Brooks Academy of Irish Dancing. The Brooks Academy of Irish dancing, based in Swindon has had a presence n the town since 1997. Though you might have known it as the Boyd School before a 2017 merger. Either way, under the expert guidance of Ian Boyd, the school survives and thrives.
Teaching the Swindon classes is a man of great experience, Ian Boyd. Ian has been involved with Irish dancing since his childhood during which time he competed the world over.
Ian is a qualified teacher with *CLRG since 1997. There he achieved his TCRG before going on to achieve his adjudication qualification, ADCRG, in 2009.
Since then he’s travelled the world, judging competitions and passing on his expertise to such places as diverse as:
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- France
- The USA
- Canada
- Ireland and of course in the UK.
Brooks Academy lessons in Swindon
- Monday – Rodbourne Cheney Social Club
Beginners: 5-6pm. Advanced 6-8pm. Adults: 8-9pm
- Thursday – Haydon Leigh Primary School
All levels 6-8pm.
Coming soon – adult classes 8-9pm. Call or text to book your free taster session – 07979045133
Find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Brooks-Academy-of-Irish-Dancing-100057301936689/
*About those abbreviations
Founded between 1927 and 1930 by the Gaelic league, the CLRG is the Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha – that’s Irish for the Irish Dancing Commission. The Gaelic League used Irish dancing to promote the Irish nationalist movement.
The CLG comprises the world’s largest and oldest governing body for competitive Irish step dancing. The CLRG is responsible for the TCRG – Teagascóir Coimisiún Le Rinci Gaelacha – the teacher qualification. It qualifies a student to teach both solo and ceili dancing. Students must be at least twenty years old and pass both written and practical exams in dancing, music and the Gaelic language.
been dancing with Ian 7 months and is already U12 Prelim champion with a very bright future ahead
Also currently ranked number 1 in the southern region & 15th in the world
Standardizing Irish dance
CLRG creates a standardized system for Irish dance, music, and competitions for its member organizations. It also is involved in accrediting teachers and adjudicators.
ADCRG
ADCRG (Ard Diploma Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha) – this is the adjudicator qualification. As well as teaching it means Ian is qualified to adjudicate at any CLRG-recognised competition.
A bit of Irish dance history
This Celtic Titles blog tells us that the history of Irish dance is somewhat murky. It would seem that there’s little in the way of hard evidence pointing at how, when or even why it became popular. The first native Irish documented evidence dates back to 1413. Though it could well have been performed earlier. Indeed there exists some commentary from visitors to Ireland that points towards social dancing existing.
The blog goes on to state though that, by the 17th century, Irish dancing had become popular across the country. Several written accounts exist detailing different forms of Irish dancing. For example, Sir Henry Sydney, Lord Deputy of Ireland, wrote to Queen Elizabeth I with great enthusiasm for the Irish jigs he’d witnessed on his trip.
It’s possible then that Irish dance developed alongside Irish music. It’s thought too that other dance forms, such as the Quadrille, from continental Europe, brought influence to bear on the genre.
