Choosing a Class

How do I know what class to sign my child up for ?

1. Beginner Class Level –
This level is for children with little or no experience with Irish dancing. Even if they have taken other forms of dance, children still need to start out in the Beginner level. If your child is age 7 or older and took our Intro to Irish Dancing Camp, they can sign up for Beginner 2 level. If your child took Intro to Irish Dancing Camp and is 6 or younger, they should go into a regular Beginner class.

2. Beginner 2 Class Level –
This level is for children with some experience who are not ready for Advanced Beginner level yet. This would include older children (age 7+) who took Intro to Irish Dancing Camp and also any children who took a beginner class that started in January rather than September and did not attend our regular summer camp program.

3. Advanced Beginner Class Level –
This level is for children who have completed one year in our beginner class level. In order to enter the AB level children should be fluent in the first 3 Light Jig steps, their Irish Skips, their 7’s, Over-the-Logs, and at least the 1st step in the Reel. Some children will know more than this going into the AB level so this is a minimum guideline. IF your child is unable to attend our Summer Camp, it is extremely helpful to get some one-on-one help from one of our senior dancers over the summer before returning in September to ensure they are up to speed and remember what they learned in the prior year! For more information about setting up a one-on-one session please email Kathleen@penderkeady.com 

4. Novice Class Level -
This class level is for children who have completed 1 year in our Advanced Beginner Level. At this point it is important to try to attend Summer Camp and if you are unable to attend camp it is advised that a few brush up lessons be taken before September with one of our senior students to make sure they are ready for class (see #3 for more information). At a minimum, dancers entering the Novice class level should be fluent in 4 Light Jig steps, 2 Reel steps, 2 Slip Jig steps, and at least the 1st hard shoe Jig step and preferable the 2nd step as well. This is in addition to their skips, seven’s and over-the-logs.

5. Prizewinner 1 Class Level –
This class level is for children who have successfully completed our Novice class level. Dancers who do not attend summer camp will most likely struggle in the PW 1 level if they do not get some “extra help” over the summer (see # 3). It is not abnormal for some kids to find the need to repeat the Novice level again before advancing to PW 1. Dancers moving into PW 1 are required to be fluent in: 4 light jigs, 4 reel steps, 2 slip jig steps, 2 treble jig steps danced to the fast music, 2 hornpipe steps danced to the fast music, and the traditional set St. Patricks Day. Children will have learned a lot in their Novice year so it is important that they are up to speed when entering PW1 level in September!

6. Prizewinner 2 Class Level –
This class level is for children who have completed the Prizewinner 1 class level. At this point children are learning very advanced steps and should be attending Summer Camp. If a child does not attend summer camp prior to the PW 2 class level then there is a good chance they may need to repeat the PW 1 class level. If you are unsure about whether or not your child is ready to move on to the PW 2 level, please email Kathleen@penderkeady.com for advisement. Going into this level, dancers are required to know, in addition to the requirements for PW1, the 3 prelim reel steps, and 3 slow treble jig steps.

7. Pre-Prelim Class Level –
This class level is for children who have completed the Prizewinner 2 class level and have not yet moved into the preliminary level when competing in feisanna. The preprelim level is both a prep class for children who are aspiring to move into the preliminary level in competition, in addition to being the class level for children who have completed PW 2 and who don’t compete. For non-competitive dancers, they will remain in the Pre-Prelim class level going forward in future years as the Prelim level is strictly for competitive dancers.

8. Prelim class level –
This level is for competitive dancers who have achieved the prelim level when competing in feisanna. These classes are broken down loosely by age but are age flexible based on children’s schedule’s.

9. Open Championship Level –
This class level is strictly for competitive dancers who have achieved the Open Championship level in feisanna.

10. Drill Class -
This class level is only being offered from September through til the Oireachtas, on Wednesday nights from 6:45 – 7:45pm. Enrollment for this class will be a separate entity from the online enrollment system used for all other classes. This class is strictly open to dancers who will be competing in solo competitions at the Oireachtas. For more information about this class please email Kathleen@penderkeady.com