The art and sport of Irish dancing offers so many opportunities to dancers. Friendships are formed that last a lifetime and reach across Canada, North America and Europe. Social, mental and physical development is enhanced and an appreciation of music, dance and Irish culture is developed through training.  Irish dancing is a high-energy sport providing an aerobic workout that focuses on flexibility, body control and co-ordination.

It is the goal of the Finnegan School to provide instruction that encourages personal growth in a fun, exciting and supportive environment. Enrolling a child in the program contributes to many levels of development for a growing child. Irish dance is very physical sport and provides opportunity to develop endurance, stamina, flexibility and discipline. For those who have seen shows such as Riverdance and Lord of Dance, the level of body control and focus necessary to achieve such high standards of dance are evident through these and many other productions. Being a part of the competitive program, whether solo or figure teams, provides the opportunity for children to develop very high levels of sportsmanship, teamwork and dedication to teammates and training. In training young dancers, it is very important to stress the significance of good sportsmanship and support of both classmates and competitors from either the same or other schools. When dancers participate in ceili teams, choreography and dance-outs; dancers are required to work together and support each other in learning and perfecting the dance. Thus, the discipline of Irish dance provides your child with many opportunities for development that will benefit them both in class, competition and in life.

At the Finnegan School each dancer’s abilities are recognized on an individual basis and choreography is created based on individual strengths. Although dancers may receive material similar to classmates, all material is personalized to accommodate individual strengths and weaknesses. Through attending weekly lessons dancers will improve basic skills and technique while working to meet optimal levels of personal accomplishment. A rich and supportive environment will push your dancer to respect and appreciate the importance of setting and reaching goals for themselves while enjoying the process of learning and practicing.

It is our ultimate goal that dancers enjoy their time involved in Irish dance. All dancers will be encouraged to set and reach personal goals in a supportive and nurturing environment. Throughout the school, all dancers will receive equal attention in small class sizes.

"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another." ~anonymous~