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The Academy Irish Dance Co. Perth, formerly known as Keady Upton, is a small and dedicated Irish Dance school in Gooseberry Hill, Perth. Founded in 1996 by Samantha McAleer TCRG, the school's primary focus is on fostering the love of this unique and beautiful art form. While Irish Dance has developed into a sport in recent years, The Academy strives to maintain its historical roots.
The school offers its students various opportunities to perform locally, nationally, and even internationally. While they are successful on the competitive stage, the emphasis is placed on performing and engaging their passion with a live audience, rather than being scrutinised for every movement. The Academy believes that fostering a love for one's own culture leads to deeper connexions with both fellow dancers and a global community.
The Academy is proud of its Irish heritage and seeks to celebrate it through dance. They believe that by embracing their culture and working hard to perfect their craft, they can unite, unify, and strengthen connexions with people both at home and around the world.
The name of the school has evolved over the years. Originally called Scoil Rince Ni Ceide when it was founded, it became Scoil Rince Ni Ceide/Upton in 2005 when Lara Donelan (nee Upton) passed her TCRG exam and joined the teaching staff. In 2018, the school had the privilege of taking on the name of its sister school, The Academy, and became The Academy/Keady Upton.
The history of The Academy began with a small school operating from a home. However, as the class grew, they needed more space, leading to the establishment of their location at St. Luke's in Woodvale. Over time, the school expanded, opening classes in Cannington to meet the demand from students south of the river.
In 2015, a branch of The Academy was opened in the Perth Hills region by former student Lara Donelan.
The Academy has also formed a valuable association with Edward Searle ADCRG and Byron Tuttle ADCRG, founders and principal teachers of The Academy, Mid-America. Through this partnership, students receive world-winning tutelage and choreography through workshops. The school is proud to have Dhana Pitman (nee White), another former student, join the teaching staff in 2017 after passing her TCRG exam. The school officially changed its name to The Academy/Keady Upton in 2018 and later to The Academy, Mid-America, and Western Australia in 2020, affirming the belief in the standards, principles, and teaching commitment of the Perth school.
Overall, The Academy Irish Dance Co. Perth is a passionate and dedicated dance school that seeks to preserve and celebrate the art of Irish Dance. They are committed to providing their students with opportunities to perform, engage with their culture, and forge meaningful connexions with others.
