Jackie founded, directs, and teaches O'Riley Irish Dance, a one-of-a-kind non-competitive Irish dance program for kids and teens, now in it's 13th year. The classes emphasize dancing as a joyful, social activity rather than a competitive one. Although each class addresses developing rhythm, timing, and technique, first and foremost the emphasis is on musicality: understanding the connection between music and dance, developing a listening ear, and trying to keep the music in the dancing. In the advanced level, students collaborate with live musicians. Students learn a mix of traditional step dancing, sean-nós dance, and set dancing, as well as some soft shoe and ceili dancing. Most importantly, Jackie is trying to pass onto her dancers not just the steps themselves, but the joy and vitality of carrying on this living tradition.
End-of-year performance & celebration May 21, 2023
Tickets on sale now!
Spring 2023 registration - closed
Wednesdays in Watertown
Canadian-American Club
Jan 11 - May 17, no class 2/22, 4/12, 4/19
4:15-5pm: Beginner Irish Dance ($288)
Ages 6-10 or those with a year or less of Irish dance
Instructor: Samantha Jones
5-6:15pm: Continuing Irish Dance Ages 9+ ($320)
Ages 10+ or those with 2+ years of Irish dance
Instructor: Samantha Jones/Jackie O'Riley
5-6:15pm: Senior/Teen Irish Dance ($320)
Instructor: Jackie O'Riley
Cambridge
The Dance Complex
Saturdays Jan 14 - May 20, no class 2/18, 4/8, 4/22
9:30-10:30am: Beginner Irish Dance ($304)
Ages 5+ or those with less than a year of Irish dance
Instructor: Kelsey Sutton
Thursdays Jan 12 - May 18, no class 2/23, 4/20 + 1 day tbd
4:30-5:30pm: Continuing Irish Dance ($304)
Ages 8+ or those with 1 year of Irish dance experience
Instructor: Hannah DeRusha.
Mondays in Canton
Irish Cultural Center
Jan 16 - May 15, no class 2/20, 4/10, 4/17
Instructor: Jackie O'Riley
$285/$270 ICC Members
4-4:45pm: Beginner Irish Dance
4:45-5:45pm: Continuing Irish Dance
To register online visit www.irishculture.org
For questions, email orileyirishdance@gmail.com
Class Descriptions
Beginner Irish Dance
Dancers with 0-1 years of experience especially welcome. Join us as we explore a beginner repertoire of jigs and reels, while focusing on the joy and musicality of Irish dance. New students welcome throughout the semester.
Contining Irish Dance
For dancers with 2 or more years of experience, we'll dig more deeply into rhythm, timing, and technique, and continue building our repertoire of traditional step dance, sean-nós dance, and set (social) dancing. Occasional live music in class, and opportunities to perform and dance out in the community!
Senior/Teen Irish Dance
For experienced dancers, we'll work on a mixture of traditional repertoire and new choreography. Dancers will find their musical ear challenged, and enjoy creating together. Performing and live music are both elements of this level.
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Performance Group
The O'Riley Irish Dance Performance Group was started as a project to challenge the more experienced dancers to develop a different skill set, including working with live music, developing improvisation skills, and helping to create choreography. It also has provided them an outlet to share their hard work and passion with others. The result has been a tight-knit group that has developed an intuitive rapport with each other on-stage and off. Memorable performances to date include dancing with the Barra-MacNeils at the Chevalier Theater in Medford, MA 2015, dancing and as part of a Kieran Jordan production titled "Little Gifts" in Cambridge, MA, 2016, and self-produced shows including "The Next Step" in 2017 and "In Harmony" in 2018!
In 2022, we performed as part of the Boston Comedy's Saint Patrick's Day Extravaganza at the Somerville Theater.
To book our performance group, email orileyirishdance@gmail.com.
Teachers
The wonderful Hannah DeRusha has been instrumental in carrying on and developing the programming for our younger students. Hannah is a lifelong Irish dancer, and has extensive experience performing, competing, and teaching both children and adults. She holds a Master's degree in early childhood education. This is her 7th year teaching with O'Riley Irish Dance!
Shoe Exchange Program
To help offset the costs of buying new shoes for ever-growing young feet, we have a shoe exchange program. For those that wish to donate their old dancing shoes, I will hold onto them and make them available to others to "rent". Dancers wishing to rent them will pay a one-time very small donation and use the shoes until they grow out of them. The money collected is used on something fun for the dancers – live music in class, our holiday party, etc.