The Original Dance Academy delivers high quality dance classes for students of pre-school and primary school age. Our mission is to instill confidence in young people, whilst having fun! We place an emphasis on providing a nurturing, supportive environment where students feel safe to explore movement and creativity. We believe students of all abilities can benefit from what dance has to offer.
We offer dance classes during after school hours. These classes are suitable for primary school age children of all abilities. Styles delivered are street dance, jazz dance and acrodance.
These classes are designed to get students moving and active as part of the P.E. curriculum. A specialised class which caters to the schools needs can be created. Over several weeks students will cover the skills required in the curriculum.
We provide classes for children in creches, from 2-4 years of age. These classes help develop the child’s co-ordination, balance and proprioception, and helps progress motor skills. The class is delivered in an easy-to-learn and fun way.
Some of the many benefits of taking dance class with The Original Dance Academy are:
Improved physical health: Dance is a full- body workout that increases strength and flexibility, tones muscles, improves cardiovascular health by strengthening the heart, and improves balance, coordination and posture.
Improved mental health: Dance can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase cognitive function. It can also lead to an increase in self esteem. Confidence can increase in naturally outgoing children by increasing their current skill set and expanding their current limits. In children who are more inhibited, it can bring them out of their shell.
Advances social skills: Dance class provides an opportunity to interact with others, build relationships and develop communication skills. Here at The Original Dance Academy, students build connections with each other through working together in activities, choreographing group dances and experiencing the thrill of performing together.
Furthers creativity: Dance encourages creative expression, allowing dancers to explore their own unique style and form. It encourages them to express themselves more freely, and they become less inhibited. These explorations into creativity are nurtured at The Original Dance Academy, by allowing students time and space to freestyle and choreograph their own dances, when they reach that level.
Improved academic performance: There are currently over four hundred studies showing the link between dance training and improved academic success. Dance training strengthens connections in the brain and improves cognitive function. This shows in the classroom through better focus, memorisation, retention and problem solving.
Dance also promotes discipline, punctuality, improves listening, and encourages camaraderie with peers, all while having fun!
Deirdre is a professional dancer and dance teacher from Birr, Co. Offaly. She began her dance training in Dublin, and after receiving a scholarship to train in the U.S., began her career as a dancer, dance captain and choreographer. Deirdre has performed, taught, choreographed and produced productions in the U.K., Greece and France, as well as on cruise ships.
Her performance career has been rewarding and exhilarating, but her passion has always been teaching dance. Her performance experience and knowledge of the dance industry places her in a great position to teach and guide her students, whether they wish to pursue a professional performance career, or dance as a hobby. Deirdre believes the joy of dance can be found in any and all dance styles and this is why she has trained to become certified in so many; including jazz, contemporary, ballet, tap, acro and street dance. She is also the sole person in Ireland and the U.K. qualified to teach the stylised and famous American jazz dance technique; the Giordano jazz technique.
Deirdre adores seeing children’s self-esteem thrive through the practice of dance. She believes the discipline, increase in confidence and increase in creativity that children gain from dance training sets them up for a great start in life, with skills that can be carried on throughout their lives.
