Building a Positive Dance Culture in Your Irish Dance Class

Let’s be real for a second. You could be in the best Dance school in the world with stunning choreography, major titles galore, and the ultimate team dresses - but if the vibe in class is off… it’s just not ideal 🙅‍♀️🙅‍♂️

So how do you help build an Irish Dance culture within your school that lifts everyone up, not drags them down?

Spoiler alert: it starts with YOU 🫵💛

What Even Is Dance Culture?

Your class culture is basically the mood + energy + how people treat each other every week in class, at Feises, and in WhatsApp group chats (👀 yeah, those count too).

Ask yourself:

• Do we clap for each other?
  
  
• Do we help beginners or ignore them?
  
  
• Do we celebrate everyone’s wins, not just the champions?
  
  

👉 If the answers aren’t what you hoped, don’t panic. That’s where you come in.

👏 Start With the Small Stuff

You don’t need to do something HUGE to make a positive impact. Here are some tiny-but-mighty actions that change the game:

• Clap first. Always. Even if someone’s round wasn’t perfect, they still got up and tried their best 👏
  
  
• Give compliments that matter. “Your rhythm was so sharp today!” is so much better than “I liked your dress” as this shows you recognised something they did or a choice they made to become a better dancer.
  
  
• Cheer for people when they get reach their goal - even if you didn’t.
  Hardest part? Clapping when you wish you were called for that position. That’s real sportsmanship and maturity.
  
  

🧠 Build a No-Judgment Zone

People don’t improve if they’re scared to try. Want your team to grow stronger? Create a space where:

• Mistakes = Learning. Not embarrassment.
  
  
• Questions = Curiosity. Not “Ugh, why don’t they get it?”
  
  
• Progress = Personal. Not a race.
  
  

You never know who’s having a bad day or battling nerves. Be the Dancer who makes class feel safe, not scary.

😬 Gossip? We Don’t Know Her

If you’re talking about someone behind their back… 💬 That’s a red flag and you know it ⚠️

Instead:

• Call out negativity (politely!)
  
  
• Walk away from drama
  
  
• Start convos that focus on training, goals, or fun memories

Class culture doesn’t “just happen.” It’s built by you, by your teammates, by your daily choices. You don’t have to be the loudest in class, the oldest, or the highest ranked to be a leader. You just have to choose kindness every single time…and that choice? That’s what makes a real champion 🏆

💬 Want to Dive Deeper Into This?

This topic is perfectly aligned with our Mindset Matters Podcast Series 🎧 - where we talk about class dynamics, confidence, dealing with jealousy, and being a true team player. Go listen!

Or - better yet - join the Gold Club 2.0, where you can:

• 🌟 Join live weekly mindset sessions with Annabelle
  
  
• 🧭 Get coached on real-life class issues (like comparison + cliques)
  
  
• ✅ Set monthly goals to become a stronger teammate and Dancer