04/03/2021 :
The Finnegan School of Irish Dance first opened it's doors in September 2005, with a mere 10 students. In the nine years it's been open, we have had successful competitive results both on National and International levels. While many of our dancers do actively compete, it is recognized that not all dancers are driven to compete. For this reason, our performance class allows children to perform for the love of dancing and provides many of our recreational dancers with the opportunity to share their talents in public without the pressure of competition. All class sizes at the Finnegan School are limited to ensure that each dancer receives the individual attention they deserve to become the best dancer they can be. Classes are instructed by studio owner, Patricia Finnegan TCRG/ADCRG/RECE or Erin Canning TCRG, in combination with assistant teachers who thoroughly enjoy dancing and passing on their knowledge and talents to our students. At the Finnegan School, each dancer's individual abilities are recognized. Although dancers may receive material similar to classmates, competitive material is personalized to accommodate individual strengths and weaknesses. Through attending weekly lessons, all dancers will improve basic skills and technique while working to meet optimal levels of personal accomplishment. A rich and supportive environment will push your dancer to respect and appreciate the importance of setting and reaching goals for themselves while enjoying the process of learning and practicing. The goal at the Finnegan School of Irish Dance is to provide a family friendly environment where children are encouraged to create friendships, get exercise and develop talent, while forming an appreciation for Irish dance, music and culture.
Patricia Finnegan is a certified teacher (TCRG;2003) and judge (ADCRG; 2014) with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, Dublin Ireland. This was the natural step for her following an extremely successful, 19 year competitive career in which she accomplished many top ten finishes as a solo and team dancer at both national and international competitions. Throughout her competitive years, Patricia earned top finishes at the North American Championships, All Ireland's, Great Britain's, British Nationals and World Irish Dance Championships. She qualified for the World Championships an impressive 15 times. Patricia began competing in the Eastern Canadian Oireachtas (championship) at the age of five where she placed second in the under 8 category, her first time entering the competition.
Through her years participating in this event, she never placed lower then 3rd place! Her accomplishments also won her the title of All Canadian Champion, at the Montreal feis and All American Champion at the Washington D.C feis. As well as the accomplishments made in her competitive career, Patricia has also had the pleasure of performing on many theatre stages, auditoriums and outdoor venues with such known names at Natalie McMaster, Leahy, and the Irish Descendents. She performed at Toronto's Princess of Wales theatre in Ed Mervish's production of Needfire, Passion of the Heart in 1998 and also travelled North America in 2001, performing the solo in Chicago's Trinity Irish Dance Company. Patricia loves sharing her passion of Irish dance with her students and hopes to spread the love of dance and music onto her dancers!
After achieving her BA at Wilfrid Laurier and then ECE at Sheridan College, Patricia spent many years working in child care. Her passion has always been working with children of various ages. Patricia's pride and joy are her two sons, Ronin who is nine and Declan, who is six. During the day Patricia works at Rockwood Nursery School and then in the evening her enjoyment of dance, music and children have allowed her to create a dance environment for all of her students to share the love of dance and work towards mastering their personal goals.
Erin began dancing at the age of 8 and danced competitively for the Goggin School of Traditional Irish Dance (now Goggin- Carroll) for 7 years. She competed at regional and national competitions throughout North America. Erin then moved on to teach at a noncompetitive school in Oakville for 4 years. After graduating with a degree in Fashion from International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago she returned back to competing. Erin brushed off her dancing shoes in 2008 to compete in the Eastern Canadian Oireachtas with the Finnegan School adult ceili teams which then lead to her teaching with Patricia for the past 8 years! Erin received her TCRG certification in December of 2016 and plans to continue teaching alongside Patricia at the Finnegan School.
The Finnegan School of Irish Dance is registered with "An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha" in Dublin, Ireland and with the Irish Dance Teachers Associations of North America and Eastern Canada
