Rince Na Sidhe Irish Dance

WE HAVE MOVED!!!

2009-09-21T22:36:00.002-05:00

Please follow us on our website!

www.rincerochester.com

Slainte!

Pictures From Recital

2009-06-27T14:31:00.002-05:00

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SUCH A GREAT YEAR!

We had a great time at each show, and the recital was no exception! What a great time, and we were able to raise $200 to donate to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation! Congratulations again to Erin P., the recipient of this year's Rince Na Sidhe Perpetual Trophy. Her dedication to Irish Dance is an inspiration to all of us! We are very thankful to have had a happy and healthy year, and look forward to seeing everyone in the fall!

Sincerely,
Mary, Nina, Wendy, and Colleen

UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES

2009-04-03T10:59:00.002-05:00

First, thank you SO MUCH to all of our parents and dancers for participating in our best St. Patrick's Day Season yet!!! We had such a great time at the parade and we were so proud of all of the show performances...thanks for giving up so much of your time and energy to make each performance special and possible. We couldn't do it without you!!

We will update the blog with pictures soon, please bear with us as the busy season comes to a close...

PLEASE NOTE: ALL CLASSES ARE NOW HELD ON SATURDAY MORNINGS AT ST. BONIFACE.

Beginners and Advanced Beginners (previously Tuesday nights): SATURDAY 9:30AM

Intermediate and Advanced (previously on Mondays and Thursdays): SATURDAY 10:30AM

The class calendar link (on the right of this page) also reflects this change.

SAVE THE DATE!!

RECITAL 2009 IS MANDATORY AND WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH FROM 11AM-12PM IN THE GYM AT SAINT BONIFACE.

TICKETS ARE $1 AT THE DOOR AND ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO SUPPORT THE JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION, in honor of our student, Erin P., who was recently diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. THANK YOU!!!

Updates!!!

2009-01-22T12:42:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone!
Hope you all had an excellent holiday season! We all did!

First of all THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in our Bottle Drive fundraiser we have chosen to do this year! If you have not brought us your slips or $33.00 from the New Years Celebrations please do so by the end of January. February 1st is the Super Bowl which we will also be collecting cans for! If you need more flyer's, please email us and we will send the file to you!! The fundraising money from the Super Bowl cans/bottles will be due by the end of February.

This year's community service was also a success!! For those of you who do not remember on December 20th we beared the cold weather and Bell Rang for the Salvation Army at Greece Ridge Mall for 5 hours!!! It was definitely cold but great fun and we will be doing it again next year!

COSTUMES:
For all NEW STUDENTS you will need to purchase a costume. The new costumes are $70 and we will be measuring students by the end of January.
For those of you who currently have a costume, PLEASE TRY IT ON and make sure it fits! If your costume does not fit, we suggest you bring it to class with you so that some of your other class mates can try it on! If you need a new costume, you can sell your old one and you will purchase a new costume for $70.

Parade and St. Patrick's Day Shows:
Please stay tuned for email updates regarding Parade Marching and Show practices! We want to look good for everyone we dance for!! :)
Also, please keep in mind you are part of a team. If you are unable to attend any of the shows (schedule to come) please notify us in advance so that we can prepare accordingly!

Thanks!
See you all at class!

Halloween Fun!

2008-11-08T16:46:00.002-05:00

Well, the 1st annual SPOOKTACULAR was an all-around success! The costumes were great!! The dancing was, shall we say, THRILLING!! The refreshments were enjoyed by all! Thank you for participating in the Halloween fun!

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR!!!

2008-10-19T19:43:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to wear your Halloween costumes to dance on Monday and Tuesday, October 27th and 28th, 2008! We will have prizes for the best costumes, and snacks for everyone. Feel free to bring some food or drink to pass, and get ready to have a great time!!!

DUST OFF YOUR DANCING SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-20T14:23:00.004-05:00

Dance class is just around the corner! I know that I can speak for all the directors and say that we are SUPER EXCITED about this year!! We have been brainstorming, planning, and dancing the summer away. We are ready to resume teaching---I hope you are all ready to come learn some GREAT dances this fall! ~Wendy

Inspiration

2008-08-12T21:37:00.002-05:00

You know how we are always yelling about jumps in class?? Here is a great video of Jillian Oury, performing at a Parade of Champions. The video has been slowed down so it's easier to study the jumps. I'm going to go cry about my lack of skill compared to her...warning: video is so good that it may depress you. Watch at your own risk...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehlvneowcaI&NR=1

Lots of Stuff for August!

2008-07-21T23:25:00.003-05:00

This summer has gone to the dogs...So look out, we are in full swing again! It's been a long and boring summer without dance classes to look forward too, so I'm very excited about workshops. Here is the information, email us for details and registration information!

Cost for each workshop is $20/dancer, or $30/family (for two dancers)

Payable in cash or check (written to Rince Na Sidhe) on the day of workshop

Sunday, August 3^rd 2008

1PM-3PM Beginner Workshop; Basic Steps and Technique

This is for children from the ages of 4-15 who are BRAND NEW to Irish Dance and have never attended classes before.

-Please arrive wearing appropriate dance attire (no baggy shirts or pants) and footwear such as ballet slippers or Irish Ghillies is helpful but not required. --------Dancers without footwear will dance in socks, but they WILL get dirty, so make sure that they are wearing an old pair!

-All workshops involve games and prizes, so be prepared to have fun!!!

3:30PM-6PM Experienced Workshop; Softshoe Steps and Technique

This is appropriate for dancers from the ages of 5-17 who have had at LEAST one year of Irish Dance experience.

-You MUST wear dance attire (no jeans, capri’s, baggy t-shirts, long skirts) and Irish Dance shoes

-We will review material from last year to refresh before fall classes, and add some new material for practice before lessons start in September

-We will still have games and prizes, so get ready!!!

Sunday, August 10^th 2008

2PM-4:30PM Ceili Workshop; Group Dances

This is appropriate for anyone who has had at least one year of dance experience, not limited to Irish Dance experience, or who has attended any Ceili workshop in the past.

-Those who have Irish Dance shoes will be expected to wear them, those who do not should bring sneakers that lace and will allow them to dance without fear of tripping

Sunday, August 24^th 2008

2PM-4:30PM Hardshoe Workshop; All levels

This is appropriate for any dancers who have had at least one year of Irish Dance experience.

-Those who currently own hardshoes will be expected to wear them during the workshop. Those who do not and will register for fall classes are strongly encouraged to purchase hardhoes before this workshop date. Tap shoes or jazz sneakers will be acceptable, and dancers without shoes will be expected to dance in sneakers or socks.

-This is a GREAT intro to hardshoe, and will also focus heavily on technique for those who have hardshoe experience

See you soon!

Wow! It's been a long time!

2008-04-28T15:59:00.002-05:00

Jeez,
I haven't posted here in awhile, but I'm sure that we have all finally recovered from the Saint Patrick's Day Season! The recital is around the corner, and a few final details are being sorted out. By the end of this week, I"ll be able to email everyone with the details. Remember, all family and friends are invited, and tickets do not need to be reserved in advance. I just ask that anyone who is not an immediate family member please donate $1 to help us with the cost of the recital! It shouldn't be long, no more than 45 minutes, but there will be a very entertaining "awards ceremony" for parents and dancers directly after the dancing is complete. As a special treat, all of the teachers will participate in one recital routine as well, so get the cameras ready! Video recording is more than welcome, and overall we should have a great time! Please email me if you are unable to dance, the date is June 1st, from 1-2PM.

I hope everyone enjoys this last month of classes, I have had a great time this year! Also, we will have a summer session of classes in August if there is enough interest, so let me know! And, I promise to blog more...thanks for checking in!!!!!!

Mary

And the bows for hair are done...

2008-03-12T16:06:00.005-05:00

Take a look! Remember, buns must be HIGH on the head, as this bow will be placed directly under the bun in the back of the head. Thanks!

They're Here!

2008-03-12T14:19:00.003-05:00

I hope you enjoy your first look at our sweatshirts! Luckily, I was able to find a professional model who was willing to pose in the sweatshirt so everyone can have a sneak peak...REMINDER: These sweatshirts do run large, and they are not super-thick. Therefore, PLEASE make sure that you bundle up for the parade. Otherwise, enjoy this picture!

Mary

Wow!

2008-02-29T14:12:00.002-05:00

Thanks to our recent candy fundraiser, every dancer will receive an embroidered RNS sweatshirt for free! Parents can order a sweatshirt for only $15 for themselves, please let me know your size! Everyone has sold at least one box so far, and my goal was for each family to sell two boxes. I will have more candy for everyone soon! Remember, there is a great prize for the family that sells the most candy!!!! I can't wait to see who it will be!

As we gear up for our busy Saint Patrick's Day season, please make sure that dancers are reviewing their steps and routines. There are videos available online, so check them out if you need to review!

See you all soon!

Mary

Countdown to Saint Patrick's Day

2008-01-31T13:55:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone!
And so it begins...the scramble to prepare for the Saint Patrick's Day season. All of our classes are prepared with steps and routines, and I am so proud of all of the hard work that everyone has done to help get ready! Our costumes are almost done, and I can't wait to give them back to you. For February, to prepare for the upcoming season, there are a few things to consider...

1. Um, tuition is due this weekend for February...(it must be said!)
2. Fundraising! I will have a box of candy for each family to sell this month. I'd like each family to sell two boxes total, which will help us raise almost $1000 to help cover the costs of the year-end recital, parade fees, costume expenses, Hawaiian vacation for everyone in the school, etc. etc...
3. I would like to have custom sweatshirts made for the dancers with our school logo etc., and before the end of February, I would like each dancer to purchase a red pair of workout/warmup pants. I would like the pants to be made of a warm material so that we can wear our Rince Na Sidhe warmups for the parade. One of our awesome moms (Michelle C.) has found a GREAT pair of workout pants for kids and adults at Walmart for only $9.94! Another place to look is "Steve and Barrys" which has red warmup pants on sale for $9-10! Please click on the link below for an example of what I am looking for...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8129663

Ok that's enough for now. I leave you with a link to a great video of a highly ranked competitive dancer doing a jump, but the image has been slowed down for dancers to see a "good jump" in slow motion...please take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehlvneowcaI&NR=1

Mary

It's the Event of the Year!

2008-01-09T23:34:00.000-05:00

Join me for...

BLINGFEST 2008!

EAT, DRINK, LAUGH, CUT, GLUE, DECORATE, EMBELLISH!

SEQUINS, SPARKLES, AND MORE!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26

CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR MORE DETAILS!

Awesome Videos!

2007-12-28T12:39:00.001-05:00

Hi!
If you are bored during our Christmas break, or if you just CAN'T STAND to be away from the sounds of Irish Dance, please take a look at the videos listed below. Most are taken from exhibitions called "Parade of Champions". At every major regional, national, and world competitions, dancers are separated based on age, and at the end of the competitions, the winners of each age group will perform in a "Parade of Champions". These are the best of the best, and very exciting to watch! Enjoy!

Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuJ5KQfpNzs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qR8xXYqu14

Christmas Ceili! Invite your Friends and Family!

2007-12-01T16:39:00.000-05:00

Everyone is invited to RINCE NA SIDHE’S

CHRISTMAS CEILI!

“Ceili” is a form of traditional Irish group dancing, often performed during parties and celebrations.

Ceili (pronounced: “kaylee”) dancing is a fun workout, and something that the whole family can enjoy! No experience is necessary, please email rincenasidhe@yahoo.com if you are interested. See below for details!

Rince Na Sidhe’s

Christmas Ceili

Saturday, December 8^th

Saint Boniface School Gym

15 Whalin Street

Rochester, NY 14620

(corner of Gregory and Whalin, across from the German House)

6-7PM Family Ceili

Adults and Children welcome!

7-8:30PM Adult Ceili

Participants 18 and over are welcome!

Cost:

$5/dancer, or $20 family maximum

***Participants OVER the age of 21 are invited to join us after the workshop at Caverly’s Irish Pub for a pint of Guinness! Caverly’s Pub is within walking distance of the workshop, on the corner of South Avenue and Sanford Street.***

Happy Holidays!

2007-11-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!
I hope that you have had plenty of time to digest all of that TURKEY! Here are some notes for you all!
1. The costumes will be shipped to us soon, so if I haven't had the chance to measure any of you, REMIND ME TO DO SO ASAP!

2. Classes will resume this week at their normally scheduled dates and times...In December, we will have classes up to and including the weekend of December 22nd.

3. If you paid for this semester's tuition in one payment at the beginning, please remember that your second semester payment will be due when we return in January (after Christmas!!!). If you have paid by the month, this semester's last payment is due soon!!!!!!

4. I'll use the $$$$$$$$ that we have saved to start buying the variety packs of candy that the awesome Cramer family found on sale at BJ's for only $10 each...we can get a little fundraising in before the holiday break!

Lastly, and on a more serious note. In the Saturday morning little beginners class we have a student named Cielo Valle. She is the daughter of a close friend, and her older sister was diagnosed last year with Leukemia. Estrella is only 8 years old, and some of you may have seen her watching Cielo at practice from time to time (it's hard to miss her very short short hair!). On Sunday morning, her family is holding a benefit to raise money in an effort to assist with Estrella's very costly treatment. If you are interested in attending or donating even $1, please follow this link to Estrella's Benefit Page for more information. Thank you!

See you this weekend!

Mary

The Candyman Can!

2007-11-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

By popular demand and with the advice of parents who are smarter in the world of children's fundraisers than I, we are replacing the laptop fundraiser with a CANDY BAR fundraiser! We all know that fundraisers are annoying and difficult, so hopefully the candy, when strategically placed at work or taken to school, will sell itself and we will make many many dollars for our growing school! I am going to look for all of the necessary info and supplies to make sure that we can get this fundraiser going, so read the blog this week. If anyone has suggestions, please email them to me!

ALSO, there will still be a fabulous prize to the family who sells the most candy, and NO, the prize will not be the laptop that we were going to raffle off, hahhahaa.

In other news, I'd like to plan a special "Parent and Child" Irish dance class soon, which will also be open to the public. If anyone is interested, please let me know what day you think is easier, Saturday or Sunday. Also, are early classes better than late classes? I'm concerned about having the class on Sunday because that is a day for family obligations, church, homework, etc. Any feedback to help with the planning would be helpful!

Mary

Costume Alert!

2007-10-28T23:39:00.000-05:00

Woo Hooo!
Our costumes are under construction this week, and I can't wait until they are delivered! Make sure to check your email to find out the price and due date for payments! Our dress company is very good at delivering their orders quickly, so we can look forward to dresses within a few weeks! In other news (UNFORTUNATELY this is also about money...) November tuition is due this week so don't forget or I'll have to take off my hat and beg during class in front of everyone...

We have some shows tentatively scheduled for the end of November, which will coincide well with our dress delivery, and things are going well in each class as far as performance routines. Please let me know if you are having trouble finding hardshoes or lightshoes, because we have many used shoes for sale right now! Also, you can always check the shoes listing here on the blog! Just use the list of links to the right of this page.

Thanks everyone for great classes, great dancing, and great fun!!!!!!!

Mary

What a Busy Time!

2007-10-13T21:49:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope that all is well with you! I have been working with our dress company (www.activewear4u.com) and measurements have begun for costumes. I expect to receive a final quote soon, and I will let everyone know the cost of dresses as soon as I know!

As soon as we receive our costumes, and assuming that your brilliant dance teachers have coordinated everything properly, we should be at a great point to get out into the world for SHOWS SHOWS SHOWS! Some parents and dancers have asked about "wigs"...I am not a fan of wigs, I am a fan of uniformity, order, and precision. If wigs are to be worn, then I would have to pick a style and dictate that everyone run out to buy it. Dictation is also not my style, so this is not a solution. For now, hair will be worn naturally, swept up into a very high, neat bun. If your hair is too short, then you will have to leave the school. HAHAHHAHAHA, ok I'm kidding. If your hair is short, we will also have headbands that will help to pull hair back.

I hope that everyone is trying to stay warm and cozy as we get used to cool weather, and I look forward to seeing everyone in class next week!

Mary

Quick Reminder!

2007-10-01T20:18:00.000-05:00

Oh, we hate this time of month!

Tuition payments for the installment plan are due this weekend! If you are unsure of how much you owe, email me! Thanks.

Mary

So Much News!!!

2007-09-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!
There is a lot of news, so I'm going to try to remember everything...

First: SHOES.

We have several pairs of lightly worn pairs of dance shoes available, and as promised we will start a page on this website dedicated to pictures and information about used shoes that families within the school are trying to sell! I would like everyone to have soft shoes as soon as possible, and hardshoes by the beginning of October. If there are any questions, please email me!

Next up on the list: SHOWS.

Because we are a performance school, it is only logical that we start focusing on performances as soon as possible! This week, each class has begun practicing their routine, and this will continue as we learn new steps. HOWEVER, I would like parents and students to keep their eyes and ears open for good show opportunities. Ideally, our goal is to begin performing before the new year so that we are well established by March (SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!). The great part about shows is that they are opportunities for exposure. If we receive payment, it will go towards things like:
-helping families with costume costs (this is first priority)
-marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade (you have to pay to march!)
-covering operational expenses (it's always nice to pay the rent)
-helping with recital costs (eek! it's still a long way off but time flies)
-helping us throw a HUGE Rince Na Sidhe annual BASH! (I love a good party)

This leads me to unveil our RINCE NA SIDHE SHOW INCENTIVE PROGRAM! If a parent or dancer successfully arranges a paid performance by Rince Na Sidhe, he or she will keep 20% of the amount that the school is paid! This way, everyone is a winner! Let's get crackin! (can you tell that I am doing everything possible to avoid the "let's sell candy bars" kind of fundraising? Mary hates selling...)

Item #3: Promotion

I am well acquainted with members of a popular local Irish traditional band, and they brought up the possibility of inviting Rince Na Sidhe to perform with them. Not only would this be great for exposure, but perhaps one of these performances could be a fundraiser for the school. Nothing is confirmed, but I am going to try to use my powers of negotiation, wit, and charm to hopefully make this happen for us! More info to follow, so stay tuned!

Item #4: Steps

We are going to be teaching a lot of material in class, so I will add a steps page to the blog. Dancers can click on their classtime and look at all of the words to steps that we have learned this year. That way everyone has a quick reference to help during practice at home. I repeat, during practice at home. *hint hint, dancers!* hahhahhhaaha!

OK OK, enough is enough! I think that's all for now. Thanks to all of the parents on Saturday for talking with me and making great suggestions for fundraising ideas. I'll see everyone next week.!

Mary

What's New!

2007-09-12T13:25:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,
This week has been so busy! We had a great set of classes next weekend and I'm already ready for this Friday and Saturday. Miss Emily has successfully rearranged her work schedule and will join us for class each Saturday morning, so we can look forward to seeing her this weekend. Emily and I have danced together for many many years, and it will be great to teach together for Rince na Sidhe! As I mentioned in the Fall Kickoff Class, Emily is an accomplished ballerina, so if anyone would be interested in a ballet class, let me know so we can consider adding it to the schedule. Ballet technique is a great supplement to what we learn in Irish dance class.

The most important order of business right now are DANCE SHOES! As I mentioned on Saturday, there is a wonderful shop around the corner from classes at St. Boniface called Marianne's Consignments. She is an Irish Dancer herself, and also has children who Irish dance. Her shop is well-stocked with lightly used Irish dance shoes for a great price. Buying used shoes is a great idea, especially for the hardshoes, which are extremely difficult to break in when brand new. Please follow the link on the right to the Rochester Consignment main website, and scroll down until you find Marianne's. There is a lovely picture of a Trinity Irish Dancer, as well as a map of her location. She is open on Saturdays at 11AM! I would like everyone to have softshoes (ghillies) by nextweek, and hardshoes by the beginning of October!

As previously mentioned, we're working on the PARENT'S MANUAL for everyone to have, and when it's finished, I'll post the entire document on the blog. This will provide everyone with an easy place to go for school policies, information, etc. If anyone can think of details to add to the manual, let me know!

As always, thanks for being so great! We'll see you all on Saturday. Check out the dancer and parents of the week at the bottom of this page!

Mary

Friday Night New Class

2007-08-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Please check the class schedule, because there is now a Friday night Intermediate/Advanced Class! This class is available as a time for Saturday morning students to make up any missed class, but parents must email me first for approval. It will allow us to arrange the lesson to accommodate any make up students. This class will be held at Inikori Dance Studio, which is located behind Towner's Bike Shop on University Avenue. For more information, please email me! rincenasidhe@yahoo.com

Thank you!

Mary

Fall Kickoff Class September 1st!

2007-08-27T14:16:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!
I am so excited to start classes! Our Fall Kickoff Class will begin at 10:45AM this Saturday at St. Boniface School Gymnasium. Please email me if you need directions, and PLEASE let me know if you cannot attend our kickoff class. Tuition payments (with the $10 yearly family registration fee) are due on Saturday, so please check our official site for specific tuition information! Saturday's Kickoff Class is going to be a lot of fun! We will introduce our three instructors, parents will have the opportunity to meet one another, and students will dance together until 12:45PM. After Saturday's class, instructors will decide what specific timeslot would be appropriate for each dancer. The timeslots are as follows:

10:45-12:45AM Shamrocks Class (Beginners)
11:15-12:15PM Leprechauns Class (Intermediate/Advanced)
11:45-12:45PM Blarney Class (Advanced)

All three instructors will be present for the entire two hour time period, allowing us to break down into small groups to give every dancer special attention.

I am also pleased to announce our Homeschooler's Class! This class will be a Beginner level class that takes place on Friday Mornings at 10AM. If you are a homeschooling parent and are interested, please email me for more information! rincenasidhe@yahoo.com

Many of you have requested that an additional class be created in the event that Saturday mornings conflict with your existing schedule. I would like to add a Friday night class to the schedule and I am still trying to secure a location. I fully expect this to be determined by the middle of the week, so stay tuned! I will send an email out as soon as this is resolved!

I realize that there are many more questions to be answered, and we will spend a lot of time on Saturday making sure that each topic is addressed. Parents will also receive a Welcome Packet on Saturday that will explain everything about the school from costumes and shoes to performances and classes. We hope that this will help everyone throughout the year! If there are any questions, please feel free to email me!

Thanks!
Mary

Workshop #2 a Success!

2007-08-21T15:56:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who attended our second summer workshop! We had a great time dancing at St. Boniface, and I look forward to seeing everyone when classes start on September 1st. If you haven't mailed your registration forms for 2007-2008 yet, they are available here on the blog. You can also print the registration forms from our official site, just follow the link listed on the right. Remember, if you have attended a workshop and submitted a registration form for the workshop, you do not have to submit new forms to register for classes. Tuition is due (either a full semester payment or the first installment plan payment) on the first day of classes on September 1st, along with your $10 family registration fee. This is going to be a great year, and if anyone has questions about registration, please let me know. I'll post more information on the September 1st class soon, so stay tuned!

Mary

WORKSHOP UPDATE!

2007-08-15T09:59:00.000-05:00

Dear Everyone;

Due to several circumstances that have recently arisen, WE HAVE MOVED OUR WORKSHOP TO A NEW LOCATION... Saturday's event will take place in the gymnasium at St. Boniface School, which is conveniently located on Gregory Street, across from our previous studio building. The gym has a very nice floor for dance, and even has a stage that we can use! The entrance to the school parking lot is on Whalin Street, which intersects with Gregory Street directly across from the historic German House. Please read below for a description of the workshop and directions to our new location from East and West. If you have any questions, please contact me! I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday at 12:30PM!!!

Mary

Workshop #2 Details:

For our second workshop, we will again separate our experienced and inexperienced dancers for a portion of the day. Our new dancers will learn several basic steps and learn how to count the timing of Irish Music. Experienced dancers will learn a new step, and complete several practice drills to brush out those summer cobwebs! As a group, we will use what we have learned to perform a short recital onstage for parents and guests. Games, prizes, and a raffle for Rince Na Sidhe T-shirts will occur throughout the day. Don't forget to bring a friend!

Directions from the East:
1. Take 490 West toward Downtown
2. Exit #17 at Goodman Street towards the Inner Loop
3. Turn slightly right onto Broadway Street
4. Turn left onto Averill Avenue
5. Rurn left onto Whalin Street. St. Boniface School parking lot will be on the right, just before the intersection of Whalin and Gregory.

Directions from the West:
1. Take 490 East toward Downtown
2. Exit #15 at South Avenue, and stay straight onto South Avenue
3. Turn left onto Averill Avenue
4. Turn right onto Whalin Street. St. Boniface School parking lot will be on the right, just before the intersection of Whalin and Gregory.

SUMMER WORKSHOP #2 IS HERE!

2007-07-27T11:37:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen!
Please join us for our last workshop of the summer...the last workshop before classes start on September 1st! The details:

When: August 18th, 2007
Where: The Studio (389 Gregory Street Upper)
Time: 12:30PM-2:30PM
Cost: $20 per dancer
Discount: $15 per dancer if you bring a friend

We will have games, prizes, exhibitions, competitions, music, and FUN...guaranteed. Please email me at rincenasidhe@yahoo.com to reserve your place!

Mary

Pictures!

2007-07-24T16:34:00.002-05:00

I only have a few, but I hope you enjoy them! Slainte!

Vote on the Next Workshop Date

2007-07-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!
Please take a minute to let me know which date is better for another Summer Workshop:

Saturday, August 18th 12:30-2:30PM
Saturday, August 25th 12:30-2:30PM

Thank you! Please email rincenasidhe@yahoo.com

Mary

GO RAITH MAITH AGAT! ("THANK YOU")

2007-07-16T16:42:00.001-05:00

Our workshop was a great success, thanks to all of the parents and dancers who came! Pictures will come soon, and if anyone has a comment or suggestion about the workshop, please feel free to leave it on our message board-just click on the link in our list on the right of the screen. I hope to see everyone again at our next workshop in August, stay tuned for more information!

Mary

Workshop Directions

2007-07-13T09:40:00.000-05:00

Please see the Directions below! Our studio is located on the corner of Gregory Street and Cayuga Street, across from St. Boniface Church in the SouthWedge neighborhood of Rochester. We are on the top floor of the same building as "Daily Perks Cafe", which is very visible as you are driving down Gregory Street. The parking lot and entrance to the studio is on the Cayuga Street side. Parents and family are welcome to stay to watch the workshop.

NOTE: GREGORY STREET IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!!! (Hopefully all of the construction will be finished by September!)

If you have any questions, please email me!

Mary

From the East:

490 West to Downtown

Exit #17 Goodman Street

Continue onto Broadway

Turn Left onto Meigs Street

Right onto S. Clinton

Left onto Gregory Street

First Left onto Cayuga Street, Parking on the Right

From the West:

490 East to Downtown Inner Loop

Exit #15 Inner Loop/South Avenue

Continue Straight onto South Avenue

Turn Left onto Gregory Street

Right onto Cayuga, Parking on the Right

SUMMER WORKSHOP #1 IS HERE!

2007-07-02T11:49:00.000-05:00

Save the date: July 14th 12:30PM-2:30PM

We will be dancing in our beautiful studio on Gregory Street (see picture below)! The cost of the workshop is $20, but if you bring a friend with you, it's only $15 each! Please click on the link below for registration and permission forms. Each child will need to provide their registration sheet and signed permission form on the day of the workshop or unfortunately they will not be able to participate.

This first workshop will involve a mix of dancers; some new, some experienced...it will be a great opportunity to learn and review! Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for dance-no heavy jeans or baggy t-shirts! Also, there is no required footwear, so if you do not have Irish Dance shoes, dancing in your socks is just fine so be sure to have socks with you!

Parents, you are more than welcome to stay in the studio to take pictures, video, or just watch. If you feel so inclined, you are also welcome to participate! If you'd like to explore the area or need to run errands, I will provide you with an extensive map of the Southwedge Neighborhood with a listing of all that it has to offer. Unfortunately, Gregory Street is under a lot of construction this summer, and I apologize in advance for the mayhem. However, the workshop will be fun so the trip is worth it.

If you plan on attending the workshop, please email me your completed registration form (follow the link below for workshop registration forms). Don't forget to bring a signed copy of the permission slip (link is below)! If you have any questions, or if your child has special needs, PLEASE email me and I will be happy to work with you to make sure that this is a great experience for everyone. rincenasidhe@yahoo.com

See you there!

Mary

Forms:

Workshop #1 Forms

Our Final Schedule

2007-06-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much for voting! After everyone's input, the 10:45-12:45 timeslots won in a LANDSLIDE so that will be our schedule every Saturday starting on September 1st, 2007! For the first class I'd like to invite everyone to come at 10:45AM. We will all dance together for the 2 hour time so that the teachers and I can get a good idea of everyone's current dance level, then we can separate into timeslots accordingly. Here are the timeslots that we will be filling:

10:45-11:45AM Beginner
11:15-12:15PM Intermediate
11:45-12:45PM Advanced

As I have said before, every dancer is more then welcome to stay to train with the class before or after for an additional $5 each time, which is payable as you go. As always, parents, if you feel that your child is unhappy at the level/class they have been placed in, PLEASE let me know!!!! Thank you so much for all of your input! This is going to be a great year!

Mary

Vote on the Dance Schedule

2007-06-19T10:46:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon!
I'm trying to narrow down a two-hour block of time on Saturdays to have classes. Here are the options. Please email me ASAP and let me know what works best for you so that I can try for a timeblock that will fit the most schedules!

10:45AM-12:45PM
11:30AM-12:30PM
12:00PM-2:ooPM

Each dancer will have class for a one hour block of time during our 2 hour total. I plan on staggering the classes by 1/2 hour, and separating groups into beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

The Beginner class will have 1/2 hour of time in the beginning to dance with the instructors, then a 1/2 hour to dance with the intermediate class. The intermediate class will then share their last 1/2 hour with the first 1/2 hour of the advanced group. The advanced group will finish their last 1/2 hour on their own with instructors. Any dancer in the intermediate group is welcome to stay and train for the last 1/2 hour with the advanced group for an addition $5 each time.

I hope that this makes sense. I'd like each level to be exposed to dancers just above and below them in ability because this provides a huge amount of learning opportunities for each student during their class.

Thank you for your input, I'd like to make a decision by tomorrow night. I will email this information to everyone to make sure that each of you is informed and has the chance to vote. Thank you!

Mary

PS-

If our enrollment is high enough, I will try to plan for additional classes on a different day of the week in the same 2-hour format to make sure that our classes are not too full!

Please Be Patient...!

2007-06-05T10:27:00.000-05:00

We have been working hard to get the new updates and registration info posted to the website, but due to my school schedule it's been a little hard to get together with our webmaster, my friend Jon. I promise that everything will be up there for your ENJOYMENT by the weekend! Thanks for your patience!

Mary

Here is a short update...

2007-05-30T17:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a little while, but WOW has this week been busy. I am in the process of altering my old solo dress to fit the girl who bought it, moving to a new apartment, starting summer classes (physics and anatomy---ewww!) AND working two part-time jobs! But I know that everyone else feels this way around the end of May--school is starting to wrap up for younger students and finals are just around the corner. Right now, I just wanted to provide a few updates. I think that dress #1 on the list from my previous post may be the winner of our costume vote. I am going to start talks with the costume company about price and group discounts. With June around the corner, I will have registration information and forms posted to the official website within the next two days. Another update: I'm trying to work with our studio to find times for some summer workshops so stay tuned. Also, I'm looking for some creative fundraising ideas (note:I hate chocolate and lottery tickets so we are not selling either of them) so PLEASE contact me if you have any suggestions! SLAINTE!

Mary

Ooooh What about this one?

2007-05-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

I have an addition to the list of dresses, but this link does come with instructions. Please click on the link, select the "international looks" catalogue, and go to the last page (I think it is page 6). Note: You will need Adobe Reader in order to see this catalogue.

The dress shown is another option that we have for costumes...let me know what you all think!

Dress #5

Costume Call!

2007-05-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon all!
I have been trying trying trying to look all over the internet to find a nice, modern, inexpensive solution to the "what should we wear while performing?" question. While it's early yet, I have found some nice options and of course wanted to consult with all of you (parents and dancers) to see what you think! Now remember, nothing is set in stone, and these are just IDEAS of what is out there. Click on the links below to view each option. If you could please email me with your preference, that would be great!
rincenasidhe@yahoo.com
Remember, if your Irish Dancer happens to be a boy, the boys costume ideas will be posted soon...but mothers and sisters of our male dancers-please feel free to vote on the girls costumes if you like! Thanks!

MARY

Dress #1

Dress #2

Dress #3

Dress #4

2007-05-09T16:02:00.001-05:00

So I had an IDEA

2007-05-09T11:22:00.000-05:00

Here I am at work on my second to last day...excited to go to California this weekend to see my brother, and excited to move to Rochester to dedicate all of my ENERGY to Rince na Sidhe. I was thinking (as I had a lot of time on the car ride back from New York City) about the non-competitive Irish Dance scene...I would like to try to form some sort of organization for all of us non-competitives to work together to brainstorm ideas, share material, encourage one another, and in general provide an atmosphere for all of us to grow to become the best teachers and schools that we can. Obviously, this is a very new and young idea, so I hope that through some research and hard work this year, we will be able to make it happen!!!!! Also, stay tuned for more Sidhe news this week...tell your friends that we are here and ready to take Rochester by storm!!!

New York New York

2007-05-03T16:56:00.000-05:00

I am counting down the hours until Saturday morning, because that's when I'm headed to New York City to visit my sister for the weekend. I'll try to take lots of pictures and post them later so that everyone can see the sights!

Schedule Update!

2007-04-30T14:49:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Everyone,
It's about 3:50PM on a Monday and I'm supposed to be "working". Instead, I'm emailing back and forth to negotiate a schedule for our Fall classes! Luckily, a schedule has been worked out, so make sure to check the website periodically, the schedule should be posted up there soon! I hope the times work out for everyone. Start telling your friends, because we want to fill these classes!

Website Update

2007-04-23T11:20:00.000-05:00

Tuition information for the fall is officially on the website! Check it out and tell your friends!

Victory is Mine!

2007-04-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

OK, everyone, the links are WORKING. After enlisting the help of some Google searches and tutorials, I discovered how to create working links, and also in the meantime learned that it's NOT AS HARD as I initially thought that it was. This is good. This is what we call "progress". By the time classes start, I'll be a real PRO.

Tuition Information

2007-04-18T11:15:00.000-05:00

Good News! Tuition information for 2007-2008 dance year will be posted on our official website by the end of the week. Take a good look and if there are any modifications that need to be made or questions that you have, please let me know. Payments initially will only be accepted in the form of cash or check. I'm trying to work on getting credit/debit card capability, but we'll see...