What we do
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CDA/BDA Dancers
'Blarney' is in our name as our main/ senior classes are based in Blarney. Our founding teacher Michele is the only qualified & registered practicing teacher resident in Blarney. Also of course we love to travel and 'Blarney' is known worldwide. Hence it immediately strikes a chord as being distinctly Irish. Established in 1995, we now have dancers coming through as teachers so have expanded our area of classes :) To expand our classes beyond Blarney we have widened our name to Cork Dance Academy/CDA and expanded outside Irish to include Ballet Dancers range in age from 4 years to 40+ years! As diverse in interests and experience as the years between us!! We do: Display, Gradings (exams) & Feiseanna (competitions). We provide private classes as well as teach in schools as part of their curriculum. Since our re-launch as CDA/BDA we have performed in/for: St. Patrick's Festival Displays - The Hague, The Netherlands UCC Summer Workshop, Cork, Ireland Celtic Ball (Black Tie) - Rome, Italy Irish College - Rome, Italy Centre Culturel Irlandais - Paris, France Basilica de Sacré-Coeur - Paris, France County Mayor - Cork County Hall The Lord Mayor - Cork City Hall St. Patricks Day Parades - Blarney Numerous school concerts... As the Scannell-Ryan school we performed for/in: Disneyland Celtic Parade - Paris, France Edinburgh International Festival - Scotland The Lord Mayor - Cork St. Patricks Day Parades - Cork & Blarney The Actively Retired Tourists - Blarney, Cork Numerous weddings, school concerts, Paddy's day functions in pubs/hotels.... ....to name but a few. We are currently fundraising for our next international.... to help with fares/expenses of dancers to reduce costs on parents. All dancers are offered the chance to take part in trips/events - whether young or old, beginner or champion - there is always a part just perfect for each dancer in our displays. We normally run (now not due to Covid!) bag packing, bowling nights, raffles etc to help us attend future events. Invited to many events but can't make them all. Yet our feet are mad to get off the ground for our next tour! If you have any ideas to help feel free to offer your expertise - it would be much appreciated. We're back from: The Hague (March 2019), Rome (March 2017) & Paris (March 2015) Our next venture is Berlin ... watch this space!
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Our heritage ... |
Principal teacher: Michele (Scannell) Ryan BBus, BA (Hons), TCRG, MIITD Michele is a former pupil of: Peg McTeggart RIP, Aileen Harrington RIP & Rose O'Sullivan. Competed and won at all levels from local feiseanna to All Irelands (An Comhdháil). Performances at varied venues from local hotels to the Cork Opera House... Chosen as a team member to represent Cork in it's twin city Rennes (France) to perform a varied display including Riverdance at the Foire Internationale de Rennes. Graduated TCRG in Co. Down 1995 [the sole graduate from Munster in 95 with An Comhdháil] Officially established our own school in 1995 'the Scannell School of Dancing' after teaching under other teachers for a number of years. Proudly coached new dancers from figuring out their right from their left up to and including trainee teachers, Cork Champions, Munster Champions both solo & team and to All Irelands entrants. An Comhdháil Invited to many and accepted a number of offers for our school to perform on the international level - see some old pix! 3 Solo Munster Champions, 2 Munster Champion Teams (An Comhdháil)... competitions all levels from local feiseanna to All Irelands... Just as proud of the one little dancer who took years to eventually 'click' the threes, see the pride on her parents faces & the joy on her own. Relaunched as the 'Scannell-Ryan School of Dancing' in 1998 Our First International Tour: Edinburgh International Festival 1998 Transferred from An Comhdháil to An Coimisiún (CLRG) in 1999 Interviewed initially by Dr. John Cullinane ADCRG re transfer/ acceptance to An Coimisiún. From a child I had read the books by John and to this day regard him as a treasure for not only his many years of service to Irish dancing but to his dedication to put into words for future generations. He is a living legend and an inspiration not only to me but so many worldwide. Thank you sooooo much John, Michele. International Tour: Celtic Parade Disneyland Paris 2000 Took a career break for family reasons. New classes, new website, new costume, ... watch this space - we're back! Relaunched as the 'Blarney Dance Academy' Back teaching with new young dancers, including my own children. Delighted to welcome new faces as well as some of our former dancers and friends who have returned to our senior class. Sad that some have emigrated but delighted to hear from you - enjoy your adventures and keep in touch. Already three tours under our belts as noted below Paris, Rome & The Hague PARIS 2015 We performed at the 'Greening of the Basilica de Sacré-Coeur' (part of the International greening event for St. Patrick's celebrations). Also the sold out ceilí at the Centre Culturel Irelandais (CCI) in Paris with the Dusty Feet Ceilí Band. Guests of the Irish Embassy & Tourism Ireland in supporting Minister Richard Bruton TD. ROME 2017 We performed at the Celtic Ball (Black Tie) in Hotel Quirinale Rome to a full house including Minister Charlie Flannagan, Vatican Ambassador Emma Madigan & Italian Ambassador Bobby McDonagh. We also performed on two nights at the Irish College for their St. Patrick's Week Celebrations We experienced the 'greening' of the Colosseum THE HAGUE 2019 We performed in the St. Patrick's Festival open air concert with two displays as well as a ceili night with the Irish Business Assosication. Absolutely fabulous people and place with super memories. The crowd at the festival was something to remember! Great craic. We highly recommend anyone to enjoy this yearly festival. 2021 Covid stole the show! Where to next? Watch this space :) Next trip hopefully 2023 once Covid stays at bay! Dancers also honing their skills in competition and gradings.... Expanded our class range so relaunched as 'Blarney Cork Dance Academy' Delighted to Welcome Sinéad Helen (neé Walsh) to our ranks Sinéad is a former pupil of Aileen Harrington RIP and was one of the first dancers of the 'Scannell School' back in the day! She performed with us in Edinburgh / Glasgow 1998 and competed and won in numerous competitions including Regionals (an Comhdháil) Now having completed all 12 dance gradings and prep TMRF teacher training course... only the final diploma exams to go :) Delighted to Welcome Taisce Ryan to our team Taisce is one of our new generation dancers flying through the gradings, already completed 7 grades. She performed with us in The Hague 2019, Rome 2017, Paris 2015 and was on our Senior Céilí team for the Munster Championships. Delighted to Welcome Steph O'Connell to our team Steph is one of our new generation dancers flying through the gradings, already completed 6 grades. She performed with us in The Hague 2019, Rome 2017, Paris 2015. Delighted to Welcome Kelly Brassil to our team Kelly returned to us as an adult dancer and is already flying through the grades having completed 6 in a short timeframe. She not only did us proud making the finals of RTÉ's An Jig Gig but has also completed a BA in Dance and then MA in Performance Arts in UL. She's also a ballet teacher as noted above and will be starting ballet classes in the coming months in Tower/Blarney. |
CORK (BLARNEY) DANCE ACADEMY - Established 1995
Formerly: Blarney Dance Academy & Scannell-Ryan School of Dancing
Business Name Registration # 432478, Ireland.
Copyright (C) 1995-2022 Michele Ryan. All Rights Reserved.
Formerly: Blarney Dance Academy & Scannell-Ryan School of Dancing
Business Name Registration # 432478, Ireland.
Copyright (C) 1995-2022 Michele Ryan. All Rights Reserved.