COMPETITIVE IRISH DANCE
McConnell Irish Dance is a registered member of Cumann Rince Náisiúnta (CRN), based in Dublin, Ireland. Students compete in CRN and Open Platform competitions, which take place at the Local, Regional, National, and World levels. Digital Competitions where dancers submit videos and compete with dancers all over the world are a great option for those who wish to compete without having to travel.
Shayleen McConnell Finucan is a fully certified Irish Dance teacher achieving her ODCRN certification in Solo & Ceili Dancing from Cumann Rince Náisiúnta(CRN).
2024 - 2025 FULL SEASON REGISTRATION
When enrolling for the FULL SEASON, you are committing for the entire term (September - June) and performances including St. Patrick's and Year End Recital. For those unable to commit to the full term, please enrol in our Session Based Classes.
FULL SEASON DATES:
Sept 9, 2024 - June 1, 2025
BENEFITS OF COMPETITION
- Competitions help motivate students to set individual goals as they advance through the 5 Levels.
- Improving technical skills in Irish dance develops, confidence, self-discipline, patience, focus, hard work and commitment.
- Competitive Irish dancers have the opportunity to travel and meet other Irish dancers from around the world.
- Competition helps build team spirit and leaves dancers with great memories and valuable life lessons.
CUMANN RINCE NÁISIÚNTA
CRN was established in 1982 in Dublin, Ireland by the late Ita Cadwell. CRN is the only organisation whose competitions successfully operate with the Open Platform, where any dancer from any teacher, from any part of the world or any organisation can compete.
CRN believes in honesty, justice and fairness in competitions. CRN’s motto is: “Do not do to others what you would not like done to you”. CRN’s founder Ita Cadwell used the following phrase: “The honest road is the right and just road to take, but it is also a very hard and difficult road to take.
CRN is widely known as a traditional dance organisation and it has successfully maintained the integrity of traditional dances, while actively encouraging the development of new and innovative work. Great thought was put into considering the developmental levels of students and their capacity to execute work in solo dances.
Five (5) grades/levels of dance were established. In an ongoing effort to honour tradition and continually protect the developmental process of dancers a grading system is in operation in all 5 levels and grades. This system ensures that appropriate technique is being taught at each level.
CRN is committed to protecting the integrity and purity of the Irish Dance tradition. CRN is very proud of the standard of dance education among its members. This standard was achieved through establishing a compulsory and rigorous teacher-training course and requires two to three years of supervised training in Ireland CRN Adjudicators must complete an additional two years of supervised study, taught by recognised trainers with Cumann Rince Náisiúnta. Additionally, the Instructor Examining Panel are also required to pursue continuing education.
For more information on CRN, please visit their website
CRN http://www.crn.ie
Find them on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CRNCumannRinceNaisiunta
BUNGHRÁD-ULLMHUCHÁN-MEANGHRÁD
Once dancers learn the steps, they must then perfect technique in order to advance. This is done through hard work in class with instructors and at home practice. The work dancers do in Level 1 - 3 prepares them for the extremely difficult material in Level 4 - 5 and this takes time for dancers to develop.
ARDGHRÁD-CRAOBHGHRÁD
Level 4 - 5 material may no be used in competition or performance without permission. A dancer who leaves the school is no longer permitted to compete or perform these steps and will face sanctions from CRN or other organisations for unauthorised use of a former teacher's material.
Dancers who wish to have unique and individual material choreographed for them will need to take private lessons as this cannot be done in a class setting. For dancers competing at high levels, solo lessons are highly recommended.
BUNGHRÁD
LEVEL 1
In this 90 minute class, students learn the 4 Bunghrád dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig, Light Jig). The lesson includes warm up, technique, drills, and céilis (group dance) with added focus on the elements necessary for dancers to excel in competitive Irish dance.. Students progress at their own pace and dancers may spend several years mastering the dances, technique in order to have the necessary skills to advance to higher levels.
Competitive Dancers who wish to perform should also enrol in the Recreational 1 - 3 class or Performance Teams.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
LEVEL 1 Sunday 11:00 - 12:30 PM
FULL SEASON PAYMENT: $855.00 Add GST 9 MONTHLY INSTALMENTS: $100.00 Add GST
5% Full Season Payment Discount, Multi-Class Discount, and 5% Family Discounts available
ULLMHUCHÁN - MEANGHRÁD
LEVEL 2 - 3
In this 120 minute class, students learn and master the 5 Ullmhuchán dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig, Heavy Jig, Hornpipe ). 5 Meanghrád (Reel, Slip, Single, Heavy Jig, Hornpipe) and traditional Set dances including St. Patrick's Day, Humours of Bandon, Job of Journeywork, Blackbird, White Blanket, and Garden of Daisys. Dancers progress at their own pace and dancers may spend several years mastering each level. The Level 2 - 3 class includes warm up, technique, soft and hard shoe, and céili (group) dances. This class is suitable for competitive students of all ages. *Dancers who wish to perform should also enrol in the Recreational 2 - 3 class or join our Performance Team.
*Enrolment Requirement: Dancers must be proficient in all 4 Bunghád dances
CLASS SCHEDULE:
LEVEL 2 - 3 Sunday 11:00 - 1:00 PM
Students may chose to enrol in one or both classes. Hourly discounted rate applies for the second class.
FULL SEASON PAYMENT: $1111.50 Add GST 9 MONTHLY INSTALMENTS: $130.00 Add GST
5% Full Season Payment Discount, Multi-Class Discount, and 5% Family Discounts available
ARDGHRÁD - CRAOBHGHRÁD
Level 4 - 5
In this high intensity 2 - 3 hour class, students learn 5 Ardghrád dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig, Heavy Jig, Hornpipe ) and contemporary set dances. Within Level 4 and 5 there are increasing degrees of difficulty and dancers require both a high level of skill and athleticism. Dancers achieve the status of Craobhghrad "Champion" Level 5 by winning a championship with 3 adjudicators. Dances who wish to have individual steps and choreography take additional private lessons to have material created specifically for them. Three scheduling options are offered for Level 4 - 5 classes. Students may choose to register for one class or multiple lessons per week. For serious minded competitive dancers, we strongly recommend dancers attend all three weekly classes. Hourly discounts apply for the second and third class enrolment.
*Enrolment Requirement: Dancers must be proficient in all 5 Meanghrád dances
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Monday 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Thursday 6:30 - 9:30 PM, Saturday 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Students may chose to enrol in one or all three classes. Hourly discounted rate applies for the second and third class.
5% Full Season Payment Discount, Multi-Class Discount, and 5% Family Discounts available
COMPETITIVE CLASS INFORMATION
Please click on the tabs below for more information
Females - Irish Soft Shoes and Hard Shoes with Ankle Length Poodle Socks.
Males - Boys Reel Shoes (with heels) and Hard Shoes with Black Dress Socks.
Shoes MUST be well fitting for Competitive Irish Dance. New Irish Dance Shoes may be ordered on-line -CLICK HERE Second Hand Irish Dance Shoes are an economic option for growing dancers. McConnell School Facebook group dedicated to Buy and Sell for Second Hand shoes and costumes - CLICK HERE
Dancers should have the necessary footwear at the commencement of classes.
Dance clothing should allow for non-restrictive movement for safety. Long hair should be tied back at all times. Jewellery should be limited to medical alert. Simple studs for dancers who cannot remove earrings. Dance costumes should not be worn to class.
Poodle socks (girls) or Black Dress Socks (boys) should be worn to class to insure dance shoes do not over-stretch.
BOTTOMS - COLOUR BLACK
Tights, leggings, yoga or dance pants, shorts and dance skirts must be of an appropriate length and not impede with dancers movement. For safety yoga and dance pants should not be longer than ankle length.
TOPS - COLOUR BLACK
Bodysuits, athletic tops, and t-shirts should allow for ease of movement and should not be overly large.
NOT APPROPRIATE
Jeans, dress pants, sweat pants, dresses, and Irish dance costumes (these should be saved for performances. No Hoodies, sweatshirts, hats or baseball caps
Males - McConnell Malley Polo, Prime Vest and Cummerbund with Black Dress Pants
Solo Costumes - Dancers may wear a solo costume when they compete in Meanghrad(at least 2 dances). All solo costumes (new and used) MUST be approved by the school prior to purchase or design.
New Costume Fees
Girls -Malley Sport $195, Prime Dress $550 - $800
Boys - Malley Polo $85, Prime Vest and Cummerbund $300 - $350
Non-perfomring class
All competitive Irish Dancers are invited to compete in our local competition Canada Féile. CRN and Open Platform competitions are held in the USA, Britian, and Ireland and dancers may travel to compete or take part in Digital (virtual) competitions.
BENEFITS OF IRISH DANCE
IRISH DANCE TEACHES US
Discipline
Value of hard work
How to set goals
How to listen
How to win & how to loose
IRISH DANCE MAKES US
Better athletes
Better musicians
Better teammates
More confident
IRISH DANCE GIVES US
Good health and Fitness
Life-long friendships
Determination
Perseverance
