Bringing Celtic step dance traditions to Richmond, Virginia
Summer Classes
May 7th - July 30th
Every Wednesday evening from 6:30-7:30 PM
The Dance Space
6004-A West Broad Street
Henrico, VA 23230
Are you a percussive dancer local to the area, or an adult looking to learn a new dance style and meet new friends? Summer 2025 classes will run from May 7th until July 23rd and will cover the basics of old-style Irish dance and Cape Breton step dancing.
Step Dance Socials will be held the fourth Wednesday of every month. Members can bring one guest free to each social with the goal of building up the local percussive dance community in Richmond.
Beginners are WELCOME!
Ages 18+
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About the dancing
Old-style Irish dance, or Sean Nós as it’s more commonly called in the Irish language, is a catch-all term often used to describe the style of dancing in Ireland that came before the standardization of Irish dance (as we often see it today) by the Gaelic League in the late 1800’s. Watch some here!
How is this any different than what you see on contemporary movies like Jig or shows like Riverdance? In some ways, not a lot, and in other ways everything.
Although many of the basic percussive movements are the same, you might notice here that Sean Nós is far more relaxed in technique and posture. Although it can be a great workout, it can also be easily modified to suit people who are looking for a less strenuous form of dance, or — at least — one that is a little easier on the joints.
(Bonus video: Buail Cos, a documentary by the Irish language broadcasting channel, TG4, that compares and contrasts different forms of Irish dance).
Sean Nós dancing wasn’t intended for an elite class of dancers and athletes — it was (and still is!) intended for anyone in a given community to participate in. Furthermore, it is treated with just as much importance as the presence of a fiddle, flute, concertina, or harp is within Irish music.
Annabelle Bugay
Inspired by her years of study in Ireland and Nova Scotia, Annabelle is finally laying down roots and sharing treasured North Atlantic step dance traditions in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Passionate about preserving time-honored traditions and creating new avenues for their proliferation, Annabelle is committed to fostering a vibrant community of dancers and musicians wherever she goes.
Annabelle first began Irish dancing at the age of six under the An Cor Rud School of Irish Dance in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Annabelle achieved the open championship level before deciding to follow her passion for improvisation, choreography, and social dancing outside of the competitive sphere. She lived in Limerick, Ireland for two years where she learned Sean Nós (old-style) Irish dancing, before moving to Sydney, Nova Scotia where she completed her BA in Music and Folklore at Cape Breton University.
In Cape Breton, Annabelle refined her piano accompaniment skills and began picking up local steps at community dances, house parties, and Ceilidhs. Over the years, Annabelle has had the privilege of learning from many dance masters, such as Lisa Burgess, Liam Scanlon, Nic Gareiss, Mats Melin, Linda Block, Michael Donnellan, and Courtney Jay, among many other friends and square dance partners in Cape Breton. She is also featured on Isla Ratcliff’s debut album The Castalia (2021) and the live recording of Sunnseitn Bordun (2019) in Kremsmünster, Austria.
