Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance

Honoring Heritage and Tradition
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            Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance

 

           Inspired by many great teachers, we began the Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance to

           continue the legacy of honoring heritage and tradition in the art of Irish dancing.

Philosophy

                                                                                                        

  • We are committed to teaching Irish dance to boys and girls in a way that is both true to the roots of the art and innovative in its rhythm and style.      

   

  • Promoting a love of dance in a family-oriented, enriching environment is our aim. It is our hope that a dancer will have fun while realizing their potential. We will encourage the values of respect, self-discipline, self-confidence and cooperation.


 

  • Performance and competition both play an equal role in our instruction. It is the student's goals that drive the focus of their instruction. Opportunities in each of these areas will be fostered.


  • We are dedicated to choreography and footwork of high caliber. This is integral to providing quality performances in the community. Focus on this level of detail is also necessary for participating at local, regional, national and world level competitions.

 

About Our Name

Our school name was selected to honor one of our first teachers,  Therese Kinsella.  However, both Therese and her husband Lupe played integral roles in developing a lifelong love of Irish dance and all of its traditions. We are grateful to them for their support through the years and in helping us realize our dream of opening our own Irish
dance school.

 

Instructors


Brigid Kinsella-Alba T.C.R.G.


Brigid’s Irish dance began at the age of five and studied under the master teachers Dennis Dennehy, A.D.C.R.G. and his daughter Kathy Dennehy, A.D.C.R.G. In recent years at Cashel-Dennehy, Brigid has assisted with choreographing performances, teaching classes and private lessons, as well as offering ceili team instruction.

 

Brigid has also competed as a soloist and ceili team dancer at the regional, national and world levels. Her highest  placement at the Regional Championships is 3rd. Brigid qualified for the World Championships six times and recalled. She participated in the Senior Ladies ceili team and placed 2nd at the World Championships. 

Performances

The instructors at Kinsella enjoy performing for people of all ages.  They had numerous past opportunities including dancing for President George W. Bush, Eileen Ivers, Mick Maloney, Governer Tommy Thompson; with Cherish the Ladies, Disney World and local shows and festivals.  Brigid continues to perform with her school's students.

 

Under their direction, Kinsella Academy has continued the performance tradition. Their dancers perform numbers which are innovative in rhythm and style and integrate the traditional steps of the Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes, treble jigs and treble reels. Brigid loves to choreograph and frequently includes new dances in their performances and the live music of Brigid's Irish fiddle.

 

Please see the performance page for more information.

 

Musicians

Brigid is also an accomplished fiddle player and has competed at the All Ireland Music Championships in both the solo and duet categories. She played with the traditional Irish music group Anam Ri for 4 years and while with them produced the CD Anam Ri, Live at the Milwaukee Ale House. Brigid continues to appear as a guest musician as part of the well known Irish Folk group Leahy's Luck and recorded a guest track with them on their newest CD, Family Brew.