What we do ...
CDA / BDA Dancers
Our main/senior classes are based in Blarney.
Our founding teacher Michele is the only
qualified & registered practicing teacher resident in Blarney.
Also of course we love to travel and
'Blarney' is known worldwide and
strikes a chord as being distinctly Irish.
Established in 1995, we now have dancers coming through as teachers so have expanded our area of classes in Cork :)
To expand our classes beyond Blarney we
have widened our name to Cork Dance Academy/CDA and expanded outside Irish to include Ballet
Dancers range in age from 4 years to 60+ !
As diverse in interests and experience as the years between us!!
What we do:
Display (including international travel) Gradings (exams) &
Feiseanna (competitions)
We provide private classes as well as
teach in schools as part of their curriculum
Since our re-launch as CDA/BDA
we have performed in/for:
St. Patrick's Festivals / Displays
in The Hague, The Netherlands
UCC Summer Workshop, Cork, Ireland
Celtic Ball (Black Tie) in Rome, Italy
The Irish College in Rome, Italy
Disneyland Paris, France
Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, France
Basilica de Sacré-Coeur in Paris, France
County Mayor in Cork County Hall
The Lord Mayor in Cork City Hall
St. Patricks Day Parades in Blarney
Numerous school concerts...
As the Scannell-Ryan school
we performed for/in:
Disney Performing Arts in Disneyland Park and
the Disneyland Celtic Parade in Paris, France
Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland
The Lord Mayor in Cork
St. Patricks Day Parades in Cork & Blarney
The Actively Retired in Tower
Tourists in Blarney, Cork
Numerous weddings, school concerts,
Paddy's day functions in pubs/hotels....
....to name but a few.
We are currently fundraising
for our next international....
to help with fares/expenses of dancers to reduce costs on parents.
All dancers are offered the chance to take part in trips/events - whether young or old, beginner or champion -
there is always a part just perfect for each dancer in our displays.
We normally run (now not due to Covid!) bag packing, bowling nights, raffles etc to help us attend future events.
Invited to many events but can't make them all.
Yet our feet are mad to get off the ground for our next tour!
If you have any ideas to help feel free to offer your expertise
- it would be much appreciated.
Our adventures:
Disneyland (2024)
The Hague (2019)
Rome (2017)
Paris (2015)
Paris (2000)
Edinburgh / Glasgow (1998)
Our next venture will be ... watch this space!
Who we are ...
Mom of 4 busy teens/young adults.
Qualified Registered Experienced/Member of:
New Dance Organisation (Announcing soon)
Team-PRRC (Persons Responsible for Regulatory Compliance)
ASQ American Society for Quality
RAPS Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
Also qualified in:
- HDip into MSc in Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs from TUS with distinction/first class honours.
- BA (Hons) in HR Management from MTU with First Class Honours.
- BBus in Management from MTU with Distinction.
- PPC in Training & Development from IITD.
- Lean Six Sigma Green belt with MTU and DCM.
- RP (Responsible Person) for Pharmaceutical Logistics GDP (Good Distribution Practice).
- IT from TUS (formerly LIT).
- Occupational & Paediatric First Aid, CPR
- Holistic Therapies: Reflexology, Anatomy & Physiology (NHII), Aromatherapy, Holistic Massage, Anatomy & Physiology (ITEC), Thermo Auricular Therapy (Ear Candling), Hot Stone Therapy & Reiki. Post grads in Reflexology in Palliative Care & Infertility
Senior dancers currently working their way through the Irish Dance Exams...
She also competed and won in numerous competitions including Regionals (An Comhdháil).
Having returned as an adult dancer, in 2015
she is the first of our dancers to complete all 12 CLRG grades with honours, as well as our prep TMRF course.
Having gotten married in recent years,
most importantly she is a mom to of 2.
Hannah Dennehy
is a qualified, registered and experienced music (piano) & secondary school teacher. Hannah performed in Rome 2017 & Paris 2015 and not only in team but a solo performance in Disneyland in 2024
She has completed all 12 CLRG grades.
Summer 2015 Hannah also competed in the
Cork Selection for the Rose of Tralee,
sponsored by BDA. She was absolutely fab of course and had lots of fun while representing us so well.
Gina Cullen
is a qualified primary teacher and development coach.
She has completed all 12 CLRG grades, as well as our TMRF prep course in just 4 years from joining us!
She absolutely flew through the grades and developed in style and technique due to her natural talent and commitment to practice.
Gina performed in our ladies senior céilí team in the Munsters and was also part of our display team in our 2019 tour to The Hague.
Karen McDonnell
has completed 8 CLRG grades in just a few short years with us through dedicated practice and commitment.
Karen performed in our Disneyland Paris 2024 live show.
She is a very dedicated and talented dancer, who puts not only time outside her fulltime engineering role, but also driving substantial distances to make our classes
Taisce Ryan
has completed 7 CLRG gradings.
She performed in all our recent tours to date -
Disneyland 2024, Berlin 2023, The Hague 2019,
Rome 2017 & Paris 2015
and was on our senior ladies céilí team for the Munsters.
She qualified in animal care and healthcare and is currently in college studying for a nursing degree.
Kelly Brassil
has been dancing since the age of 3 and most recently completed the BA in dance in UL (the University of Limerick). She made the semi-final of An Jig Gig - which aired in November 2015.
Having started grades relatively recently she has already completed 7 CLRG grades. Kelly also competed in the Mini Munsters 2016 for her first time and as well as winning a host of medals also won a trophy for 3rd overall of Munster in the Trad Set.
She also studied ballet full time for 3 years before joining Cork City Ballet in performances of Giselle, The Nutcracker,
Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.
She taught childrens ballet in the Firkin Crane for 2 years.
Steph O'Connell
has completed 6 CLRG grades with dedication to practice.
She too has performed in all our recent tours to date - Disneyland 2024, Berlin 2023, The Hague 2019, Rome 2017 & Paris 2015.
She is currently in college studying a degree in Arts.
Gillian O'Driscoll
is bombing through the grades having joined us recently and already completed 7 CLRG gradings - a very dedicated and talented dancer, also driving substantial distances to make our classes as well as being a busy mom and business owner.
Sarah O'Connell
has completed 6 CLRG grades over the past few years.
Originally a support on our 2015 Paris tour, Sarah joined the dance classes and performed as a team member in Disneyland 2024.
She was also a talented footballed and since graduating with an honours arts degree in the past years, has qualified and is now a primary school teacher.
And there's more!
Many more dancers who have started their journey on the grade exams and touring (watch this space - only those from 18+ years, grades 7 or TMRF/TCRG and higher are listed or those who travelled with us on tours over the recent years).
Síofra Ryan
completed 3 CLRG grades,
performed in Rome 2017, was support in Paris 2015.
Having graduated from UCC with an honours BSc in Government and Political Science is a graduate student studying towards her masters. Multi-talented, she was the National Karate Champion with the IKF [for Black Belt 13-14 yrs Girls Kata (Nov 2013) ] as well as 5th seed in Europe and 8th seed in the world before taking time out of karate. October 2013 (came 4th after a joint 3rd) & WUKF World Karate Championships]. She came 3rd in the Nationals with SKIF [for Black Belt 15-17 yr overall gents and ladies @ only 15 years old].
She then transferred her attention to acting with the Irish Film Academy in Cork before moving onto her university focus.
Éadaoin Ryan
completed 2 CLRG gradngs. She doesn't favour competition or grades really, but enjoyed the fun of dancing.
She performed in Rome 2017 & Paris 2015 in the senior line before graduating with an honours arts degree.
Our heritage / roots ...
Michele, founding teacher was a former pupil of Rose O'Sullivan, Aileen Harrington RIP & Peg McTeggart RIP
Competed and won at all levels from local feiseanna to All Irelands (An Comhdháil). Performances at varied venues from local hotels to the Cork Opera House... Member of the display team to represent Cork in it's twin city Rennes (France) to perform a varied display including Riverdance at the Foire Internationale de Rennes.
Graduated TCRG in Co. Down 1995
[the sole graduate from Munster in 95 with An Comhdháil].
Officially established our own school
in
1995 'the Scannell School of Dancing'
Proudly coached new dancers from figuring out their right from their left up to and including trainee teachers, Cork Champions, Munster Champions both solo & team and to All Irelands competitors with An Comhdháil. Invited to many and accepted a number of offers for our school to perform on the international level - see some old pix!
3 Solo Munster Champions, 2 Munster Champion Teams (with An Comhdháil)... & competitors at all levels from local feiseanna to
All Irelands... Just as proud of the one little dancer who took years to
eventually 'click' the threes. To see the pride on her parents faces and the pure joy on her own.
Relaunched as the 'Scannell-Ryan School
of
Dancing' in 1998
Our First International Tour experience was the
Edinburgh International Festival 1998
Transferred from An Comhdháil to An Coimisiún (CLRG) in 1999
Interviewed initially by Dr. John Cullinane ADCRG re transfer to An
Coimisiún. From a child I had read the books by John and to this day regard him as a
treasure for not only his many years of service to Irish dancing but
to his dedication to put into words for future generations. He is a
living legend and an inspiration not only to me but so many worldwide.
Thank you so much John, Michele.
International Tour:
Celtic Parade Disneyland Paris 2000
Took a career break for family reasons.
New classes, new website, new costume ... we came back!
Relaunched as the 'Blarney Dance Academy'
Back teaching with new young dancers, including my own children. Delighted
to welcome new faces as well as some of our former dancers and friends who
have returned to our senior class.
Sad that some have emigrated but delighted to hear from you - enjoy
your adventures and keep in touch. Already three tours under our belts as
noted below Paris (twice), Rome & The Hague
Next run of international tours:
PARIS 2015
We performed at the
'Greening of the Basilica de Sacré-Coeur' (part of the International greening event for St. Patrick's celebrations).
Also, the sold out ceilí at the Centre Culturel Irelandais (CCI)
in Paris with the Dusty Feet Ceilí Band.
Guests of the Irish Embassy & Tourism Ireland in supporting
Minister Richard Bruton TD.
ROME 2017
We performed at the Celtic Ball (Black Tie) in Hotel Quirinale
Rome to a full house including Minister Charlie Flannagan, Vatican Ambassador Emma Madigan & Italian Ambassador Bobby McDonagh. We also performed on two nights at the Irish College for their St.
Patrick's Week celebrations.
We experienced the 'greening' of the Colosseum.
THE HAGUE 2019
We performed in the St. Patrick's Festival open air concert with two
displays as well as a ceili night with the Irish Business Association.
Absolutely fabulous people and place with super memories.
The crowd at the festival was something to remember! Great craic.
We highly recommend anyone to enjoy this yearly festival.
2021 Covid stole the show!
2023 our big trip was affected still by Covid,
so a small group of us still experienced 2023 BERLIN
by dancing in Berlin's largest beer hall on Paddy's night!
2024 DISNEY
We performed in the Videopolis Theatre, Disneyland Park, Paris on St. Patrick's Day, 17th of March 2024 with Disney Performing Arts.
Expanded our class range so relaunched as
'Blarney Cork Dance Academy'
Delighted to Welcome to our team:
Sinéad Helen (neé Walsh) who expanded the offering of classes to East Cork.
2022 the CLRG scandal was exposed to media worldwide. Unfortunately after almost 2 years of grass root teachers driving for organisational change with very little to no success, it's time to move on. To find an organisation where it is dancing at the core, where dancers and teachers are supported, treated with respect and equity.
Watch this space for an update very soon!
Next Tour: in planning stages, Watch this space :)
Dancers continue honing their skills and enjoying the love of Irish Dancing