Mission  

It is our mission to instill a love of Irish dance and culture among all of our students. To help each student discover and develop their potential as an individual, and as a team through dance.

History

LuAnn O'Rourke-Boyd

The O'Rourke Academy of Irish Dance was founded in 1995 by LuAnn O'Rourke. LuAnn studied Irish dance since the age of six with Eileen McDonough of the Bronx, Michael and Noreen Smith of Boston and Margaret Pike of Yonkers. LuAnn competed in numerous regional, national and world championship competitions. She consistently ranked among the top ten and top five dancers in the Eastern region until the age of 22 . LuAnn qualified for the Irish Dancing World Championships held in Ireland twelve consecutive years in a row and participated in the 1978 World Championships held in Dublin Ireland. LuAnn majored in dance during her first year in college at Marymount Manhattan College (received a BA from The College of New Rochelle) and went on to receive her T.C.R.G. (Teachers Certificate Rinci Gaelacha) from An Coimisiun of Ireland in 1994. The school is based in White Plains and is well known throughout Westchester for its participation in community events. The O'Rourke Academy of Irish dance is a regular participant in the Hartsdale Irish American festival and has marched in the White Plains St. Patrick's Day parade since its inception in 1997. In addition to community events many of the student's at the O'Rourke Academy of Irish Dance participate in local feisanna, the Eastern Regional Oireacthas and North American Championships.

Kerry Broderick Curtin, Associate Director, TCRG

Kerry started sancing in 1976. She passed her TCRG exam in 1998. Kerry is a Regional, National and World Champion Irish Dancer. She has won the U.S. Eastern Regional Championship ten times and placed 4th in the World Championships in Galway, Ireland.

Maureen McSherry Turchioe, Associate Teacher

Maureen studied Irish dancing with Eileen McDonough Moore of the Bronx and competed in numerous regional and national championships. Maureen qualified for the Irish Dancing World Championships 5 consecutive years in a row and participated in the 1978 World Championships held in Dublin Ireland. She always excelled in competition and consistently ranked among the top dancers in her age group.

About the classes

Classes are currently being conducted at different locations for different levels of classes and age groups. The locations include Trinity Lutheran Church in White Plains and Central Park Dance Studio in Scarsdale. The children's classes are structured around the student's level of dance rather than their age. That is why you may see a six-year-old attending the same class as a thirteen-year-old. Students are placed in the appropriate level class at the recommendation of LuAnn. Due to limited time and space it is not possible to alter the class schedule. Parents or guardians are not permitted in the studio during class. Please make sure that appropriate transportation is provided to pick up the children. Children under ten years of age must wait inside the studio until a parent or guardian arrives to pick them up. Parents should pick their children up inside the studio.

How long do the classes last?

Classes are held in semesters, Winter (January, February, March), Spring (April, May, June), and Fall (September, October, November). Summer (July and August) and we usuallybreak for the entire month of December.

The Recital

Each year during the Spring semester we have our annual recital. It is at the recital that the parents and their family can come and see the progress their children are making in class. It is extremely important that if your child plans on participating in the recital that they do not miss classes during the Winter and Spring semesters. It during this time that we are choreographing and practicing routines.

Dance Outs (Performances)

During several occasions throughout the year (especially around St. Patrick's Day) we perform at different venues. They could be dinner dances, festivals or even nursing homes and hospitals. Specific routines are performed and school costumes must be worn. Girls and boys in the advanced level class normally attend these performances. If there is an occasion that you would like us to attend or your child to participate in please contact LuAnn at 917-453-0375.

What if we want to go to another teacher?

It is your right to switch to another dance teacher if you are not satisfied with the classes or the instructor(s). Please keep in mind that Irish Dancing is governed by an association with rules. If you are considering switching to another teacher please notify LuAnn (she may be able to correct the problem). If you do switch to a new school please notify your new teacher of your child's previous lessons before you start classes. The new teacher will have to write a letter of transfer to the IDTANA (Irish Dancing Teachers Association of North America). If your child transfers while they are an active competitor they will be suspended from competition for six months.

Note: Teachers in the I.D.T.A.N.A. are not allowed to accept transfer students who have outstanding balances with previous teachers. Make sure your tuition is paid in full before attempting to transfer to a new school.

What if the class time and days are not good for me?

I understand that children are involved in many extra curricular activities these days and your schedules can get quite hectic. I have always believed, having been there myself (as a child and now) that it is better to excel at one or two things than to try and be mediocre at everything. Please keep in mind that myself and the assistants have full time careers and we are doing this in our spare time. It is also very difficult and expensive to find locations that conform to everyone's schedules, we are doing our best to meet the majorities needs.

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