Every March, the streets of Upper Exeter's St. Brendan's neighborhood fill with the sound of hard shoes on cobblestone—a reminder that this city of 180,000 hosts one of the most concentrated Irish dance communities in the region. What began in the 1980s with a single Saturday class at the Irish Cultural Center has grown into a competitive, performance-driven scene with four major training institutions and a pipeline of dancers who regularly place at regional and national championships.
Whether you're a parent searching for a first-step class, a teen eyeing Worlds, or an adult returning to dance after a decade away, Upper Exeter's schools offer distinct philosophies, environments, and price points. Here's what sets them apart.
How the Schools Compare
| School | Primary Focus | Age Range | Competition Level | Cost Tier | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic Spirit Dance Academy | Competition + tradition | 4–21 | Regional to international | $$ | Sean-nós improvisation required for advanced students |
| Emerald Isle Dance Studio | Recreation + community | 3–adult | Local showcase only | $ | All-ages annual showcase with professional guests |
| Tir na Nog Irish Dance School | Cultural preservation | 5–18 | Minimal; exhibition-focused | $$ | Ancient dance forms + Irish language integration |
| Riverdance Academy | Performance + competition | 6–20 | Regional to international | $$$ | Masterclasses with touring Riverdance cast members |
Celtic Spirit Dance Academy
Founded: 2007 | Location: Former St. Mark's parish hall, Hawthorne Street | Enrollment: ~200 students
Three-time World Irish Dance Champion Aisling Byrne opened Celtic Spirit in a drafty church basement with seventeen students and a borrowed sound system. Today, the academy occupies a renovated parish hall with sprung-wood floors rebuilt specifically for Irish dance, and its alumni have medaled at the North American Nationals and the All-Irelands.
Byrne's syllabus is deliberately hybrid. All advanced students spend one class per week on sean-nós improvisation—the older, freer form of Irish dance—alongside their competition choreography. "If you only know steps, you're a technician," Byrne says. "If you understand where the steps come from, you're a dancer."
Classes run Tuesday through Saturday across eight levels, from beginner soft-shoe to open championship. Celtic Spirit sends approximately thirty dancers to major competitions annually. Trial classes are offered during the first week of September and January; monthly tuition ranges from $140–$220 depending on level.
Emerald Isle Dance Studio
Founded: 1994 | Location: Morrison Plaza, West Upper Exeter | Enrollment: ~150 students
Emerald Isle is the scene's most accessible entry point. Director Colm O'Driscoll, a TCRG-certified instructor from County Cork, built the studio around a simple premise: Irish dance should be available to anyone who wants to try it, regardless of body type, budget, or ambition.
The studio offers classes for ages three through adult, including a popular Wednesday evening session for absolute beginners over fifty. There are no mandatory competitions. Instead, the annual Emerald Showcase—held each May at the Upper Exeter Community Theater—draws 800 attendees and regularly features guest appearances from Riverdance and Lord of the Dance alumni.
" my daughter has Down syndrome, and Emerald Isle was the first studio that didn't hesitate," says parent Jennifer Walsh. "She's been in the showcase three years running. It's the highlight of our family's spring."
Tuition starts at $95 per month for one weekly class; multi-class and family discounts are available.
Tir na Nog Irish Dance School
Founded: 2002 | Location: The Old Mill, River Road | Enrollment: ~80 students
Tucked into a converted textile mill on the east edge of the city, Tir na Nog feels less like a competition factory and more like a cultural immersion program. Founder Niamh Ní Mhurchú, who holds a master's in Irish folklore from University College Dublin, requires all students to learn basic Irish phrases and the stories behind the dances they perform.
The school specializes in rarely taught forms: the rinnce fada, the broom dance, and set dances collected from older generations in Connemara. Summer camps include field trips to the Upper Exeter Irish Archives and sessions with visiting musicians from Galway. Competition is not emphasized, though students occasionally perform at regional feiseanna in the exhibition category.
"Tir na Nog saved Irish dance for my son," says parent Declan Reilly. "He burned out on competitions at another school. Here, he learned that the dance is bigger than the medal."
Classes meet twice weekly; tuition is $160–$190 per month. The school's August workshop on sean-nós dance draws
