Bluegrass Ceili Academy

Mar252018 by Megan MNo Comments

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

“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…

Feb252018 by Megan MNo Comments

Irish dance March madness in Lexington is on its way!

Local Events

The month of March is made for Irish dancers -- so much so that we have our own version of March madness in Lexington, with festivals, parades, performances and lots of fun. Our Bluegrass Ceili Academy is heading into March, as they say, like a lion -- with a full lineup of events where you can meet and dance with us! Check out our March madness in Lexington schedule Here are some of the places you'll find us this March. March 10 – Irish Dance at MovementLust (workshop): Get your jig on just before St. Patrick's Day with this family-friendly Irish dance class at Movementlust. Join Central Kentucky's community-based Irish dance school at Lexington's hottest new dance studio to learn the basics of Irish step and group dancing. This special class is…

Dec132017 by Megan MNo Comments

It’ll be a foot-stomping good time at our Irish dance workshop in Lexington

Community, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington, Local Events

[caption id="attachment_985" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Mary Beth Taylor brings more than 20 years of experience teaching traditional Irish percussive dance to Central Kentucky for a weekend workshop January 13-14, 2018. Photo courtesy of http://www.irishdancedublin.com/ by Silvia Vitali.[/caption] Do you tap, clog, Irish dance or just enjoy a good toe-tapping tune? If so, spend your weekend with us making music with your feet at our Irish dance workshop in Lexington. The Bluegrass Irish Society, Bluegrass Ceili Academy and Kentucky McTeggart Irish Dancers are honored to bring Mary Beth Taylor to Lexington from Dublin, Ireland, for two days of traditional old style Irish séan nos and set dancing classes. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE WORKSHOP Meet the instructor for our Irish dance workshop in Lexington We're excited to bring Mary Beth…

Nov272017 by Megan MNo Comments

Give the gift of dance this holiday: Lexington Irish dance classes

Instruction, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington

With the holiday season upon us, here's one unique gift you can share that lasts for months (and maybe even a lifetime): our Lexington Irish dance classes! With a variety of different classes and events coming up this winter and spring to try, we’re sure you’ll find something you love. Join our Lexington Irish dance school for classes, workshops and more! REGISTER FOR OUR SPRING 2018 ARTWORKS CHILDREN'S, ADULT CLASSES Registration is open now via the Lexington Parks and Recreation website. Click here to register and click here for our schedule. Classes begin February 5 and go through May 7. Cost for the session is $60. WINTER ADULT INTENSIVE AT MOVEMENTLUST Registration is open now for December and January classes for adults. We’ll be focusing on material for performance and competition. Read more and register now. Cost for…

Nov222017 by Megan MNo Comments

Happy Thanksgiving from our Lexington Irish dance school

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Community

With Thanksgiving 2017 upon us, we at Bluegrass Ceili Academy wanted to thank our Lexington Irish dance school family for all that you bring to our community. We've had a busy year so far and there's still a lot coming up this fall and early in 2018, so we're excited to share some of those events with you. But first... all of the things for which we are thankful: Our students: From our beginners, to our returning students, to our adults, we are grateful for each and every pair of feet dancing across our studio floor. Our parents: In case your dancers haven't said so, we say "THANK YOU!" for choosing to make our Irish dance classes part of your child's cultural growth. Our partners: Our Lexington Irish dance school is…

Oct272017 by Megan MNo Comments

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 séan 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…

Oct262017 by Megan MNo Comments

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…

Oct92017 by Megan MNo Comments

What our Lexington Irish dance classes can teach your student

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Community, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington

October is National Arts and Humanities Month and a great time to look at what the arts, such as our Lexington Irish dance classes, can teach your student – whether that’s something as simple as a dance step or a broader life lesson. First, the research. According to the Americans for the Arts: Students involved with the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and three times more likely to be awarded for school attendance. High school students who take four years of arts and music classes average almost 100 points higher on their SAT scores than students who take only one-half year or less. Low-income students who are highly engaged in the arts are twice as likely to graduate collegeas their peers with no arts…

Sep202017 by Megan MNo Comments

Irish dance in Lexington: Traditions, history give growth to new community

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Instruction, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington

When I talk about what I want Bluegrass Ceili Academy's role in Irish dance in Lexington to be, you'll hear me describe our goal of being a community-based cultural arts resource for Central Kentucky. It's that perspective that we want to share with our dancers, families and supporters. We're just days away from the start of our second full year of classes at Artworks at the Carver School and we couldn't be more excited to welcome both our new and returning students. But before the new year begins, I wanted to share with you more about what Bluegrass Ceili Academy is, where we came from and our mission in being a vital part of the community. The legacy of Peggy O'Neill [caption id="attachment_945" align="alignright" width="234"] Peggy O'Neill. Photo courtesy of…

Aug292017 by Megan MNo Comments

Last chance: Support scholarships for cultural arts classes in Lexington

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Community

Perspective. Experience. Community. Mission. Not only is that what matters, but it’s why our Irish dance school has stepped up to support scholarships for cultural arts classes in Lexington. In July, we partnered with the 2017 Kentucky Rose of Tralee to host a fundraiser for Artworks at the Carver School. All funds raised are being to provide need- and merit-based scholarships for children and adults who take cultural arts classes through Lexington Parks and Recreation’s programs at Artworks. Before our school year begins in September, you have one last chance to support our scholarships for these cultural arts classes in Lexington. Why are we doing this? Because, for us, it’s about community. Our Lexington Irish dance school was welcomed into the Artworks program last year, along with other cultural arts classes such as karate…