ARKLOW & GOREYdance studios

Frances Ryan School of Dance, under the direction of Frances Ryan, has been established since 1994 and is a fully registered school with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, (ISTD).

The School has two branches, which operate from

• Arklow Dance Studios
  7 Rockview, Knockenrahan Industrial Estate, Arklow, Co. Wicklow Eircode Y14 CY61
• Gorey Dance Studio
  CrossFit Gorey, Courtown Road, Gorey, Co. WexfordEircode Y25 P688

The School operates 3 terms each year and runs from September to June. Our classes are held in purpose built studios with ballet barres, sprung flooring and mirrors.

We are open 6 days a week offering a variety of choice in dance styles.

Our Classes & Ethos

Frances Ryan School of Dance offers training for children and students from age 3 up to professional level. Students of the school are taught Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre Dance/ Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop/Commercial, Musical Theatre and Acrobatic Dance.

The main focus of our studio is to create a safe, supportive environment in which students can express themselves openly, freely, and with confidence. Our goal is to make each student's experience positive and joyful where their talent is nurtured, all achievements are acknowledged, and a love of dance and the arts is instilled.

Every year pupils of the school work either towards taking dance examinations with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, or are prepared for stage work through a fully staged School Production.

The School has a 100% success rate to date in all exams taken, with the majority of students receiving Honours. Senior Students are prepared for the professional exams of the ISTD, thus giving them the opportunity if they wish, to continue their studies in dance colleges both in Ireland and abroad, and then onwards to become Professional Teachers and/or Professional Dancers.

Many students of the school have gone on to train and dance professionally.

All teaching staff with the school are fully qualified and registered with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and have all undergone full time training as well as working in the theatre as professional dancers and/or choreographers.

It is the school's policy that we maintain the highest possible standard of teaching, and, as such, all our teachers are required to attend courses as often as possible for continuous training, to ensure that their work is up to date and fresh. This is then passed onto our students in a fun and exciting way.

Frances Ryan, Principal

For more information on the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, please visit www.istd.org

Benefits of Dance

Many different types of dance classes are available for children, from modern dance, ballet, tap and jazz to dance that celebrates unique ethnic and cultural traditions. What's the most important thing for parents to keep in mind when choosing a dance class? It's that research has proven that dance provides physical, developmental and artistic benefits to your child.

Physical Benefits

Students build muscle strength while increasing flexibility. Young dancers develop a sense of balance and improve agility and coordination. Importantly, children also develop body awareness and learn correct posture.

These benefits extend beyond a student's involvement with dance, helping youth involved in other disciplines, such as sports and martial arts. Studies have shown that physical activity helps children relieve stress and feel relaxed.

It also is a great way to help your child develop a positive lifelong attitude about staying active and healthy.

Developmental Benefits

Dance classes are fun and a great way to meet new friends. Young dancers develop essential social skills through interaction with other students. Group choreography fosters teamwork, communication, trust and cooperation.

Dance also has been proven to nurture important life skills, such as discipline and focus. Dancers naturally display confidence, self-esteem and poise. These skills are developed through participating in dance performances.

Artistic Benefits

One of the greatest benefits of dance is that it sparks a child's imagination and nurtures individual creativity in a unique way. Dance classes share the joy of physical self-expression in a supportive and structured setting.

This can have a positive impact on children who have limited physical abilities, who act out or who have a difficult time sitting still. Involving children in dance also teaches the basic elements of creative movement, such as time, space, rhythm and design.

While people may not be as familiar with modern dance as with ballet or jazz, modern dance in particular honours the creative spirit and celebrates the individual. Modern dance does not simply conform to conventional movements, shapes and patterns.

Instead, it requires the young dancer to learn movement from the inside out, nurturing the body and focusing the mind.

There is one final reason to get your child dancing.

Research proves there is a strong link between involvement in the arts and increased educational achievement. In fact, one study showed that students who participate in the arts are not only more likely to participate in a math and science fair, but also out-perform their peers in state exams.

These educational benefits are gained by students regardless of their socio-economic status. There's sure to be a dance class that fits your child's interests and your schedule, so why wait?

Enroll your child in a dance class. The lessons she or he learns will last a lifetime.