The Irish Dance Programme was founded in 2024 by Ruth McKenna, a professional touring dancer with Riverdance and other acclaimed productions. Born of both passion and purpose, the programme emerged from Ruth’s vision for a new kind of Irish dance education, one that honours the tradition at its core while opening new pathways for expression, accessibility and artistic integrity.

With a background in performance and a Bachelor of Education from Trinity College Dublin, Ruth has spent over two decades immersed in Irish dance. What she saw missing was not talent, but space. Space for dancers to learn without pressure, to grow without comparison, and to reconnect with the heart of Irish dance- its music, its stories and its roots in community.

The Irish Dance Programme brings together every strand of Ruth’s work: in-person courses, online classes, community gatherings and a rich library of free educational content designed to reach dancers across the world. At its centre is a commitment to quality, artistry and inclusion. This is a space where Irish dance lives not only as a discipline, but as a living, breathing art form.

For those seeking a deeper journey, Ruth offers a one to one mentorship for a small number of dedicated dancers. This immersive experience is shaped around the individual - guiding them through bespoke choreography, performance coaching, mindset work and personal feedback. It is mentorship in its truest form: rooted in care, trust and artistic growth.

The Irish Dance Programme is more than a school. It is a community, a philosophy and a celebration of the enduring spirit of Irish dance.