Private Irish Dance lessons near me

Irish Dance

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An Irish Dance studio for beginners through to champions

OUR STORY

Developed by Conor Hayes in 2014, Melbourne Academy is a premier Irish Dancing school for beginners through to champion dancers. 

Melbourne academy offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes weekly, and is conveniently located in Melbourne's North West. Melbourne Academy offers the only permanent Irish Dance studio in Victoria, with state of the art facilities featuring two stylish and mirrored studios, AC/heating, warm-up and cool down spaces and a parents waiting area & kitchen. 

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A place to learn, love and celebrate the art of Irish Dance, our Melbourne studio is the perfect place for anybody wanting to participate in both team and solo Irish Dancing.

Our Teachers

All teachers at Melbourne Academy of Irish Dance hold a current Working With Children Card and are registered with An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) Ireland and the Australian Irish Dancing Association (AIDA)

Conor Hayes was born in Dublin and started dancing in Melbourne in 1978. He won 14 Australian solo championships, and in 1996 become the first Australian male to win the World Championships.  Conor joined Riverdance - The Show in 1996 and was the lead dancer on Broadway, the first season at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin and the 10th anniversary of Riverdance in Radio City Music Hall.
 

Conor started teaching in 2009 and in 2014, alongside his co-teachers Alison Teese, Louise La Sala and Louise Hanaphy, he has formed Melbourne Academy. Under Conor’s tuition, his students have won 5 solo and 4 team titles at the Australian Championships, numerous titles at the Victorian Championships and he has had students place in the Top 10 at the World Championships.

As an esteemed adjudicator since 2000, Conor is often invited to adjudicate events all over the world such as the All Scotlands, the North American Championships and, in 2012 the World Championships in Belfast. Conor will also adjudicate the 2018 All Ireland Championships, also held in Belfast.

Louise La Sala started dancing in 1997 under the tuition of Anna Rabusin at the Rabusin School of Irish Dancing and later Conor Hayes and Eileen Mulcahy at the Mulcahy-Hayes School of Irish Dancing. Louise won her first State and National titles in 2003 and since then went on to win 9 State Titles and 5 National Titles. She was also a member of numerous State and National winning teams. Louise finished her solo career in 2013, with a ranking of 10th at the World Championships in Boston, USA.

In 2014, Louise gained her teachers qualification in Dublin and started teaching at Melbourne Academy of Irish Dance alongside Conor Hayes, Alison Teese and Louise Hanaphy. Louise is also currently completing her PhD in Psychology and teaches Sports Psychology and Developmental Psychology at Swinburne University. 

Alison Teese commenced dancing when she was 7 years old with the Ayres School of Irish Dancing under the tuition of Raymond Ayres. At 18 years old, Alison started dancing for the Cosgriff School of Irish Dancing and continued dancing into her late twenties. Throughout her dancing career, Alison was a member of many state and national winning teams and achieved a number of top 10 places in her national competitions, placing 4th in the prestigious Senior Ladies before retiring.

Alison received her TCRG in 2001, where she started the Breen-Kerr school alongside Kellie Breen (TCRG) in Melbourne. Breen-Kerr achieved much success with a Senior Men’s national champion, various state champions and a number of national team titles. Alison began teaching with Conor Hayes in 2013 and is now teaching for the Melbourne Academy alongside Louise La Sala and Louise Hanaphy.

Louise Hanaphy started dancing at 3 years old and began competing at the state and national level when she was only 8 years old. Dancing under the Cosgriff School and later with the Mulcahy School,  Louise achieved many successes throughout her competitive dancing career with both state and national championship wins.  Louise won her first State championships in 1998 and won her first National championships in 1991, Louise holds 2 state titles and 4 national titles. Throughout her career, Louise danced and trained internationally, competing at the World Championships and All Ireland’s. Louise was a part of many state and national winning teams with both the Cosgriff and Mulcahy schools. 

Receiving her TCRG in 2016, Louise has been teaching with the Melbourne Academy alongside Conor Hayes, Louise La Sala and Alison Teese. Louise also has a Bachelor of Education and is currently teaching at a Primary school.

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Teaching confidence, teamwork and the art of Irish Dance

2019 Timetable

Monday

5.30pm – 6.15pm Beginner

6.30pm – 8.00pm Open Solo

8.15pm – 9.15pm Adults/Fitness

Tuesday

World Class/Alternate Set Groups/Private Lessons

Times to be advised as required

Wednesday

6.30pm – 8.00pm Open Solo

8.00pm – 9.00pm U15/U18/Open Age Ceili 

Thursday

TBA

Saturday

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HALL 1

9.00am – 9.45am Beginner

10.00am – 11.00am U12 Ceili 

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HALL 2

10.00am – 11.30am Open Solo

11.30 - 12.30 U15 Figure/OC

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