Irish Dance School in the Berkshires

Summer 2024 Dance & Music Program

Start or continue your Irish dance and music training with Scoil Rince Bréifne Ó Ruairc this summer with weekend workshops and weeknight classes in June, July, and August. All workshops and classes are held at the Elks Lodge at 27 Union St, Pittsfield, MA.

Tuition & Payment

Workshop tuition is $35 per session or $85 for a bundle of 3 sessions. A bundle may consist of multiple sessions of the same workshop, different workshops, or workshops for family members.

Class tuition is $45 per session or $110 for a bundle of 3 sessions. A bundle may consist of multiple sessions of the same class, different classes, or classes for family members.

Pay online at the time of registration, or contact us to arrange for payment by check or cash.

Featured
Age 3-5 with or without Irish dance experience
Age 3-5 with or without Irish dance experience

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.

Session 1: June 8 & 9, 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Session 2: July 20 & 21, 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Session 3: August 3 & 4, 9:00 - 9:45 AM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Age 6-19 with no Irish dance experience
Age 6-19 with no Irish dance experience

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

Session 1: July 6 & 7, 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Session 2: July 20 & 21, 9:45 - 10:30 AM

Session 3: August 24 & 25, 9:00 9:45 AM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience
Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience

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

Session 1: July 6 & 7, 9:45 - 10:45 AM

Session 2: August 3 & 4, 9:45 - 10:45 AM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience
Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience

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

Session 1: July 6 & 7, 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Session 2: August 3 & 4, 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Age 7-19 with Irish dance experience
Age 7-19 with Irish dance experience

Advanced level dancers will learn/review ardghrad (level 4) technique and reel, slip jig, single jig, treble jig, and hornpipe steps.

Session 1: June 8, 3:00 - 4:30 PM; June 9, 9:45 - 11:15 AM

Session 2: July 20 & 21, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Session 3: August 3 & 4, 1:15 - 2:45 PM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Adults with or without Irish dance experience
Adults with or without Irish dance experience

Adults dancers at all levels, including new beginners, are welcome to join this class. Material will depend on the proficiency of the dancers.

Session: July 20 & 21, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience
Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience

Dancers of all levels will learn/review their solo steps, ceili dances, and technique. The goal of this class is to prepare dancers for summer and fall Irish dance competitions.

Session 1: June 8, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM; June 9, 11:15 AM - 1:15 PM

Session 2: July 6 & 7, 1:15 - 2:45 PM

Session 3: July 20 - 21, 1:00 - 2:30 PM

Session 4: August 3 & 4, 2:45 - 4:15 PM

Session 5: August 24 & 25, 1:15 - 2:45 PM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument
Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument

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

Session 1: August 3 & 4, 9:45 - 10:30 AM

Session 2: August 24 & 25, 10:30 - 11:15 AM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument, and age 6-19 dancers with Irish dance experience
Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument, and age 6-19 dancers with Irish dance experience

Dancers and Gaellica members will work together in this unique workshop to coordinate live music with dancing. Dancers should be Emeralds or Crowns level, and musicians should have experience in Gaellica.

Session: August 24 & 25, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument
Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument

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

Session 1: August 3 & 4, 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Session 2: August 24 & 25, 9:45 - 10:30 AM

$35 per session or $85 for 3 sessions

Age 6-19 with little to no Irish dance experience
Age 6-19 with little to no Irish dance experience

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

Session 1: June 4, 12, & 19, 5:30 - 6:15 PM

Session 2: July 10, 17, & 24, 5:30 - 6:15 PM

Session 3: August 7, 14, & 21, 5:30 - 6:15 PM

$45 per session or $110 for 3 sessions (may be bundled with dance classes)

Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience
Age 6-19 with Irish dance experience

Advanced beginner/intermediate level dancers will learn/review bunghrad (level 1), ullmhuchan (level 2), and/or meanghrad (level 3) technique and reel, slip jig, single jig, light jig, treble jig, and hornpipe steps. This class overlaps with the Crowns class; during the overlap period, Emeralds and Crowns will work on ceili (group dancing).

Session 1: June 4, 12, & 19, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Session 2: July 10, 17, & 24, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Session 3: August 7, 14, & 21, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

$45 per session or $110 for 3 sessions (may be bundled with dance classes)

Age 7-19 with Irish dance experience
Age 7-19 with Irish dance experience

Advanced level dancers will learn/review ardghrad (level 4) technique and reel, slip jig, single jig, treble jig, and hornpipe steps. This class overlaps with the Emeralds class; during the overlap period, Emeralds and Crowns will work on ceili (group dancing).

Session 1: June 4, 12, & 19, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Session 2: July 10, 17, & 24, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Session 3: August 7, 14, & 21, 7:00 - 8:30 PM

$45 per session or $110 for 3 sessions (may be bundled with dance classes)

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

Play traditional Irish tunes with a group of youth musicians.

Session 1: June 3, 12, & 19, 4:45 - 5:30 PM

Session 2: July 10, 17, & 24, 4:45 - 5:30 PM

$45 per session or $110 for 3 sessions (may be bundled with dance classes)

Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument
Musicians with at least 1-2 years of experience playing their instrument

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.

Session 1: June 3, 12, & 19, 4:00 - 4:45 PM

Session 2: July 10, 17, & 24, 4:00 - 4:45 PM

$45 per session or $110 for 3 sessions (may be bundled with dance classes)

Summer Schedule by Date

 

Dance Class Session 1:

June 4, 12, & 19

  • Lions Class, 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM

  • Emeralds Class, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

  • Crowns Class, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

  • Basics of Traditional Irish Music Class, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

  • Gaellica Class, 4:45 PM - 5:30 PM

Music Class Session 1:

June 3, 12, & 19

 

Workshop Weekend 1:

June 8 & 9

June 8:

  • Tir na nÓg, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • Feis Prep, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

  • Crowns, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

    June 9:

  • Tir na nÓg, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • Crowns, 9:45 AM - 11:15 AM

  • Feis Prep, 11:15 AM - 1:15 PM

 

Workshop Weekend 2:

July 6 & 7

  • New Lions, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • Advanced Lions, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

  • Emeralds, 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

  • Feis Prep, 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM

 

Dance & Music Class Session 2:

July 10, 17, & 24

  • Basics of Traditional Irish Music Class, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

  • Gaellica Class, 4:45 PM - 5:30 PM

  • Lions Class, 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM

  • Emeralds Class, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

  • Crowns Class, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

 

Workshop Weekend 3:

July 20 & 21

July 20:

  • Tir na nÓg, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • New Lions, 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM

  • Crowns, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

  • Adults, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

  • Feis Prep, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

July 21:

  • Tir na nÓg, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • New Lions, 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM

  • Crowns, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

  • Feis Prep, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

  • Adults, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

 

Workshop Weekend 4:

August 3 & 4

  • Tir na nÓg, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • Basics of Traditional Irish Music, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • Gaellica, 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM

  • Advanced Lions, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

  • Emeralds, 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

  • Crowns, 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM

  • Feis Prep, 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM

 

Dance Class Session 3:

August 7, 14, & 21

  • Lions Class, 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM

  • Emeralds Class, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

  • Crowns Class, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

 

Workshop Weekend 5:

August 24 & 25

  • New Lions, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

  • Basics of Traditional Irish Music, 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM

  • Gaellica, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

  • Gaellica & Dance Collaboration, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

  • Feis Prep, 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM