2023: A year of jigs and joy for Lexington’s community Irish dance school

2023: A year of jigs and joy for Lexington’s community Irish dance school

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
https://youtube.com/shorts/VTGYiEA2iOw?si=LJEP4pnlefrcSYlD As 2023's final curtain falls, Bluegrass Ceili Academy takes a well-deserved bow, the memory of their electrifying year still echoing in the air. This past year wasn't just about steps and stages; it was about Irish dance captivating Lexington, Central Kentucky and even a national audience. Here's how it unfolded: Champions in the spotlight: From the Mid-America Oireachtas to the prestigious North American Irish Dance Championships (where they clinched the inaugural Adult Mixed Four Hand title), Bluegrass Ceili dancers etched their names in victory, showcasing their unwavering dedication and passion for the art. A community in motion: Starting with our Spring 2023 session, the studio floor pulsed with the beat of new faces, both youth and adults, embarking on their dance journeys. Witnessing beginners find their first steps and…
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Sign up for affordable Irish dance classes in Lexington

Sign up for affordable Irish dance classes in Lexington

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
If you've been looking for Irish dance classes in Lexington, now is the time to sign up with Bluegrass Ceili Academy.  Our classes -- for both children and adults -- focus on learning and mastering the basics of Irish dancing -- we'll have three classes, plus an extra teams class to choose from this fall.  Beginning Irish Dance (Mondays, 5:30-6:15 p.m.) - This class is for students ages 6+ who have never taken an Irish dance class or those who aren't quite ready for our regular youth class. Dancers who previously were in our pre-school class may enroll in this class. New students younger than 6 may enroll with instructor permission after an evaluation. Youth Irish Dance (Mondays, 6:15-7:15 p.m.) - This class is for returning students or those placed in the class with…
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Registration for Bluegrass Ceili Academy Fall 2019 classes opens July 24

Registration for Bluegrass Ceili Academy Fall 2019 classes opens July 24

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Instruction
Bluegrass Ceili Academy's Fall 2019 session at Artworks opens for registration this week -- so mark your calendars and remember to get signed up!  Our Irish dance classes for children and adults focus on learning and mastering the basics of Irish dancing -- we'll have three classes, plus an extra teams class to choose from this fall.  Beginning Irish Dance (Mondays, 5:30-6:15 p.m.) - This class is for students ages 6+ who have never taken an Irish dance class or those who aren't quite ready for our regular youth class. Dancers who previously were in our pre-school class may enroll in this class. New students younger than 6 may enroll with instructor permission after an evaluation. Youth Irish Dance (Mondays, 6:15-7:15 p.m.) - This class is for returning students or those placed in the class with…
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Bluegrass Ceili Academy receives 2019 LexArts community arts grant

Bluegrass Ceili Academy receives 2019 LexArts community arts grant

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
Lexington's community-based Irish dance school, Bluegrass Ceili Academy, has again been awarded a community arts development grant by LexArts. The grant will provide scholarships to dancers for the 2019-2020 class year. "It's an absolute honor for us to be supported by LexArts, through its Fund for the Arts, which is funded in part by the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government," said Academy director Megan Moloney. "As a community-based program, our partners -- including LexArts and Lexington Parks and Recreation -- make what we do possible." "With this grant, we'll be able make Irish dance an option for more students in our community, including both children and adults," Moloney said. LexArts is greater Lexington's premier cultural development, advocacy and fund raising organization.  This is the second year Bluegrass Ceili Academy has…
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Bluegrass Ceili Academy awarded LexArts community arts grant

Bluegrass Ceili Academy awarded LexArts community arts grant

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Community, Uncategorized
Lexington's community-based Irish dance school, Bluegrass Ceili Academy, has been awarded a community arts development grant by LexArts to provide scholarships to dancers for the 2018-2019 class year. "We're truly honored for the generous support of LexArts, through its Fund for the Arts, which is funded in part by the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government," said Academy director Megan Moloney. "With this grant, we'll be able to bring Irish dance to more students in our community, including both children and adults." According to LexArts' website, since its inception, the organization has raised millions of dollars in support of the local arts through its annual Fund for the Arts. In turn, LexArts underwrites general operating expenses for a variety of arts organizations and offers competitive Community Arts Grants for arts projects…
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9 reasons our Irish dance classes in Lexington will make your heart sing

9 reasons our Irish dance classes in Lexington will make your heart sing

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
“Do what makes your heart sing.” At Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish dancing does just that – makes our hearts sing and our spirits soar...and we want to share that with you! If you've been thinking about trying something new and different -- for yourself or your child -- stop by our August or September open house events to learn more about Irish dance classes in Lexington with our community-based program. Our Irish dance classes for both children and adults focus on a few things: fun, friendship, art and sport. Here are 9 reasons you'll want to join us! 1. Perspective matters The love of dance and music knows no age limit. Academy director and fifth generation Lexingtonian Megan Moloney learned Irish dance as an adult, proving that it isn’t just an…
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Another new chapter for our Lexington Irish dance school

Another new chapter for our Lexington Irish dance school

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Competitions
Sometimes the things staring you right in the face don't stand out as a milestone until someone else points it out. That's the case for our Lexington Irish dance school and the weekend coming up. This Father's Day weekend in Kentucky is also a back-to-back Irish dance competition weekend -- the Louisville Feis is Saturday and Lexington's Bluegrass Feis is Sunday. For those new to Irish dancing, a "feis" (pronounced "fesh") is a local dance competition. At our rehearsal Monday night, I was giving our dancers a pep talk -- you see, it's the first time each of them will be competing in Irish dance. One of the dancers pointed out that not only would it be a first for them, but it’s also the first for our community-based Lexington…
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At Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish dance makes our hearts sing all year long

At Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish dance makes our hearts sing all year long

Community, Local Events
“Do what makes your heart sing.” At Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish dancing does just that – makes our hearts sing and our spirits soar. In honor of a community leader, it’s now our motto.  Alltech’s Dr. Pearse Lyons was an inspiration and a friend to so many in our community. I was fortunate to know him and spend time with him and his wife Deirdre at a number of events over the past decade. While he left this world on March 8, his immense influence carries on. This St. Patrick’s season Bluegrass Ceili Academy’s dancers answered Dr. Lyons’ call to "do what makes our hearts sing.” It’s a charge we will continue to carry with us beyond March, through the rest of this year and as we build our…
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Get your toes tapping with our percussive Irish dance workshop in Lexington

Get your toes tapping with our percussive Irish dance workshop in Lexington

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Instruction, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
We're honored to announce that Bluegrass Ceili Academy is one of the sponsors of an exciting Irish dance workshop in Lexington coming this January 13-14. Whether you tap, clog, Irish dance or just enjoy a good toe-tapping tune, we invite you to spend your weekend with us making music with your feet.  Join us as we bring acclaimed dancer and instructor Mary Beth Taylor to Lexington from Dublin, Ireland, for two days of traditional old style Irish sĂ©an nos and set dancing classes. Visit our Workshop info page for the schedule, registration fees and class descriptions.  What are you going to learn over the two-day workshop?  The older styles of Irish dancing we'll study are perhaps less athletic and demanding on the dancer’s body than its modern competitive counterpart, but…
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Take Irish dance classes in Lexington this winter at Movementlust

Take Irish dance classes in Lexington this winter at Movementlust

Instruction, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
Join us during the Artworks winter break for our first Bluegrass Ceili Academy Irish dance winter intensive. We're continuing our adult Irish dance classes in Lexington through December and January with a new partner. Our Irish Dance Winter Intensive classes for adults will focus on material for performance and/or competition and is open to dancers ages 16 & older. While previous experience is not required, these classes will prepare dancers for performance this spring during our annual Irish dance March madness.  The class will also introduce material for competition beginning in 2018. We're excited to partner on these new Irish dance classes in Lexington with the team at Movementlust in downtown.  Their new studio provides the perfect place to keep our feet moving through the winter months. Our Irish dance classes add…
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