A local look at studios, shoes, and stepping into an old tradition—no experience required.
In the Upper Valley, Irish dance tends to surface around St. Patrick's Day in parade lines and pub ceilis. But behind those seasonal performances is a year-round community of dancers drilling hornpipes and reels in church basements, community centers, and studio spaces from White River Junction to Hanover and Lebanon.
If you've ever thought about trying it yourself, the region offers more entry points than you might expect. Whether you're five or fifty-five, looking to compete or just looking for a workout that doesn't feel like one, here's how to get started.
What's Actually Available Near White River Junction
White River Junction itself doesn't have a dedicated Irish dance academy operating full-time out of the downtown mill district. But several established programs within a ten- to fifteen-minute draw regular students from WRJ, Hartford, and Norwich. These are the names that come up consistently in local parent groups, community center bulletin boards, and regional arts calendars:
Scoil Rince McGrath (Lebanon, NH)
Taught by certified TCRG instructor Fiona McGrath, this school runs out of the Kilton Public Library community room and St. Denis Parish Hall. McGrath, who emigrated from County Galway nearly two decades ago, offers both recreational and competitive tracks. Beginner classes are typically held Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, with adult sessions on Wednesday evenings. Drop-in rates hover around $18; semester packages run $220–$280 depending on frequency.
O'Shea Irish Dance (Hanover, NH /Online hybrid)
Founded by Riverdance alumna Shannon O'Shea, this studio operates a physical location on South Main Street in Hanover and supplements with Zoom sessions for adult beginners who can't make the commute. O'Shea's school is known for its performance pipeline—students regularly dance at the Lebanon Opera House and the Hopkins Center.
Pine Tree Apple Irish step school (Hartford, Vt.)
A smaller, newer program operating out of the Hartford Recreation Department on Poor Farm Road. Instructor Colin Byrne, a Dublin native who settled in the Upper Valley after teaching at Boston's Harney Academy, emphasizes social dancing and set dances over solo competition. Classes are informal, community-oriented, and among the most affordable in the area at roughly $15 per session.
Note: Schedules and locations shift seasonally. Call or email directly rather than relying solely on website calendars, which in this region are frequently out of date.
Choosing Your Path: Competition, Performance, or Social Dancing
Irish dance breaks down into three main experiences, and knowing which one appeals to you will shape where you should land.
- Competitive dancing (feisanna): Solo step dancing judged on technique, timing, and presentation. Requires commitment, specific costumes, and usually hard shoes by the second year.
- Performance: Recital-based or theatrical work—think local festivals, nursing home shows, regional arts nights. Less pressure than competition, more structure than social dancing.
- Social / set dancing: Group dances done in squares or circles, often to live music. Byrne's Hartford classes lean heavily here, and some McGrath students cross-train in sets for the social aspect.
"If you just want to move and hear live fiddle music, start with set dancing," Byrne told me by email. "If you want to obsess over crossing your feet and making zero noise with your arms, that's step dancing. Both are Irish. Both are joyful. But they're different animals."
What to Wear, What to Buy, and What to Know Before You Walk In
Irish dance is more physically demanding than its upright posture suggests. Expect a warm-up, drills across the floor, and a lot of repetition on technique. Here's how to prepare without overspending upfront.
Dress for mobility. Leggings, athletic shorts, or sweatpants and a fitted t-shirt work best. Avoid skirts or loose clothing that obscure your knees and feet—you and your instructor need to see whether your legs are actually crossed.
Understand the footwear. Irish dance shoes fall into two main categories:
- Soft shoes: Ghillies (lace-up, soft-soled, worn by female dancers) and reel shoes (similar but with a heel, worn by male dancers for soft-shoe dances)
- Hard shoes: Also called jig shoes, with fiberglass or leather tips and heels that produce the percussive footwork most people associate with Riverdance
Both men and women wear hard shoes for heavy dances. Many studios stock loaner pairs for absolute beginners. If you stick with it longer than a month, plan to buy your own—expect to spend $50–$120 for beginner soft shoes, $120–$180 for hard shoes.
Hydrate and pace yourself. Bring water. The leg and calf workload sneaks up on you.
**Embrace the
