The Bluegrass Ceili Blog

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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Registration for Fall 2023 Irish dance classes in Lexington open now!

Registration for Fall 2023 Irish dance classes in Lexington open now!

Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
If you’ve been looking for fun, affordable Irish dance classes in Lexington, now is the time to sign up with Bluegrass Ceili Academy.  Our classes — for beginners, youth and adults — focus on learning and mastering the basics of Irish dancing — we’ll have a variety of classes to choose from this fall.  Here's a look at our Irish dance classes (and online) offered this fall: Beginner Irish Dance (Wednesdays, 5:30-6:15 p.m.) – This class is for students ages 5-12 who have never taken an Irish dance class. Specific instruction will focus on the fundamentals of Irish dance, including recital material. Students without previous dance or Irish dance experience are welcome. (If you have a beginner older than 12, send us an email and we'll find the right class for your dancer!)…
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Try one of Bluegrass Ceili’s Irish dance classes in Lexington

Try one of Bluegrass Ceili’s Irish dance classes in Lexington

Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
Enjoy your summer and take a class with us this fall! Registration for our Fall 2023 Irish dance classes in Lexington opens August 23. The new year is a new opportunity to join our fun, affordable community-based program, offering classes for beginners, youth and adults. Our instruction focuses on learning and mastering the basics of Irish dancing, and you can try it out for FREE! We'll be part of a free open house on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 5-7 p.m. at Artworks right before classes begin. We'll have a brief sample class and answer any questions you have about our Irish dance classes in Lexington. Registration will open through Lexington Parks and Recreation on Aug. 23. Visit https://link.bluegrassceili.com/register23 to sign up. We have a number of classes to choose from…
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Team Bluegrass Ceili Academy brings home national championship title

Team Bluegrass Ceili Academy brings home national championship title

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ-2oKQ36X8 Bluegrass Ceili Academy was crowned the inaugural Adult Mixed Four Hand champions this week in Nashville at the 2023 North American Irish Dance Championships. It's the first national-level win for Lexington's community-based Irish dance program. "Our school motto is 'Do What Makes Your Heart Sing' and our dancers showed the judges and everyone in the room just how much dancing makes their hearts sing," said Megan Moloney, the academy's founder and director. "We didn't put pressure on ourselves for this competition. Nashville is nearby, so we decided we would go, have fun and dance our best. We are thrilled that effort was enough to bring a national championship title back to Lexington." The North American championships feature dancers from the United States, Canada and Mexico. The 2023 event was…
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Join us for Céilí Mór Kentucky July 21-22 in Lexington

Join us for Céilí Mór Kentucky July 21-22 in Lexington

Local Events
The Bluegrass Ceili Academy, in partnership with the Bluegrass Irish Society, Lexington Parks and Recreation, the Kentucky Irish Music Academy and Kentucky McTeggart Irish Dancers presents Céilí Mór Kentucky 2023, a celebration of Irish dance, music and language. This event is made possible in part by a dance development grant from An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha. Join us in Lexington July 21-22 at Artworks at Tates Creek for workshops in Irish dance, music and language. Learn from professional musicians and dancers and participate in two community ceilis Friday and Saturday evenings Admission is $5 on Friday and $10 on Saturday (unlimited classes + ceili) or $5 for just the evening ceili. The event will be held at Lexington Parks and Recreation's Tates Creek ballroom at 1400 Gainesway Drive. Participants will…
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Registration for 2023 Irish dance classes in Lexington open now!

Registration for 2023 Irish dance classes in Lexington open now!

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Instruction
The new year is a new opportunity to join our fun, affordable Irish dance classes in Lexington! Now is the time to sign up with Bluegrass Ceili Academy for our winter/spring session.  Our classes — for beginners, youth and adults — focus on learning and mastering the basics of Irish dancing — we’ll have a variety of classes to choose from in 2023.  Beginner Irish Dance (Wednesdays, 5:30-6:15 p.m.) – This class is for students ages 5-12 who have never taken an Irish dance class. Specific instruction will focus on the fundamentals of Irish dance, including recital material. Students without previous dance or Irish dance experience are welcome. Youth Irish Dance (Mondays, 6-6:55 p.m.) – This class is for returning students or those placed in the class with the permission of the instructor. Students…
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Bluegrass Ceili Academy expands expertise with new teaching partnership

Bluegrass Ceili Academy expands expertise with new teaching partnership

Instruction, Uncategorized
Heading into the 2022-23 dance class year, Bluegrass Ceili Academy is again expanding it's national and global partnerships to provide opportunities for its dancers. Lexington's community-based Irish dance program has partnered with former world medalist and international champion Courtney Jay, TCRG. Jay is director of Scoil Rince Luimni in Connecticut and, like Bluegrass Ceili Academy, focuses on bringing a modern approach to the traditional art of Irish dance. Courtney Jay has been dancing for 25 years. She trained for 12 years under Sheila Stevens and she found her love for Irish dancing and passion for teaching. Courtney attended the University of Limerick, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Irish Music and Dance with first class honors. While in Ireland she studied under the Fleming-Ball School of Irish Dance where she…
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Registration for Irish dance classes in Lexington open now!

Registration for Irish dance classes in Lexington open now!

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Instruction, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington
If you’ve been looking for fun, affordable Irish dance classes in Lexington, now is the time to sign up with Bluegrass Ceili Academy.  Our classes — for beginners, youth and adults — focus on learning and mastering the basics of Irish dancing — we’ll have a variety of classes to choose from this fall.  Beginner Irish Dance (Wednesdays, 5:30-6:15 p.m.) – This class is for students ages 5-12 who have never taken an Irish dance class. Specific instruction will focus on the fundamentals of Irish dance, including recital material. Students without previous dance or Irish dance experience are welcome.Youth Irish Dance (Mondays, 6-6:55 p.m.) – This class is for returning students or those placed in the class with the permission of the instructor. Students in this class should have mastered basic ceili movements and…
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Join us for Céilí Mór Kentucky Aug. 26-27 in Lexington

Join us for Céilí Mór Kentucky Aug. 26-27 in Lexington

Bluegrass Ceili Academy
Bluegrass Ceili Academy, in partnership with the Bluegrass Irish Society and McTeggart Irish Dancers (Kentucky), presents Céilí Mór Kentucky, a weekend celebration of Irish dance, music and language. Céilí Mór Kentucky is made possible in part by a dance development grant from An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha. Join us August 26-27 in Lexington at Artworks at the Carver School for two days of workshops in Irish dance, music and language. Learn from professional musicians and dancers and participate in a community ceili to wrap up the event. Admission is $5 per day, with unlimited classes per day. The event will be held at Artworks at the Carver School, 522 Patterson Street, Lexington, KY. Participants will have the opportunity to take classes in Irish dance, music and language from a talented…
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Bluegrass Ceili again named a favorite Lexington dance studio

Bluegrass Ceili again named a favorite Lexington dance studio

Bluegrass Ceili Academy
Bluegrass Ceili Academy is back on the podium this year in the 2022 Best of Lexington awards. We're honored to be a favorite Lexington dance studio according to YOU and our community! The Lexington Herald Leader's 2022 Best of Lexington Awards were announced August 14 and thanks to our community, Bluegrass Ceili Academy was among the top three. "We couldn't be more excited to be among the top studios according to our neighbors," said academy director Megan Moloney. It's the second year in a row that the #dowhatmakesyourheartsing studio has been at the top of mind for Lexingtonians. In 2021, Bluegrass Ceili Academy took top honors. "One of my favorite quotes from Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is 'though she be but little, she is fierce.," Moloney explained. "I think…
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