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Does my child have to be Irish or have had previous Irish Dance eperience to participate? |
| A: |
Absolutely not..., at Tiernan we embrace diversity! Our students come from all different nationalities and backgrounds. Previous dance experience is not necessary.
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| Q: |
At what age can my child begin taking Irish Dance class? |
| A: |
Beginning at age 4, children are invited to participate in the River Program, a comprehensive program especially designed for younger children that includes story-telling, singing, stretching, drilling and learning components of Irish step-dancing. At the age of 6, the dancer then begins the Tiernan Passport Program, an unprecedented program designed to enhance confidence, coordination, memory and posture. The idea is to have fun and learn at the very same time! We do not, at this time, take adults.
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| Q: |
What is the average class size and how many teachers are present? |
| A: |
Class size varies. Tiernan will schedule as many teachers and assistant teachers or drillers as needed to ensure enough individual attention with a 10:1 student to teacher ratio.
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| Q: |
What should my child wear to class? Do I need to buy shoes or any specific dance wear? |
| A: |
White t-shirt, black shorts, tennis shoes and socks. Don’t forget to bring a water bottle! At this time, you do not need to purchase any specific dancewear. The instructor will let you know when your child is “performance ready”. This is usually within the first 4-6 months of instruction. At that point, our Performance Coordinator will let you know what specific dancewear will be needed.
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| Q: |
When will I get to see my child perform? |
| A: |
Refer to the question about what to wear. Also, during the dance season there are Parent Days which parents get to watch part of dance class. Dancers are also invited to perform during the St. Patrick’s Day season, with more opportunities to perform as the dancer learns additional material. However, it is not a requirement to perform in order to take classes at Tiernan.
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| Q: |
Will my child compete in Irish Dance? |
| A: |
By the end of the first year of dance, most children will be prepared to participate in local competitions called feisanna. However, it is not a requirement to compete in order to take classes at Tiernan.
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| Q: |
How often do we pay tuition? |
| A: |
Families may choose to pay the entire annual tuition amount upon registering for classes and earn a discount. Or, you will receive a quarterly invoice in September, December, March and June. Tuition will be pro-rated if you join in an “off” month.
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| Q: |
What is the procedure for individuals who have Irish dance experience with another school or organization? |
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Please contact the Tiernan office for further information, as situations vary. (208) 466-5516.
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| Q: |
What is the Tiernan Parent Club? |
| A: |
The Tiernan Parent Club is the parent volunteer organization that provides essential communication with our families, opportunities for families to recuperate Irish dancing expenses via fundraisers, special events, an informative newsletter via email (Tiernan Tidbits), workshops and other “extras” that make Tiernan an exceptional place for your family. As a non-profit organization, the Tiernan Parent Club is funded partly by dues paid by all Tiernan families and partly by fundraising efforts.
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