Cast Member in Riverdance, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance on Broadway & London's West End. Owner and DC area native Joe Duffey always dreamed of opening an Irish dance school and putting his mark on the DC dance scene. An alum of Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda, MD) and George Washington University (B.A. 2013), his love for the DC area is reflected in the school's brand and vision.
At District Irish Dance, we apply innovative instruction to pass along our love for an art form rooted in tradition. In doing so, we enable students the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive as Irish dancers in recreational, competitive and pre-professional tracks. Starting a dance school didn't happen overnight: Joe brings nearly a decade as a professional dancer to the classroom.
At District Irish Dance, we apply innovative instruction to pass along our love for an art form rooted in tradition. In doing so, we enable students the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive as Irish dancers in recreational, competitive and pre-professional tracks. Starting a dance school didn't happen overnight: Joe brings nearly a decade as a professional dancer to the classroom.
Services
Ever since Riverdance took the world by storm in 1994, people all over the world have discovered the magic of Irish dance. Combine lively music, artistic choreography and a challenging workout, and we're confident you'll be hooked after your first class! Whether you're looking for a fun, enriching activity for your child or are an adult who has never danced before, there's something for everyone at District Irish Dance Academy!
We started our daughter in Joe's beginner class last month. So far she's had 4 classes and is really enthusiastic. Joe is doing a fantastic job of keeping the kids engaged and having fun while learning the fundamentals of Irish Dance. I'm so happy he opened his school in DC so I can introduce my daughter to Irish Dance, which is something I pursued for many years in my youth and am delighted to share with her.
The Academy Program color track enables students to excel in Irish dance, with weekly classes, performances and competitive opportunities. Our District Tots parent & child class (held virtually) offers children as young as 2 to try out the fun of Irish dance! We're the only studio you'll find Celtic Fit - the Irish dance workout, and we have a robust Adult Program as well as technique & conditioning classes for all ages and levels.
At District Academy, dancers progress through a "color level track", starting at Shamrock beginner level and advancing to Black level, our Open Champion class. Certain achievements are met in order to advance to the next level. For questions about class placement/enrollment, please e-mail us. Shamrock Beginners welcomes brand new students age 5 and up to the exciting world of Irish dance!
We offer a welcoming community of adult students that meet weekly to learn the amazing art of Irish dance. Technique and fitness are cultivated in a friendly, growth-focused setting. New dancers should contact us to set up a private lesson prior to enrolling so that we can orient them to the District style/step vocabulary.
Reviews (5)
Catharine Parnell
Mar 05, 2021
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Caitlin Fitzpatrick
Jan 03, 2021
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Ashley Wessel
Nov 08, 2020
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Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality
Joe and Bern are true professionals! They are quick to respond to emails and I love how encouraging Bern has been while teaching classes. They come to class prepared to teach and are patient with the kids. I’m very happy to have my daughter be part of their program.
Joe and Bern are true professionals! They are quick to respond to emails and I love how encouraging Bern has been while teaching classes. They come to class prepared to teach and are patient with the kids. I’m very happy to have my daughter be part of their program.
Abs Duq
Oct 19, 2018
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I was just visiting my sister in DC and came across signs for this dance school. I have been interested in trying out Irish dance for a while now, so I thought I would give a class a try (they offer a first class for free!). The class I took was Celtic Fit which is combo Irish step dance with fitness moves. I was blown away by how much fun I had! In addition to being a great workout (wow those steps are challenging!), it was so much fun and the instructor (his name is Joe, supposedly he used to tour with Riverdance) made the entire class experience lively and engaging. I wish District Irish Dance
Joan Von Drehle
May 27, 2018
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