year. Going into dance class by themselves can be the first step toward forming their own personhood in this time when kids have been isolated at home more than ever. It’s also a fun, safe space for your dancer to make new friends without parental influence!

​Musicality: Irish dance is unique in many ways, but its connection to music is particularly strong! (Learn more about music in Irish dance here.) Dancers not only develop their sense of rhythm and a deeper understanding of music, but also cultivate an appreciation for traditional Irish music, often choosing to supplement their dancing by learning to play an instrument.
 
Social Skills and Teamwork: Not all of Irish dance is a solo performance! Dance class is a great time for your dancer to practice appropriate social skills, as well as make new friends. Later goals can include céilí dancing and teams, where dancers learn to dance in unison and work together.
 
Goal Setting and Self-Determination: Whether the goal be big (going to Nationals!) or smaller (getting to perform in a fancier dress,) SRL is all about small, every day steps leading to larger goals. We help each dancer set personal goals in their dance career, and this example has proven to carry through in many dancers’ school performance and at home behavior. Irish dance is more about building up skills over time, and is less about instant gratification and more about hard work and dedication—skills that will serve them all their lives!

Community: SRL is a community-focused studio where we’re all about supporting each other, even when we’re competing! But Irish dance is more than our studio, it’s a tight-knit, but also global community. All you need to enter that community is a love of Irish dance, and then you’re welcome!
 
Interested in seeing all that Irish dance has to offer? Check out SRL’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp for your dancer! This is a low-commitment way for students 2-12 (and their parents) to gage interest before signing up for classes. Check out the details (and the deals your session will include!) here. We hope to meet you soon!
 
Have any questions? Feel free to call or text our Office Manager, Devon, at 860-385-1107 or shoot her an email at [email protected]. She’s happy to help!
 
This post is part of a series. Take a look at our last 411 post, a longer explanation of our Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp program, here.  Also: 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.

Does your child love to jump, wiggle, and move? Have they been bouncing off the walls all year? Are they obsessed with watching dance videos on YouTube when they get their coveted screen time? (Us, too!) Maybe it’s time to find a new outlet for all that excess energy…and why not try Irish dance?
 
With Scoil Rince Luimni’s Intro to Irish Dance Summer Camp program, dancers from ages 2 to 12 will spend a week of classes letting that built up energy out, learning a new skill, and having safe, positive social interactions with new friends! This program is designed to really let your child try out this extremely active and fast-paced artistic sport in a secure and fun environment, but also to let you, as a parent, see if this is the right fit for your family. During one of our two Intro Summer Camp sessions, your dancer will take one class each evening (at a work-friendly time for parents,) for a full week to help them gage their interest (and get in some social time and physical exercise!)

What’s your favorite dance memory?
 
My first year Miss Courtney taught us to do our kicks with a fairy wand! 
   
If you opened a restaurant, what would be on the menu? Why?
 
Pasta, corn on the cob, cupcakes, and milkshakes. Everyone likes all of those things. 
   
Who do you look up to?
 
My mom and dad! I love them. 
 
What’s your favorite thing about dancing?
 
I love all kinds of dance but Irish dance is a fun fast kind of dancing! 
 
What’s your favorite thing about your personality?
 
How much I care about other people, especially my siblings. 

This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted dancer, Rooney's little sister, Tilly, 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: Colby J.
 
Age: 6
 
How long have you been dancing with SRL?

Almost 3 years!
 
How did you get started with Irish dance?
 
I started watching Mommy in the adult class and Miss Courtney let me join in; then I joined the pre-beginner class
 
Who do you look up to?
 
Mommy
 
What’s the best gift you ever received?
 
There are a lot of gifts that I love, I can’t choose one!

​​What’s your favorite dance memory?
 
My first recital!

If you were an animal, which one would you be and why?
 
A cheetah because then I can run fast.
 
Why do you dance?

Because it’s my favorite thing to do to music!
 
What do you want to be when you grow up?
 
A pizza man
 
What’s your favorite snack and favorite TV show to watch while you eat it?
 
Chocolate. Dinotrux and Octonauts. Octonauts because it teaches me about the sea animals.
 
What’s the best advice you can give a new dancer?
 
Have fun and maybe good luck!
 
What’s your favorite thing about dancing?
 
Everything

This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted dancer, Aubrielle, 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.

While innumerable things have changed in our world in the last year, no virus can stop the seasons from changing. From this vantage point in March, we’re all dreaming of spring, but parents know there’s something slightly more ominous looming in the horizon: summer. Two or three whole months of no school, and these days, little social interaction outside the house. But since the 1870s, parents have been turning to the most active possible solution to keep their kids engaged during the hottest months…summer camp!
 
Connecticut has a long history with summer camps, with the first American summer camp having been founded in Gunnery, CT just after the Civil War. The idea caught fire and in a less than 20-year period around the turn of the century the number of summer camps in the United States rose from 100 to over 1,000. These first camps were all about removing children from urban environments to reconnect with nature, and this kind of summer camp hasn’t changed all that much since. But after WWII, parents were eager to return their children to a more innocent time and summer camps had a second boom—this time with a wider range of variety as special-interest camps such as sports camps and arts camps popped up all over the country.

​But what has made the summer camp an American institution? The skills taught at summer camps—be it outdoorsmanship or art forms like dance—have always been only part of the equation. The Harvard Graduate School of Education puts it this way: “All those classic camp dynamics—being away from home and parents, making new friends, being part of a team, and trying new things—are building blocks to crucial social-emotional [learning (or SEL)] skills.” Foundational, SEL skills include “self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making” and have been found to be crucial for both success in school and in later, professional life. But, unfortunately, due to the restraints placed on teachers by state-mandated curriculums, we often see this type of learning not prioritized in the classroom. Americans have been turning to a solution outside of school for 150 years now, and we have the data to back it up: a 2005 study conducted by the American Camp Association found consistent and significant growth in SEL skills (and self-confidence) in children after only a single summer camp session!
 
As important as SEL skills are, there’s another factor that’s helped give summer camps such staying power: the physical benefits. The majority of summer camps have always included a focus on physical activity, and in our increasingly digitized world, finding a healthy and active outlet for kids is more important than ever. We all know that our country has been facing issues for years when it comes to the health of younger generations—but it turns out summer camp could be of help. In a 2011 edition of the Journal of Adolescence, a study reported that adolescents with no organized summer activities were at the greatest risk of obesity, while a 2010 study found that day camp campers who were exposed to active peers and active teachers were more likely to be physically active even after camp ended. While a week of physical activity is definitely good, the way camps instill the habit of exercise is even better!

​While our registered dancers here at SRL Irish Dance Academy (from Beginner level up!) know all about how fun one of our summer camps can be, what about someone who’s never attended an Irish dance class? Don’t worry, we have a great option for even the newest dancer, as well! SRL is hosting two, week-long “Intro to Irish Dance” Summer Camps this year. Each week consists of five straight days of one class a day (at work-friendly times for parents!) to give new dancers a real feel for our year-long programs. The best part? Until May 1st, SRL is running a deal that will carry you into the school/dance year: sign up for this "Intro" Camp and we'll include a free four-week Taster Session in September (and wave your registration fee when your dancer falls in love with Irish dance and insists on signing up!)
 
This camp is multipurpose, for not only will it ease any parent’s mind about how interested their child is in Irish dance before enrolling for the year, but it will provide that social and physical outlet kids need every summer (but this one especially!) Even if your child finds out Irish dance isn’t right for them, they’ll still be invited into a fun, welcoming environment, taught to stretch and move their body in new ways, and be able to interact with their peers as both team mates and friends while they increase their self-esteem by learning a new skill. We’ve been holding classes in our clean, appropriately socially-distanced studio since September without any issue, and are excited to introduce your child to the world of Irish dance!

We could go on and on about the benefits of starting dance early (and we already have! check out our post about it,) but the real takeaway from SRL’s intro program is the same as any camp: increasing your child’s SEL skills while allowing them to express themselves in a healthy way and have fun! This opportunity creates a break from technology, lets them develop a sense of independence, let all that silly energy out, and have more and varied social interactions. And, not to mention, it gives parents a much-needed break, too!

Learn more about our “Intro to Irish Dance" Summer Camp—with a special discount (and additional savings!) running until May 1st! Or feel free to reach out by phone or email ([email protected]) for more info. We look forward to dancing with you soon!
​

​Name: Caroline T.
 
Age: 5
 
How long have you been dancing with SRL? Why SRL?
 
I started in Fall 2019 as a pre-beginner. Now this is my second year and I'm in the beginner class. My sister and I both started at SRL at the same time. 
 
If you were an animal, which one would you be and why?
 
I would be a dolphin because they are cute and I could swim with all the other animals in the ocean.
 
What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
 
A veterinarian because you get to take care of animals. 
 
How did you get started with Irish dance?
 
I tried it in the summer at a camp, and really liked it.

Who do you look up to? 
 
Daddy
 
What's the best gift you ever received?
 
My ice cream play-doh set I got for Christmas.
 
What's your favorite snack and favorite TV show to watch while you eat it?
 
Pretzels, and Peppa Pig
 
What's your favorite dance-related memory?
 
Wearing my Halloween costume in class!
 
This post is part of a series. See our Q&A with Caroline's big sister, Madison T., 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.

For Your Littlest Dancer
 
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a child in your life who loves to dance, wiggle, or move? Our taster session will give them the gift of dance!
 
With the holiday season creeping up on us, often so does the stress—and no more so than this year. We know a lot of parents have been feeling extra pressure to make holidays special for their kids in a year that’s been so out of the ordinary, so we’re here to help! Check out the blog every Saturday until the end of December for holiday gift guides for your Irish dancer—from stocking stuffers and accessories to prints and ideas for Mom and Dad—we’ll post a little something for everyone. Though you’ll find some bigger business links throughout, we’ve tried our best to promote small businesses in the Irish dance community wherever possible and we hope you’ll join us in that goal! First up, some fun ideas for our littlest dancers:

1. Picture Books
​
While a lot of Irish dance related books feature a female Irish dancer in traditional competition dress (which is fun, too! see more picture book suggestions below…) this book, written by Anna Marlis Bergard and illustrated by Leighanne Dees, is a rare children’s book about male Irish dancers. Set in old Ireland, Flying Feet: A Story of Irish Dance tells the story of two competing Dance Masters (learn more about them in our Origins of Irish Dance series here!) in the town of Ballyconneely. (It’s even reportedly based on a true event.)
 
Additional Options:
Irish Dancer: Oireachtas
Kathleen O’Byrne: Irish Dancer
Irish Dancing Girl

(P.S. If none of these books are your style, check out our other Irish children's book recommendations here.)

2. Stuffed Animals

Get your Tiny Jig or Pre-Beginner dancer something new to bring into class with them! While the bear featured in the picture has a competition dress on, this toy maker, Paddy Pals, has a wide variety of Irish bears, each with their own occupation and story. Check out their website—you won’t be disappointed in the care they put into each bear! (Or look below for a few more bear and non-bear options.)
 
Additional Options:
Another Teddy
Personalized, Various Animals
Stuffed Dancer Doll
​

3. Dolls and Doll Clothes

For your dancer with her eye on the prize, this Etsy seller has created a mini-version of a competition dress (advertised for American Girl dolls, but it should fit any 18 inch doll!) While they may not be able to compete just yet, setting goals and achieving them is one of the biggest benefits of starting your littlest in dance classes early. Help your dancer visualize their goal through play!
 
Additional Options:
A Male and Female Pair!
Another Option with Ghillies
Irish Dancer Nutcracker

4. Coloring and Activity Books

Sometimes, it’s hard to get your kids to practice. There’s nothing that will help that more than getting them excited about dancing, and activity books like these are the perfect way to have them thinking about dance even when they’re sitting still! And, not to mention, coloring has been proven to help improve motor skills, improve concentration, and develop a rich creative life—it’s a lot like dance that way.
 
Additional Options:
Irish Dancer Activity Book
Irish Dance Coloring Book
Another Coloring Book

5. Stationery
​
This one may seem out of left field, but I loved receiving stationery as a kid: it makes you feel grown up (especially if they’re personalized like these!) There are some benefits (outside of the excitement over the new gel pens I’d recommend as an addition) too: learning about our mail system, practicing writing, and teaching manners. Who knows—maybe you can even get grandma or one of your dancer’s cousins to write back and start a pen-pal relationship! Who doesn’t love getting real mail?
 
Additional Options:
Personalized Male Irish Dancer Cards
Irish Dancers Rock Cards
Irish Dancer Cards

6. Dance Bag

This personalized, sequined dance bag is the perfect present to make each dance class feel special. Our smallest dancers don’t have a need for a larger, studio duffel just yet, just somewhere to put their water bottle and teddy—these drawstring backpacks are the perfect size! And for our less glitzy dancers, check out some non-sequined options below:
 
Additional Options:
Dancing Girl Tote
Personalized Tote
Plain Cinch Backpack
 
This is Volume I of a series, come back next Saturday for the next installment! 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.

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:

No matter how many years out of school I am, I’ll always think of the new year as starting in September. Somehow, New Year’s Eve has nothing on the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, new books in a new backpack, and that outfit that’s just a little bit too hot for the weather (every year! I never learned.) But, for everyone still actually school-age, especially in the year 2020, there’s also the downside to all the excitement: having to learn a new routine after months and months of routine-free fun.
 
Your happy kid, so full of energy all spring and summer, suddenly doesn’t want to do anything. This is the year you signed them up for new activities they’d been begging to try (maybe even an Irish dance class?) and all of a sudden they have no interest. So, what now?
 
The back to school burnout is real, and probably worse this year for the obvious reasons. The first step is simple: recognize it’s happening and understand that it’s normal. And, as much as it’s normal, remember the adage that’s now backed up by a bevy of scientific research: children need routines. Regularity in daily and weekly routines has been proven to produce better adjusted and more successful adults across the board, in all fields. Notable, studied benefits include improved attention span and self-control, better time management, decrease in anxiety, better social skills, a higher level of emotional intelligence, better academic performance, and even increased employability in adulthood (among others.)
 
Expert tips about how to combat resistance to the new routine and avoid the worst of the burnout are pretty standard across the board: Commit to a reasonable number of activities, but don’t say yes to everything. Be flexible, but be clear about your expectations. Keep as regular sleep schedule as possible. Eat a balanced diet. Forge open communication within your family. Encourage asking for help whenever you need it. Put a limit on screen time. Make sure to make time to relax and decompress. Set goals and celebrate achieving them.
 
One of the most constant and repeated tips? Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. While we at SRL recommend Irish dance classes as the best way to get up and going, 150 minutes of any moderate movement-based activity a week is the standard recommended by every medical organization. Why? Besides the obvious—physical health—exercise has been proven to help decrease stress and increase endorphins (among other happy-brain chemicals,) as well as boost overall energy and mental acuity. Simultaneously, exercise classes promote community and social development, while also promoting better sleep habits when your kids get home. That’s right, ironically, just getting them to the class they’re reticent to go to will help with everything else!
 
Lastly, and just as importantly, remember that self-care isn’t just a buzz word, it’s how parents can continue to be great parents! We all need to take moments for ourselves throughout the day or the kids won’t be the only ones burnt out. Besides, let’s be real…you deserve it.

This post is our first Saturday Bonus post! 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.

Back to school is coming! Along with the paperwork, getting those back to school supplies, and the settling those first day of school jitters, it’s time to start thinking about after school activities! Most parents want to expose their children to a variety of activities while they’re young to see what their natural talents may be, allow them to experience different communities, and fill up that after school time while the homework load is light.

If you’re considering Irish dance as an activity this year, you’re probably also weighing up the risk of your picky, finicky, young one rejecting your choice. It's a common predicament, kids really can be so fickle when it comes to activities. To help with your decision, here are some popular archetypes of kids who end up loving Irish dance:

1. The Energizer Bunny: never stops moving, twirling, running, jumping, and maybe even more dangerous moves. These energizer bunnies need something to channel their energy into, and I'm sure you've made this realization. But why is Irish dancing such a good choice? If your young one is a mover and groover, they need music! Sports aren't done to a backing track and Irish dance combines the best of sport and art! Both the dance and the music is high energy, so your active little man or lady has plenty of stimulation at dance class to tire them out before bedtime.
2. Mommy’s Extra Leg: sometimes you may feel like you have a third leg because your child. Just. Won't. Let. Go. Of. You. You want some time for yourself and you know your extra appendage needs time to develop on their own too. Why is Irish dancing such a great choice? Well, this might be an SRL unique draw, but our classes are very structured which helps nervous, vulnerable, new dancers find comfort in the routine, focus on their lesson, and slowly grow confidence and independence. Our teachers really go the extra mile to ensure these dancers are engaged and immersed in the moment rather than worrying about mommy.
3. The Closet Extrovert: chatty, energetic, and even a little sassy at home or with family but transforms into a shy, withdrawn, and stoic little person in front of new people. Sound like someone you know? I bet your biggest worry with dance is, “but how are they going to get on stage and do a recital at the end of the year? I don't want to traumatized him/her!” A worthy concern - especially since most dance forms do build up to once big recital at the end of the year. At SRL, we actively work on students comfort and familiarity of being on stage from the beginning. From performance opportunities at libraries, farmers markets, schools, and more - all open for beginners - students associate being on stage with fun, friends, and praise rather than getting nervous or upset. By the time we get to our year-end dinner dance, even the shyest of students are ready to go!
4. The Rule Follower: always serious, usually focused, and never puts a toe out of line! Our structured classes, consistency in giving feedback, and opportunities to reward hard work speak to our rule followers who just love to impress. These types of kids live off making corrections to hear positive feedback, showing that they’re always prepared and ready to learn more, and their desire to be a model student. Teachers love them, their classmates love them, and most importantly - the kids love to dance!

Do you know someone who fits into one of these categories? Send them this article and see if Irish dance is an activity they'd consider for this year!
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