Annette the Dancer

Click here to see her perform one of her favourite dances

From Julia Bannister of Canada, "Thanks so much. I cannot express how much I appreciate your teaching style. It is organized; excellent pacing; clear; concise; consistent; beautifully responsive to the music.  Thank you from across the miles, the top, bottom and middle of my  ❤️  - Julia"

Online dance classes

Zoom with me and make friends with other dancers from all around the globe.

​ 4 levels of tuition from beginner up.

- new repertoire each term -
​
Promotional Videos from the last term:
 
Level 1 - Beginner - here
Level 2 - here    Level 3 - here
Level 4 - here

These dances are now available for home study - check the Shop Tab or click here

Scroll down to access a FREE online tutorial

Weekend retreats

An opportunity for dancers to deepen
​their love and understanding of
Old Style Step Dancing - at a stunning location in Clare.

further details here

Workshops

​Drop me a line if you would like to come to you, or provide you/your group with a Zoom workshop or series of workshops.

Further details here

Party time!

Bespoke dance sessions, classes, workshops for family/community groups/hen parties.

Book me to call at your wedding ceili.  

​Dance is a fun way to
​interact with friends and family.
​​​

further details here

Let me inspire you, I was over 40 when
​I joined my first solo dance class.

Why dance?

THE FIRST STEP TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

Research has proven that dancing is one of the best forms of activity for keeping
​the body active and the mind alert. 

Get fit

Do you want to be healthier and feel fitter?  The way to improved health and wellbeing could be just one step away - and what's more it is fun! Research shows that dancing is one of the best forms of activity for keeping the body active and the mind alert.  

Reduce your stress levels

It is known that regular exercise increases the level of chemicals in the brain, notably seratonin, which improves mood and so can reduce stress, anxiety and depression.  As well as an increased sense of confidence and general happiness. 

Boost your social life

An ideal way of meeting people and making new friends, increasing overall good health in a fun environment. 

Anti-ageing of the brain

"Dancing can reverse the signs of ageing in the brain"
Posted on August 29, 2017 by Frontiers Communications in Neuroscience 

A comparison of two different fitness routines shows that both can have an anti-aging effect on the brain in the elderly, but only dancing gives rise to a measurable difference in behavior. by Tania Fitzgeorge-Balfour.

Read about this

I would recommend Annette's classes because she is an excellent teacher and her love for dancing and for teaching is inspirational.

​Nuala Shanley, Fermanagh

Annette is an extremely excellent teacher and her instruction
is easy to understand. Her sense of fun makes her teaching
extra enjoyable.  ​
​

Pat Murphy, Lurgan

I took Annette's last series of old-style step dancing classes, and I really enjoyed joining her dance community once a week. Annette is a clear, organised, thoughtful, and generous teacher. She really wants her students to learn and have fun. Her classes are a great way to get moving and improve your dance skills.

Alicia Ni Chuinn, Seattle

Annette provided a very detailed feedback on my dancing, which helped me very much. 
​
​Kateryna Buchina, Ukraine​

I did a lot of ceile dancing as a youngster and always wanted to learn the old style step dancing but, living where I do, could never make it to a class as there are none near me. Hoping you keep doing the online classes. It's a dream come true!!
​
Barbara Graham, Co Down

“Hi Annette, in the current situation, solo dances seem a perfect alternative - I am a set dancer. I was really not looking for this, but I found your teaching (at the English Folk Festival) very clear, systematic, extremely well thought out. Please add me to your distribution list for your next course, motivated to join!" 
​
​ 
Björn, Germany

I teach to a wide range of people, some with no prior knowledge, sometimes people come to revisit steps from their childhood, some people come to get fit in a fun environment.

Old Style Step Dancing

The steps and dances on offer have been passed down an unbroken line from the Dancing Masters of old. 

Old Style Step Dancing is a percussive type of dance, the steps are danced close to the floor, by people of any age – even into their 80s. Old Style Step Dancing is the precursor to competitive Irish dancing and Riverdance. 

​Research has proven that dancing is one of the best forms of activity for keeping the body active and the mind alert. 

If you are curious about Old Style step dancing then join me online.

Information on other types of Irish Dance
Set Dancing

Set Dancing is a social dance, the "Sets" are danced by four couples in a square format and consist of three to six figures with a short pause between each. They are descended from the French quadrilles, which were brought to Ireland by the British army in the nineteenth century.

Irish dancers adapted the French quadrille figures to their own music and steps to form dances with great drive and enjoyment. After a period of decline in the fifties and sixties, sets are very popular today in Ireland and in Irish communities throughout the world.

Ceili Dancing

Another form of Irish social dance is ceili dancing. This is a different, separate repertoire of dances which are commonly danced in the North of Ireland, England, America and Australia, but uncommon in the South of Ireland. The dances are in many forms, for couples or threes, in lines, squares and circles, including some in the same formation as set dancing.

Cover girls! Yukika Otsuka of Tokyo & Annette Collins of Co Armagh

Free online video

Aimed at the early learner and perfect for people who might already have some knowledge of solo dancing or other percussive dance forms.

While the class is free, donations are welcome.

Donate here

click here

For the accompanying notes