2025 - 2026 WINNIPEG
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 Championship 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 travel. Digital competitions are an economic option for dancers to advance through all the Irish dance levels, win medals and prizes, and enjoy competitive Irish dance without the hardships and commitment of travel.
Shayleen McConnell Finucan the first and only fully certified Irish Dance teacher achieving her ODCRN certification in Solo & Ceili Dancing from Cumann Rince Náisiúnta(CRN) in 2020. Shayleen has served on the CRN Executive Committee, CRN North American Nationals Committee, and is Regional Lead for CRN North America West Region.
McConnell Irish Dancers compete at the highest levels of Irish dance and our dancers have won Regional, National, and World Championship titles.
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.
GRADED LEVELS 1 - 3
BUNGHRÁD - ULLMHUCHÁN - MEANGHRÁD
In our Competitive Irish Dance program, dancers progress through Levels 1 - 5 of (Bunghrád, Ullmhuchán, Meanghrád, Ardghrád, Craobhghrád). Each level increases in difficulty and students gain skill and learn the necessary technique with the assistance of our CRN certified team of instructors. Dancers progress at their own pace through each dance and level and generally spend 1 - 3 years in each level before advancing. CRN Graded Levels a provide structured learning for competitive Irish dance students and motivates Irish dancers to the highest levels.
Our competitive classes are strictly focused on competition and performance is not included as part of our Competitive Program. Dancers who wish to perform should also enrol in our Recreational Classes or join our Performance Teams.
Our Graded Competitive Classes are conveniently scheduled before or after Recreational classes to assist students who wish to enrol in both programs. Students may choose to attend one or multiple classes for accelerated learning.
LEVEL 1 - 3 SOFT SHOE
In this 30 minute class, students learn and perfect the 4 Bunghrád dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig, Light Jig), 3 Úllmhúchan soft shoe dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig), and 3 Meanghrád dances (Reel, Slip Jig, Single Jig) . The lesson includes soft shoe technique, drills, and céilis. 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 in competition.
Wednesday 7:15 - 7:45 PM
Saturday 11:30 - 12:00 PM
FULL SEASON (Sept - May): 1 Payment $470.25 or 9 Payments $55.00 Add GST
Multi-Class Discounts available for students who enrol in more than 1 class (see pricing schedule for multi-class)
5% Full Season Payment Discount and 5% Family Discounts offered for Full Season Enrolment.
FALL SESSION (Sept - Dec): 1 Payment $240.00 Add GST
LEVEL 1 - 3 HARD SHOE
In this 30 minute class, students learn and perfect the 2 Úllmhúchan hard shoe dances (Heavy Jig, Hornpipe), and 2 Meanghrád hard shoe dances (Heavy Jig, Hornpipe, . The lesson includes technique, drills, and céilis. 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 in competition.
Wednesday 7:45 - 8:15 PM
Saturday 12:00 - 12:30 PM
FULL SEASON (Sept - May): 1 Payment $470.25 or 9 Payments $55.00 Add GST
Multi-Class Discounts available for students who enrol in more than 1 class (see pricing schedule for multi-class)
5% Full Season Payment Discount and 5% Family Discounts offered for Full Season Enrolment.
FALL SESSION (Sept - Dec): 1 Payment $240.00 Add GST
COMPETTIVE BUNGHRÁD, ULLMHUCHÁN, MEANGHRÁD CLASS INFORMATION
Please click on the tabs below for more information
Females - Level 1: Irish Soft Shoes with Ankle Length Poodle Socks.Level 2 - 3: Irish Soft Shoes and Hard Shoes with Ankle Length Poodle Socks
Males - Level 1: Boys Capezio Shoes with Black Dress Socks. Level 2 - 3: Boys Capezio Shoes and Hard Shoes with Black Dress Socks
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 by the end of the first month of classes. New students may wear socks for the first few weeks 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
Females(Level 1 - 2) - McConnell Malley Sport Dress. Females (Level 3) may wear solo costumes.
Males (Level 1 - 2) - McConnell Malley Sport Polo Shirt, Black Dress Pants. Males (Level 3) may wear solo costumes.
Irish Dance costumes are used for several years, until a dancers grows or advances levels and needs to upgrade. New costume orders are placed in January. Second hand costumes are a good, economic option for growing dancers. We have a school Facebook group dedicated to Buy and Sell for Second Hand Dance Shoes and Costumes - CLICK HERE
Costume Rentals are available for those who wish to rent for the season rather than purchase.
New Costume Fees
Girls -Malley Sport Dress $195
Boys - Malley Sport Polo $75, Black Dress Pants $30 - $50
Costume Rental Fees Malley Sport Dress $95 Full Season
Performance is not included with Competitive Irish Dance Classes. Dancers who wish to perform should enrol in our Recreational classes or join our Performance Team.
Level 1 - 3 dancers who are interested in competitive Irish Dance are invited to compete in our local competition Canada Féile, CRN Regional, National, and World Championship competitions, and enter Digital competitions where dancers compete virtually with dancers all over the world.
Competition is optional and dancers require a school costume in order to compete.
ARDGHRÁD CRAOBHGHRÁD
LEVEL 4 - 5
This 2.5 hour high intensity class includes warm up, technique, drills, solo dances, traditional sets contemporary sets, céili and team dances Ardghrád and Craoghbhrád (Level 4 - 5) perform unique material, choreographed by our instructors. Within these two levels dances increases in difficulty and students gain skill and learn the necessary to compete at the highest levels with the assistance of our CRN certified team of instructors. Dancers progress at their own pace through each dance and level. Dancers who wish to complete must enrol in the Full Year (12 Months). In addition to the weekly class, Full Year (12 Month) competitive Level 4 - 5 dancers must attend competitive Summer Camp (1 week mid July). Dancers who are not competitive but wish to enrol for fun and enjoyment may enrol in the Full Year (12 Months) or Full Season (9 Months).
FULL YEAR (Sept - Aug) Mon 6:00 - 8:30 PM
FULL YEAR (Sept - Aug) Thur 5:30 - 8:00 PM
FULL SEASON (Sept - May) Sat 1:30 - 4:00 PM
1 CLASS FULL YEAR (Sept - Aug): 1 Payment $1938.00 or 12 Payments $170.00 Add GST
1 CLASS FULL SEASON (Sept - May): 1 Payment $1453.50 or 9 Payments $170.00 Add GST
Multi-Class Discounts available for students who enrol in more than 1 class (see pricing schedule for multi-class)
5% Full Season Payment Discount and 5% Family Discounts offered for Yearly Enrolment.
SESSION BASED CLASSES ARE NOT OFFERED FOR ARDGHRÁD & CRAOBHGHRÁD
COMPETTIVE ARDGHRÁD CRAOBHGHRÁD CLASS INFORMATION
Please click on the tabs below for more information
Females - Irish Soft Shoes and Hard Shoes with Ankle Length Poodle Socks.
Males - Hullachan or Capezio Shoes with hard heels and Black Dress Socks.
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 by the end of the first month of classes. New students may wear socks for the first few weeks 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
Females - Ardghrád and Craobhghrád dancers wear solo costumes for competition.
Males - Ardghrád and Craobhghrád dancers wear solo costumes for competition
Irish Dance costumes are used for several years, until a dancers grows or advances levels and needs to upgrade. New costume orders are placed in January. Second hand costumes are a good, economic option for growing dancers. We have a school Facebook group dedicated to Buy and Sell for Second Hand Dance Shoes and Costumes - CLICK HERE
Performance is not included with Competitive Irish Dance Classes. Dancers who wish to perform should enrol in our Recreational classes or join our Performance Team.
Level 4 - 5dancers who are interested in competitive Irish Dance are invited to compete in our local competition Canada Féile, CRN Regional, National, and World Championship competitions, and enter Digital competitions where dancers compete virtually with dancers all over the world.
Competition is optional and dancers may enrol in our compettive classes for fun and enjoyment.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Not ready to join a class yet?
Looking for individual time with an instructor for accelerated learning?
Private lessons are a great option for dancers who wish to work one-on-one with an instructor.
New students are encouraged to enrol in private lessons to work one-on-one with an instructor before transferring to our group lessons.
30 Minutes - $35
60 Minutes - $70
Discounted rates apply for students who wish to enrol in multiple or regular private lessons.
Please contact us to schedule private lessons at admin@mcconnelldancers.com
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
