Developing empowered dancers, musicians, and communities through the traditional Irish arts.
Through supportive workshops, classes, and events focused on traditional Irish music and dance, students will learn and absorb the core concepts and techniques essential to joyfully participating in and shaping the tradition.
Capital Irish Arts dancers have been recognized for their achievement in traditional solo and social dancing by the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for multiple years, as MidAtlantic Champions qualifying them for the All Ireland competitions.
Our school has had multiple dancers place in the All Ireland in the sean-nós competition. In 2017, we received a special award of commendation for their mixed half-set at the All Ireland Fleadh in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland.
Other notable performances include: Smithsonian National Folklife Festival, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Irish Fest Atlanta, and Washington Christmas Revels.
Our classes and events pass on the tradition of sean-nós and set dancing, from the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking region) in the West of Ireland. These styles were danced by farmers living their lives and dancing for fun and social outlets. There are techniques at work, but the techniques involve working together, collaboration, musicality, and uplifting each other.
Generations of Irish people learned these styles by attending events and local gatherings. Shannon learned similarly by visiting Ireland numerous times and learning first-hand from people in their homes and village pubs.
At Capital Irish Arts, we mimic these gatherings in all of our classes, workshops, and events, giving every participant a means to join in the fun while still stretching outside their comfort zone and learning new skills both applicable to music/dance in general and also to better understand another culture.
TESTIMONIALS
“My daughter has been dancing with Shannon Dunne for 10 years and to our family, it's more than a dance class. Rather, it's an Irish Community that has been built up here in Capitol Hill, DC and Maryland by Shannon through dance, music, singing, stories, art, baking, and travel. My daughter started learning the basics in Pre-K by making music and imitating animals with her feet. After many years of weekly classes, camps, festival and theater performances, competitions and a trip to the All Ireland Fleadh in Ennis, my daughter has great musicality, can partner with musicians, and understands and loves the tradition of sean nos. Best of all, she shares what Shannon has instilled in her over these years, a curiosity for learning, a responsibility to the community and tradition, and support for her fellow dancers. I couldn't be happier!”
“My daughter prioritizes dancing with Capital Irish Arts programs above all other after school activities. She loves the creative games, inclusive environment and cultural community that Shannon’s programs offer. What’s more, she can clearly recognize the progress she is making! With each new step and each new dance, Shannon has helped her both build a foundation that inspires self confidence and offer a connection to a rich tradition.”
OFFERINGS
Capital Irish Arts offers the following programs: :
Irish Music and Dance Story Hour
Sean-nós Dance, 7-adult
Old Style Step, 10-adult
Instrument lessons: whistle, accordion, bodhrán, concertina
Capitol Hill Céili Band
Annual St Patrick’s Day Variety Show
Annual Easter Market St Patrick’s Day Family Céilí
Annual Silver Spring Sean-nós Competition/Exhibition