Áirc Damhsa Culture Club
DANCING, CREATING & PERFORMING WITH CHILDREN
ACROSS IRELAND SINCE 2004.
NO ORDINARY CULTURE CLUB!
At Áirc Damhsa Culture Club we work with children across Ireland teaching them many different styles of Irish dance, music & traditions while growing their confidence, fitness, knowledge and social skills. All ages, all abilities, all cultures, all nationalities are welcome at Áirc Damhsa. But it’s not all about the dancing! At our club we make memories and friendships that last a lifetime. We listen and learn from each other, we share ideas, we create and we work together. And that’s what makes our club no ordinary culture club!
About Our Club.
Áirc Damhsa Culture Club was set up in 2004 by dancer and choreographer Edwina Guckian from Drumsna, Co. Leitrim. The club, now in it's 18th year, has grown hugely in popularity and success and is now located in 9 counties across Ireland.
Our club works with 15 skilled leaders in dance and education. Many of them are studying and have completed degrees and masters in dance, primary education, gaeilge, early childhood education, music, theatre and dance therapy. The leaders rotate roles termly so that every class is exposed to the many talents of each teacher at the club.
Over the years groups from our club have performed for the president of Ireland, won All Ireland Set & Sean Nós Dancing titles at the Oireachtas, Fleadh Cheoil and Community Games, awarded the Rehab Culture Group of the Year, won the final of TG4’s An Jig Gig, reached the finals of RTE’s All Ireland Talent Show, performed on the renowned Late Late Toy Show and for Pope Francis in Croke Park, broken world records, cast in world renowned films such as Ken Loach’s “Jimmy’s Hall” and have made several exhilarating videos that have gone viral around the world.
At Áirc Damhsa we work with children and adults teaching them many different styles of Irish dance, music, song & traditions while growing their confidence, fitness and social skills. All ages, all abilities, all cultures, all nationalities are welcome. We encourage everybody at the club, including parents, to speak Gaeilge, no matter how large or small their vocabulary. We encourage everyone to take part in our outings together, be it a ceilí, a session, a concert or a trip to a music festival. It's at these events that we get to put into practice all we've learned and many things at these events can't be learned or taught at class, they have to be experienced.
Numerous research studies have shown that participation in the arts boosts children's confidence, socio - emotional well being, cognitive development and academic skills. Creating dance is a fine way for children to make choices and solve problems. Every step involves making a decision: what rhythm to use, which body part to move, what direction to make the movement, what size and speed to make it. With every choice the dance becomes more and more their own.
But it’s not all about the dancing! At our club we make memories and friendships that last a lifetime. We listen and learn from each other, we share ideas, we create and we work together. And that’s what makes our club no ordinary dance club!