FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHO CAN SIGN UP?

Anyone! We take ages 3 - adult, boys and girls. We teach beginners through advanced dancers and no experience is necessary for an older dancer who wants to give Irish Dancing a try. There is a class for everyone. We have lots of siblings, parents/children and friends who join together. You're welcome to observe or try out a class before you decide.

Open enrollment is in the Summer and Fall. In January we prepare for St. Patrick's Day performance season, so teacher approval is required to enroll. The dance season runs Sept - June with an optional Summer session.

WHAT DO IRISH DANCERS WEAR?

For class, exercise shirts and shorts or stretch pants that allow the teacher to clearly see the knees are best. Thin socks are worn with appropriate Irish dance shoes.

For performances, female dancers wear either a skirt / skort and t-shirt or a traditional dress with a full skirt. Dancers also wear tights or poodle socks, and a traditional cape. Male dancers can wear kilts & t-shirt or slacks and vest & tie. Costumes are embellished with traditional celtic knotwork, embroidery and gems. We pride ourselves on beautiful, affordable and modest costuming.

DO YOU PERFORM AND COMPETE?

We love to perform! Most of our performances happen around St. Patrick’s Day and mid-summer. We participate in the Salt Lake St. Patrick’s Day parade and Siamsa as well as dancing at various senior centers, churches and events around the valley. In the Summer we dance at the Salt Lake Highland Festival and the Payson Scottish Festival. Occasionally we participate in local town days or get invited to dance for private functions at other times of the year. Our annual recital, Celtic Celebration, showcases all of our dancers and is held in June. All ADC dancers will have opportunities to perform, regardless of age or dancing level. ADC is a non-competitive studio.

CAN I JUST LEARN HARD SHOE?

We do not accept dancers who only want to learn hard shoe. All dancers begin in soft shoe before adding hard shoe. Developing technique, rhythm and strength in soft shoe is an important prerequisite learning hard shoe and cannot be rushed. When dancers have progressed to an intermediate level in soft shoe and have teacher approval, they may begin hard shoe dancing. Older dancers usually progress a little faster than our youngest dancers. Dancers should anticipate a minimum of 1-2 years of soft shoe only before adding hard shoe.

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