Bluegrass Ceili Academy

Aug22021 by BCANo Comments

Bluegrass Ceili’s Megan Moloney recognized for excellence in teaching

The founder and director of Lexington's community-based Irish dance school was recently recognized with a global excellence in teaching award. Bluegrass Ceili Academy's Megan Moloney is one of just 23 individuals worldwide who were singled out for Irish Dancing Magazine's 2021 Irish Dancing Teacher Awards. "It's such an amazing thing to be able to share my chosen art with others. It's an even more amazing thing when you can see the impact you have on them. And when you're recognized for that impact at a global level? That's so very special," Moloney said. In April, Irish Dancing Magazine announced they were seeking nominations for dance teachers with qualities that reflect a standard of excellence that goes beyond competitive results. Students from Bluegrass Ceili Academy nominated Moloney for not only her…

Jul212021 by BCANo Comments

Irish dancing in Lexington… all the way through the summer!

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington

With Bluegrass Ceili Academy, we're finding way to keep you Irish dancing in Lexington all throughout the year. Our winter and spring class sessions at Artworks at the Carver School are just one option for our dancers, who have kept on their toes this summer with drills classes, preparation for grade exams and competitions, as well as a few performances. Here's a look at a few of the the opportunities our youth and adult dancers have had since the beginning of May. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEVxlbbNBf4 In May, we wrapped up our spring classes with a performance onstage at Lexington's MoonDance Amphitheater as part of the Kiddie Kapers and Company spring dance recital. Our Saturday summer drills class not only focuses on the fundamentals, but on creating fun new choreographies, such as a…

Aug302020 by BCANo Comments

Connecting globally to serve our Lexington Irish dance school community

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington

Photo from January 2020's Percussive Irish Dance Workshop What classes look like at our Lexington Irish dance school over the last few months are certainly different than the last time we were in our Artworks studio. Video lessons and review, Zoom classes and outdoor instruction are all ways we’ve kept our dancers moving over the summer. As we head back into classes this September, there are more changes coming for Bluegrass Ceili Academy and we’re excited to share them with you. Focusing on fundamentals This fall, the classes for both our youth and adult dancers at our Lexington Irish dance school will focus on the fundamentals of Irish step dancing. Different from the ceili dancing we usually teach, this year’s instruction will include learning what we call “solo” dances --…

Jul122020 by BCANo Comments

Irish dancing in Lexington amidst a pandemic: Staying healthy at dance

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Irish Dance Classes in Lexington

Irish dancing in Lexington, and around the world, has changed in the post-COVID 19 world and Bluegrass Ceili Academy is adapting to change with it. We'd like to share with you some of the steps we're taking. While hand sanitizer was a staple in our classrooms before March -- with all the hand-holding our choreography requires, it kept the flu and other bugs away -- it's now just one of multiple health precautions we have to take. Masks, social distancing, sanitizer and hand-washing are all things we're asking our dancers to do. What Irish dancing in Lexington looks like now For our community-based Irish dance school, dancing together now means a number of different things. Since March, we've taken our dancing to the computer screen with recorded classes on Google…

Nov132019 by BCANo Comments

Bluegrass Ceili Academy’s award-winning kilt design heading to production

Bluegrass Ceili Academy

The email header read: "We have a tartan contest winner." The headline: "Sing it out loud." But what was inside the email was the news dancers at Lexington's Bluegrass Ceili Academy had been waiting for. The school's "Heart Sings" tartan design was selected the winner from 360 designs in Sport Kilt's October contest. The design was among the top five most popular entries receiving votes from the public during the month-long contest. "We're thrilled to learn that our design, which represents the spirit and history of our community-based dance program, was selected for production by Sport Kilt," said Megan Moloney, director of Bluegrass Ceili Academy. "Knowing we'll be able to wear a custom-created, American-made dance costume that represents who we are, what we stand for and the community we call…

Oct162019 by BCANo Comments

Our “Heart Sings” in Bluegrass Ceili tartan designed for SportKilt contest

Bluegrass Ceili Academy, Community, Uncategorized

The "Heart Sings" tartan represents the past, present and future of Lexington's community-based Irish dance program. Click and vote for it here until the first week of November. Dancers at Lexington's Bluegrass Ceili Academy regularly rock the Big Blue, a tartan from U.S.-made SportKilt. Now we're taking a chance on getting our very own tartan made and we need your help to do it. SportKilt recently announced its "Put the Art in Tartan" contest, allowing individuals to design their own colorful patterns. "[T]artans have been worn to express family, region or individual pride for nearly 2,000 years," according to the contest website. Taking on the tartan challenge As a proud part of SportKilt's #ClanBrave, Lexington's community-based Irish dance school submitted design for the company's tartan contest. And while the design…

Sep182019 by BCANo Comments

The Irish Dance Podcast interviews Bluegrass Ceili Academy founder

Bluegrass Ceili Academy

Pull out your phones or computer -- it's time to listen to Bluegrass Ceili Academy founder and director Megan Moloney on the newest episode of The Irish Dance Podcast. According to host Martin Percival, the goal of The Irish Dance Podcast is to highlight members of Irish dance world, "one guest at a time, as a way for our community to celebrate its history, culture, richness and global reach." Percival is a former dancer with Riverdance, Dancing on Dangerous Ground, and principal dancer with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance. He also co-founded Irish Dance Theatre, a Colorado-based 501c3 nonprofit that seeks to preserve and embolden the art of Irish dance. In episode 57, released Sept. 17, Percival talks with Moloney about learning Irish dance as an adult dancer, competing as an adult, passing…

Sep12019 by BCANo Comments

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…

Jul222019 by BCANo Comments

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…

Jul182019 by BCANo Comments

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…