A new dance academy is about to be set up in Kilkenny with Irish dancing stars bringing their experience to the marble city. Behind the new academy is Bernadette Flynn who started Irish dancing at the tender age of four in Co Tipperary.
At age seven Bernadette won the first of nine Munster titles and went on to dominate the world of competitive dancing winning a further seven All-Ireland and six World Championships.
At age sixteen her dancing career took a further leap when she auditioned for ‘Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance’ and was handpicked to play the role of his original leading lady. Bernadette has travelled the world performing alongside Michael and has starred in both the Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames DVD’s.
Bernadette’s husband Damien O’Kane started dancing at age nine in County Derry and was also a great success in the world of competition winning various titles such as Ulster, All-Ireland and placed second in the World Championships. At age eighteen, Damien landed a place in the original cast of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. A year later he was handpicked by Michael Flatley to be his replacement in the lead role when he retired from active touring. Bernadette and Damien have travelled the world and performed Lord of the Dance to 80 million people in over 60 countries.
Traditional Irish Dance will form the core of the Academy’s programme and both competitive and non-competitive students will be catered for. However, Bernadette and Damien hope to bring a new dimension to Irish Dance and give it more of a fun and contemporary feel by involving modern music and movements. The Academy will also offer on-going master classes in other forms of dance which will be instructed alongside other Lord of the Dance stars.
Both Bernadette and Damien are qualified Irish Dance teachers (TCRG ) and are registered with CLRG, Dublin.
The aims of their Academy: Having fun —working hard — making friends — building confidence — teamwork. Registration commences at: The Escape Health Club and Spa, Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny on Saturday, September 4 and September 11 from 11am. For further details contact 087 2400861.
