Beginners Corner
Welcome to the Pender-Keady Academy of Irish Dancing!

As parents that are new to Irish Dancing, we realize you probably have a lot of questions! Hopefully we can answer some of the basics here in our beginners corner!

We do not mail out any confirmation letters upon receipt of registration, so if you haven’t heard from us, you can assume that you are enrolled in the class of your choice.

 
What should my child wear to class?
Children should come dressed in proper dance attire. Tank tops and bicycle shorts, leotard and tights, etc. NO long pants or jeans of any kind, nothing too baggy. Please do not bring your child to class in their school clothing.
What kind of shoes do they need?

There are special shoes for Irish dancing that are preferable for class. They are called “Gillies” or “soft shoes”. They can be purchased at Beam and Barre in Greenwich, the Dance Corner Plus in New Canaan, and the The Dancer's Depot in Stamford. They can also be ordered online at Fayshoes.com. If your child has ballet slippers already, these are fine for beginners!

What if my child misses a class?
We have a total of 6 beginner classes on our schedule during the week in 4 different locations. If your child misses a class then they are more than welcome to do a make-up class in another beginner class. Unfortunately we can not give refunds or credits for missed classes. We ask that if your child has been sick that you wait 24 hours after they are better to send them to class.
When do classes start?
Classes begin Tuesday, September 8th and run through Monday, June 7th with additional recital rehearsals taking place after June 7th. By mid September we will have a holiday closure schedule posted on the website, so don’t forget to check back!
How do I find out about studio closures?
If the Academy must close do to inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstances, this information will be posted on the website and on our answering machine. So if you’re not sure, please check ahead of time. If we close for inclement weather, please feel free to do a make-up class in any of our other classes throughout the week.
When is tuition due?

Tuition is due 3 times a year on August 24th, December 7th and March 15th. A $50 late fee will be assessed on any payments that are more than 7 days late. There is a tuition box inside of our Stamford studio where checks can be dropped off. If you are taking class in a location outside of our Stamford studio, please pay tuition by mail and send checks to :
Pender-Keady Academy
76 Viaduct Rd. Suite 3
Stamford, CT 06907
ATTN: TUITION

Is there an end-of-year recital?
YES! the tentative day and time of the recital will be Saturday June 19th at 11am but this could change based on venue availability.
Are there any other events that I should be aware of?
YES!
The Pender-Keady Academy will be hosting its Annual feis January 16th, 2010. A feis is an Irish Dancing competition. We encourage all of our new beginners to participate! We are also always looking for volunteers to help work at the feis. We will have more information about this soon!
The Pender-Keady Academy also takes part  each year in the Stamford St. Patrick’s Day Parade which is Saturday, March 13th 2010. All students are welcome and encouraged to come and march with PKA. The parade is usually the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. We will confirm the date when we find out. It is a lot of fun for all!
We also have an annual dinner dance that will take place in the spring (date TBA). This event is great night for both the parents and the kids. The highlight of the evening is always our “infamous” Dad’s Dance-Off, where some of our bravest fathers get up and show us all their own version of Irish Dancing!