Irish Dancing with the Gibbins School of Irish Dance

We will be welcoming the Rachel & the Gibbins School of Irish Dance!

Rachel tells us ‘GSID was formed three years ago (although then had to close for lockdown) and we started with adult beginner and advanced classes. We’ve now just launched children’s classes too and are getting to an exciting time when some of our dancers are ready for competition and exams (we have four going to the World Championships in Belgium in April and two taking part of their teachers’ exams in May!)- but we have plenty of dancers who are there just for fun, to keep fit and learn a new skill with a great bunch of ladies too 😊’

‘I started dancing at the age of 7 and gave up at 11 – but took it up again as a way to integrate when I moved to Germany when I was 19. I competed for the next ten years or so – including 7 world championships (best placing silver in solos and 7 world titles in teams), and won the European championships, as well as 2 British Open titles, 2 Irish Open titles and 3 German Open titles. I retired from competition when I was diagnosed with ME/CFS 12 years ago and struggled to maintain my fitness for competition – so I took my teacher’s, adjudicator’s and examiner’s exams instead to remain involved with the dancing. I am affiliated with the World Irish Dance Association – an organisation with is incredibly supportive of adult dancers – and now hold the position of Head of the Examinations & Continuing Education Committee. Last year three of my dancers went to the World Championships in Killarney Ireland and placed 3rd, 5th and 14th respectively so we’re looking forward to improving on the success of last year this year and starting to work on some team dances now we’re big enough for this years nationals.’

On the evening, we can expect some demonstrations in both softshoe and hardshoe from dancers who range from brand new beginners to championship dancers who’ll show you what they can do, and then they’ll get everyone up to learn the first steps of their first beginner light dance – the beginner reel. (Rachel advise sporty clothing – eg leggings and T-shirts, sports bras and trainers – and bring water!)
Once we’ve given that a go, we’ll get some ceili (team) dances going for a bit more of the social side of it. Sounds like great fun xxx