About Corrib Dance Academy
The Corrib Dance Academy (CDA) offers a unique service in the west of Ireland. It offers students of dance, fully equipped, dedicated studios in which to train. The Academy through the provision of dance training to the highest pre-professional standard is fast becoming a centre of excellence for dance in the west of Ireland.
Children are taken from the age of four into Pre- Ballet class. The early syllabi teach the foundations of classical ballet, they are fun and include mime and imagery. After 3-4 years of ballet the first examination, Primary Grade is usually achieved. The grades then progress from one to eight, building technique and skill each year.
Services offered by the Academy include:
- Biannual performances at the Town Hall Theatre
- RAD classical ballet examinations
- ISTD modern & jazz dance examinations
- End of year displays
- A selection of summer camps
- Guest teachers from Ireland and abroad
- Access to specialised coaching through CDA's Vocational Training Programme
- Opportunity to audition for Youth Ballet West
- Mentoring of students on RAD teacher training programmes
- Affiliated to Chrysalis Dance Company & Catastrophe Theatre Company
- Adult ballet & modern dance classes
Background
The Corrib Dance Academy (CDA) was founded in December 1997. Having occupied rented halls in Galway city and county for the first eight years, in 2005 the Academy moved to it's present home: purpose built dance studios on the East of the city, Briarhill Business Park, Galway. The high standard of the students warranted this move as CDA is presently training the highest number of pre professional ballet dancers in Ireland, with approximately 30 students taking part in the academy's vocational training programme.
Our Objectives
- To provide a centre of excellence for dance in the west of Ireland.
- To provide dance training to the highest pre-professional standard.
- To train teachers of dance.
- To offer students of dance, fully equipped, dedicated studios in which to train.
About Corrib Dance Academy's Vocational Training programme.
The Corrib Dance Academy runs a Vocational Training Programme, which recognises talented classical dancers and offers them the opportunity to be trained for RAD Vocational Exams. These exams range from Intermediate Foundation through to Advanced and are suitable for ballet students interested in pursuing dance as a profession.
Principal and Staff
The principal, Phyllis Hayes has been working in dance for fifteen years. The first five years were spent teaching dance abroad, before returning to Galway to found the Corrib Dance Academy (CDA), ten years ago. She is one of the most highly qualified professionals in her field, with the achievements of her students in recent years bearing testimony to this. Senior staff member, Judith Sibley, another highly qualified and experienced professional, combines teaching with running her own professional dance company. She appears with her company 'Chrysalis Dance' in this year's Galway Arts festival.
