The sharp click-clack of hard shoes against maple flooring echoes through a converted warehouse near Calle 8. Inside, a dozen students—ages six to sixty—stand in rigid formation, arms pinned to their sides, feet moving so fast they seem to blur. This is Tuesday evening at Celtic Spirit Dance Academy, and if you didn't know better, you might think you'd stepped into a studio in Dublin or Cork.
But this is Guayabal, and Irish dance here is no passing trend.
Why Irish Dance Took Root in Guayabal
The connection stretches back to the 1980s, when a small group of Irish engineers arrived to work on regional infrastructure projects. Several married locally, stayed, and raised families. By the mid-1990s, St. Patrick's Day celebrations at Parque Guayabal were drawing hundreds. What began as informal ceilidh gatherings in living rooms eventually grew into structured instruction. Today, an estimated 200 students across the municipality study Irish dance year-round—an unexpected but firmly established thread in Guayabal's cultural fabric.
Academy Profiles
Celtic Spirit Dance Academy
Location: Calle 8 #23-45, Barrio Industrial (second floor)
Contact: +57 312 456 7890 | celticspiritguayabal.com
Classes offered: Soft shoe (beginner through advanced), hard shoe, ceili (team dancing), adult fitness seisiúns
Tuition: COP 280,000–420,000/month depending on level and frequency
Director María Elena O'Donnell, who trained at Dublin's Trinity Academy of Irish Dance, founded Celtic Spirit in 2011 after relocating with her Colombian husband. Her curriculum balances tradition with theatrical innovation.
"We don't just teach steps," O'Donnell says. "We teach the story behind each dance—the famine-era sorrow in a slow air, the celebration in a hornpipe."
The academy welcomes absolute beginners, including adults with no prior dance experience. A notable feature: monthly live-accompaniment classes with fiddler Seán Brennan, a Limerick native who has made Guayabal his home since 2015. The academy also fields competitive dancers; in 2023, student Carlos Méndez, 11, placed third in the under-12 boys' division at the Pan-American Irish Dance Championships in Montreal.
Emerald Isle Dance Studio
Location: Carrera 15 #45-12, Zona Centro
Contact: +57 315 678 9012 | @emeraldisleguayabal (Instagram)
Classes offered: Competitive solo track, performance ensemble, preschool creative movement, summer intensives
Tuition: COP 320,000–580,000/month; scholarships available for competitive dancers
Founded in 2016 by former champion Sofía Ríos McLaughlin, Emerald Isle operates with a more intensive, competition-oriented philosophy. Ríos McLaughlin herself placed in the top twenty at the All-Ireland Championships in 2012 and brings that rigor to her students.
The studio's 120-square-meter sprung floor was imported specifically to reduce impact on dancers' joints—a significant investment in a region where such specialized equipment is rare. The atmosphere is demanding but familial. Parents often gather on the studio's rooftop terrace during classes, and the annual "Feile Guayabal" showcase sells out the Teatro Municipal each March.
In 2024, Emerald Isle sent four dancers to the World Irish Dance Championships in Glasgow, with Valentina Torres reaching the recall round in the 15–16 girls' competition.
What to Expect as a Beginner
Irish dance demands precise footwork, an immobile torso, and considerable core strength. First-timers typically start in soft shoes called ghillies (for girls) or reel shoes (for boys), learning foundational steps like the 1-2-3 and the sevens. Progression to hard shoes—with their fiberglass tips and heels—comes after mastering rhythm and posture.
The physical benefits are dance-specific and substantial: the rigid upper-body posture builds deep core stability, the intricate footwork develops proprioception and timing, and the competitive solo format (feis) trains mental focus under pressure.
Getting Started: Practical Questions
What should I wear to a first class?
Comfortable athletic clothing and socks. Most studios have loaner ghillies for the first month.
Do I need Irish heritage to participate?
No. Both academies report that the majority of their students have no Irish ancestry.
Is there a performance or competition path?
Yes. Beginners can remain recreational, but both studios offer structured tracks for dancers who wish to compete regionally, nationally, or internationally.
Are adult beginners truly welcome?
