Senior Dance Company - a Magical year

My name is Aideen and I am a 16 year old Graham Dance Company and Elite team member in ITW. Throughout the year we have been working on so many pieces in class  for the upcoming competitions we had. In class we learned the choreography but our teachers give us the opportunity to add in bits of our own personalities and style to our dancing which I really enjoy.

At the start of the year we had dance platform which was a performance in the Helix Theatre as part of Dance Platform and then we had Perform Ireland in February which was also a non competitive opportunity to show people what we have been working on. I found it so helpful to perform our dances on stage with a crowd but with no stakes so we could learn from our mistakes to have everything perfect for competition. It’s also just so much fun to see other studios dances and meet up with friends from other studios.

After Christmas time we were straight focused on our trip to Disneyland Paris in March. We were taking part of the Take us to the Magic Competition in Paris and then we were dancing in the Disneyland parade. We had a good few dances competing in the competition we had two company pieces and three elite team pieces . We worked so hard for the months coming up to this, most of our rehearsals were at least two hours for the last few weeks to make sure our dances were perfect.

The competition in Paris was so much fun and it was so interesting to see other countries styles of dances as well. It was very different to the usual competitions we do in Ireland. We had so much fun and learned so much from the competition and we were so happy with how all of our pieces went. After we came home we kept working on our dances as we had another competition in April. Our next competition was the Aaron Dwyer Competition in t in Dublin. In this competition the elite team had two dances to compete and I had a solo and a duet with Farrah. All of our dances went really well, one of our group dances came 1st and one came 2nd and then my Solo came 3rd and our Duet also came 3rd. This was extremely successful and we were so happy with the outcome. It really showed how all of our hard work paid off. 

I love competing as when you stand on the stage you get such a thrill and nothing compares to the excitement and adrenaline rush of dancing on a big stage in front of an audience. I love seeing everyone’s dances and the takes different studios have on styles and songs. One of my favourite parts is seeing other studios costumes and getting the chance to do some of the workshops and learn from the judges of the competition. It is so rewarding to see our dances do well in comp and see how all of our hard work was all worth it in the end.

Dancing requires so much skill and dedication and dance competitions are such a great time to see a huge group and very talented people comps together to showcase what they have been putting their blood sweat and tears in. 

Hybrid Feis Hype

Each year our students have the opportunity to take part in the Speech & Drama Teachers of Ireland Feis. There are a wealth of categories they can choose from to enter and they start out by applying and then recording themselves performing which we send in for adjudication. Every student gets feedback and a grade for their performance and the top 12 acts in each section in the country are invited to come together and perform live in The Grand Finals in April for the top prizes, Trophies, Money and Medals are awarded for First, Second and Third place and Highly Commended Certificate for 4th place. Every finalist also receives a very special medal for being in the top 12.

Our Independent Theatre Workshop Students did exceptionally well again this year - some of the Awards included:

Junior Shakespeare Trophy: Johnny Grehan 1st place, Priya Hobson 2nd place

Senior Shakespeare Trophy: Catherine Leahy 1st place, Seana Tully 2nd place, Roisín Duggan 4th place (Highly Commended)

Solo Musical Theatre 10-12yrs: Ana Rubia Marques Da Hora 1st place

Solo Musical Theatre 13-14yrs: Joya Hobson 1st place

Solo Musical Theatre 15-16yrs: Ishbel Daguman 2nd place, Eithne Carson 3rd place

Boys Poetry 10yrs: Sean Drea 1st place

Seamus Heaney Trophy: Gwendolyn Ridgeway 3rd place

Ana Rubia with her Trophy -Being in the Feis was a very fun experience. I sang Part of your World from the little Mermaid, I had practiced it a lot so I knew it really well by the time the Feis came. The morning of the competition, I was very excited and I wasn't nervous. I also met people I knew there from the opera and other shows I had done. I listened to everyone else singing and they were very good so after my turn, I thought I might have a chance of winning but I wasn't sure because the standard was very high. When they called my name in first place I was very happy and surprised.  All in all it was a great experience and I can't wait for next year's Feis, I'm already planning my song!

From Ana Rubia Marques Da Hora. 

JOHNNY JR SHAKESPEARE CUP WINNER 2024

I was very excited to take part in the Junior Shakespeare feis competition.  Gillian and I together picked a very interesting monologue and then we worked together on the dramatization and the delivery.

On the day of the feis I was very nervous but was confident as I had practiced it a lot.  At the feis there was lots of Romeo and Juliet so I was delighted to be different with A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I could not believe when I won.  It was the best feeling in the world especially the cash which I used to buy headphones.

I would recommend for anyone to do Speech and Drama as it gives you lots of confidence.

Catherine Senior Shakespeare Cup 2024

I took part in the Feis a few weeks ago in April. It is so interesting to see Speech and Drama students from all over the country and all of the work that they have put into their pieces. There is such a range of competitions, from Drama, Poetry, Shakespeare, Improv, Musical Theatre and Public Speaking, as well as specialised classes for performing Irish poets like W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney. This year I was lucky to receive the Senior Shakespeare Cup for a comedic monologue from "The Two Nobel Kinsman". It was amazing to receive such high quality feedback from the professional adjudicators: I was adjudicated by Anna Walker who gave lots of great tips about performing Shakespeare particularly and acting generally, which I have found really helpful. I think the Feis is a really worthwhile activity to take part in while at ITW. I am looking forward to returning in 2025! - Catherine Leahy

Sean Drea 1st in Boys Poetry 10yrs “ I really liked the Hybrid Feis Finals this year, it was a great experience and I loved preparing for it! I won my group for Poetry Reading (doing “How Was School?” By Lindsay McRae) and I came third in prepared reading (with an extract from one of my favourite books “The Explorer” by Katharine Rundell) - Seán Drea”

ITW Dance Uniform List

Want to know what to wear to your ITW Dance class?

Find the classes you're signed up to here. Then visit the ITW Online Shop to order what you're missing at amazing rates!

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Shoes:

The ITW Dance Studio in Clonskeagh has a specialised dance floor that will maximise performance for jumps, turns, slides, and more. This floor is a privilege and so we will be strictly enforcing an indoor shoe only policy. No one with outdoor shoes will be allowed inside the dance studio, so please plan accordingly.

ITW Junior/Inter/Senior/Young Adult Dance (membership class): 

ITW T-shirt and hoodie (for Tots named after colours - Inters); all black (for Seniors and Young Adults). Black leggings or tracksuit bottoms for all. Jazz Shoes or dance shoes that are for INDOOR USE ONLY.

Lyrical/Contemporary: 

All Black: black leotard (optional), black t-shirt (Dance Studio Tee appropriate), black tights or black leggings/tracksuit bottoms, bare feet. Convertible pink tights are appropriate as well as "foot thongs".

Ballet: 

Little Ballerinas: No uniform required other than comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in. Pink Leotard available.

Inters/Seniors: Leotard (any colour), pink tights, ballet shoes, hair pulled back into a ballet bun.

Hip Hop: 

Dance clothing that is easy to move in (like Dance Studio Tee), Jazz Shoes or hip hop runners that are for INDOOR USE ONLY. These must be shoes for dance class only- any outdoor shoes will not be permitted.

Body Conditioning: 

Clothing you can move in like Dance Studio Tee, black leggings or tracksuit bottoms, leotard, tights are acceptable. Jazz runners or runners that are for INDOOR USE ONLY. (Please note that if you are in ballet before this class there will not be time to change. You can always add a layer or shoes, however time is limited so let's avoid a queue for changing.)

ISTD Modern: 

All black - this may include a black leotard, black T-shirt or active wear, black leggings, black tights with jazz shoes.

Inter Dance Company: 

Pink and Black Company Leotard, black leggings, tights or tracksuit bottoms, Dance Studio Tee, black Jazz Shoes. ITW Dance Company Hoodie Optional.

Senior Dance Company: 

Black Lace Leotard, black leggings, tights or tracksuit bottoms, Dance Studio Tee, black Jazz Shoes. ITW Dance Company Hoodie Optional.

Please note: Students who fail to come to class in appropriate ITW Uniform will be asked to sit out in class with a phone call home. Uniforms are not only to look smart, but also to set our bodies in the appropriate aesthetic for class. If you're concerned with any of the uniforms listed above please email or call the office.

Other fun things to add:

ITW Dance Studio QUARTER ZIP (limited supply)

ITW Dance Studio LEGGINGS (limited supply)

Blue Turn Board (limited supply)

To work on your pirouettes!