Our School

Kilkenny Academy of Dance, formally The Forristal School of Dance has been successfully running since 1989. The school is known in Kilkenny for its combination of high standards and nurturing environments. In 2016, Gemma Grant and Finn Power took over ownership of the school from Sinead Keaskin.Gemma and Finn both grew up in this school as children so it is safe to say that both of their hearts are involved in every aspect of the running of the school. 

We encourage...learning
The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you

B.B King
We encourage...individuality
Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Dr. Suess
We encourage...creativity
“Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity. There’s a light inside of you.”

Judith Jamison, American dancer and choreographer

The school offers training for children and students from 3 years up to pre -professional level in Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre/Jazz and Contemporary dance.The school also offers parent and toddler dance classes as well as Boys’ Hip hop classes. Both school directors are qualified ballet and modern dance teachers. Therefore the school can offer students the option of taking part in examinations under the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in both genres, allowing students to pursue dance as a career if they so wish. Many students of the School have gone on to train and dance professionally, both nationally and internationally, and to earn recognised teaching qualifications in Ballet, Modern Theatre, Contemporary and Tap dance.

Kilkenny Academy of Dance offers a fully staged dance production, featuring all of our students, every alternate year, in The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny – proceeds of which are given to a different charity each time chosen by our students.

The school has always prided itself on how school students respect, celebrate and care for each other. Kilkenny Academy of Dance thrives on highest standards, however the school believes that creating these standards should be achieved by educating students through passion, fun,creativity and focus on personal growth.

Our teachers are all fully qualified and registered teachers  and have all undergone full time training as well as having worked as professional dancers and choreographers. They are hand picked by the school for their passion and true love for educating. They continuously attend courses to ensure their work is up to date, fresh and most importantly fun for our students.

Kilkenny Academy of Dance has been a home away from home for so many over the last thirty years and it means so much to Finn and Gemma that the school has and continues to create such special memories in the hearts of both past and present students alike.

Testimonials