Class Schedule and Descriptions

September 2, 2025 - May 20, 2026

Tir na nÓg 6-Week Sessions

Fall Session - 9/13, 9/27, 10/11, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8
Winter Session - 1/10, 1/17, 1/31, 2/7, 2/21, 2/28
Spring Session - 3/21, 4/4, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9

Lions 6-Week Sessions

Fall Session - 9/13, 9/27, 10/11, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8
Winter Session - 1/10, 1/17, 1/31, 2/7, 2/21, 2/28
Spring Session - 3/21, 4/4, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9

Tir na nÓg

In our Tir na nÓg, or “land of the young,” program, preschool-age children will explore Irish dance through play, develop coordination, balance, and muscle strength, practice social skills, and gain confidence.

Lions

Beginners will learn the basics of Irish dance, including foot positions, posture, basic skills/steps, timing, and rhythm.

Advanced Lions

Advanced beginner level dancers will learn/review bunghrad (level 1) technique, skills, and reel, slip jig, single jig, and light jig steps.

Emeralds

Intermediate level dancers will learn/review bunghrad (level 1), ullmhuchan (level 2), and meanghrad (level 3) technique, skills, and reel, slip jig, single jig, light jig, treble jig, and hornpipe steps.

Crowns

Advanced level dancers will learn/review ardghrad (level 4) and craobhghrad (level 5) technique, skills, reel, slip jig, single jig, treble jig, and hornpipe steps, and traditional and contemporary set dances.

Adult Solo & Ceili

Adult dancers at all levels, including new beginners, are welcome to join this class, which includes instruction in solo dancing and ceili dancing (group dancing in figures/formations), with each style offered every other week on a rotating basis. You may choose to attend every week for exposure to both styles, or every other week if you want to experience one style only. You may also enroll on a drop-in basis, and select each session you will attend.

Production

Winter Showcase/Spring Dinner Dance

In these 2 half-year classes, dancers learn and rehearse choreography for a separate piece to be performed at the Winter Showcase (September through December) and Spring Dinner Dance (January through May). Students may enroll in one or both of the half-year sessions.

This is an extra class for Dara Track dancers at the Advanced Lions, Emeralds, and Crowns levels. Dancers enrolled in the Dara Track must enroll in at least 2 classes per week, and have the option to enroll in extra classes to support their training.

Feis Prep

Fall/Spring

The Feis Prep class is offered for dancers who want to support their solo dance training for competitions in September-December 2025 (Fall Session) and January-May 2026 (Spring Session). Dancers in this class will receive instruction in goal-setting and developing a training plan, in addition to feis practice class and strength training class.

Dancers may enroll in the Fall Session (August 30-December 6), the Spring Session (January 3-May 20), or both, or they may choose a bundle of at least 3 sessions that line up with a particular competition. Fall competitions and their prep sessions are listed below. Spring competitions are TBD.

This class is included for Foireann Cavan (competition team) members.

Feis at the Farm (9/20 & 9/21) - prep sessions 8/30, 9/7, 9/13
Berkshire Feile (10/4) - prep sessions 9/7, 9/13, 9/27
Haunted HK Feis (10/18 & 10/19) - prep sessions 9/13, 9/27, 10/11
Regional Championships (11/15 & 11/16) - prep sessions 9/13, 9/27, 10/11, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8
Feis na Nollag (12/13) - prep sessions 11/8, 11/29, 12/6

Troupe

Bréifne Ó Ruairc Troupe is our performance team. Dancers of a wide range of levels are encouraged to join the troupe. Commitment to supporting the team, attendance at all rehearsals, participation in all mandatory performances and as many optional performances as feasible, and dedication to progression in dance technique are requirements for team members. Troupe dancers build a repertoire of performance pieces that may be used at various performances throughout the season. Several of these pieces involve all of the dancers in the troupe and are performed at shows that are designated as mandatory. Troupe members perform other dances in their repertoire at additional optional performances. Although participation in many of Bréifne Ó Ruairc’s performances is open to all dancers in the school, there are some that are limited to the troupe. This class must be joined through the Reverse Audition process. More information available here: Reverse Auditions 2025

Foireann Cavan

Foireann Cavan is our competition team. The purpose of the team is to prepare dancers to participate in team and solo competitions at feile/feiseanna held throughout the year. Dancers in the Advanced Lions, Emeralds, and Crowns levels are eligible to join. Commitment to supporting the team, attendance at all rehearsals, participation in as many competitions as feasible, and dedication to progression in dance technique are requirements for team members. Although participation in competitions is open to all dancers in the school, members of Foireann Cavan have dedicated positions on ceili teams and receive training that prepares them specifically for competition. This class must be joined through the Reverse Audition process. More information available here: Reverse Auditions 2025

Basics of Traditional Irish Music

Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument will receive basic instruction in traditional Irish music. The goals of this class are to prepare musicians to join the full Gaellica group and/or support Gaellica musicians who would benefit from basic instruction.

Gaellica

Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument will play traditional Irish tunes with a group of youth musicians.