To learn about the exciting world of Irish dance competitions we hold a "New Feis Parent" session in the fall. Competing is NEVER a requirement for participation in District Irish Dance classes but we do encourage our students to give it a try!

At District Academy, we absolutely LOVE to perform and we aim to provide positive, growth-focused opportunities throughout the year (not just St. Patrick's Day!) to enable all of our dancers to showcase their hard work and dedication. We are active in the local community, often appearing at farmers markets, nursing homes and other community centers. Dancers in District Troupe and Junior Troupe Classes are provided even more pre-professional performance outlets, and we have appeared at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center, The Irish Embassy and on television including Fox5 DC on St. Patrick's Day!

Irish dance is all about the shoes! Visit our Shoe Info Page to learn about the appropriate shoes for class. Brand new beginners do not need specific Irish dance shoes - they should wear black ballet flats or jazz shoes.

We do permit make-up classes according to our missed class policy as outlined in our Syllabus: Tuition cannot be pro-rated, refunded, or exchanged for any missed classes, but dancers may make up a missed class, provided they follow our updated protocol for missed classes. MAKE-UP CLASS REQUEST FORM ***NEW POLICY - PLEASE READ!*** There will now be a make-up request form, which students will need to complete in order to receive a make-up class credit. This form link is accessible on the DIDA app. HOW IT WORKS: Students need to complete the form at least 4 hours prior to their absence in order to receive a make-up class credit. This credit will then be issued to the student’s ClassBug account and a receipt will be emailed. The credit will be valid for 30 days from the date issued and students will be able to add themselves into the class of their choice. Make up classes can only be redeemed for a drop-in class (this includes: Celtic Fit, Feis Prep, or Open Studio). EXCLUSIONS: Make ups are not available for any short / intro sessions or special workshops / classes, and students are limited to ONE make up per month. We are unable to pro-rate or refund tuition for missed classes. Studio Pass holders do not need to fill out a request form since they already have full access to drop-in classes.

Our sign up process is simplified through ClassBug, our convenient registration portal. In this portal, you will be able to: ​​ View class offerings Create free account + student profile(s) Add classes to cart + checkout! ​ Having trouble setting up an account? Watch this video!

Beginners are always welcomed at District Irish Dance! For kids, our weekly Shamrock Program is for new beginners. Shamrock I is geared for ages 5-6, and Shamrock II is geared for ages 7-9. We also hold a 6-week Intro to Irish Dance Course for Kids in the fall, winter and spring. For adults, our Intro to Irish Dance 6-Week Course is geared for brand new beginners, in addition to our week All Levels class, which can accommodate students with minimal experience. We understand that it can be intimidating to try something new, but we promise that you will be supported and encouraged in your journey!

Athletic attire is required for all classes. Jeans, overly restrictive (or immodest) clothing is not suitable for our studio. In order to minimize distractions and maintain a unified class experience, all dancers are required to follow the DIDA Studio Uniform - consisting of: black T-shirt (or tank top), black shorts (or leggings), and poodle socks (for female dancers). Click here to order DIDA-branded Studio Uniform items. Students may also purchase the Studio Uniform Package (includes T-shirt, shorts and a pair of poodle socks). Dancers should also bring a water bottle or they may purchase water at the studio.

Depending on the class and space permitting, we do allow students to register year-round. We require new students to set up a meeting with their instructor prior to registering for class and they should complete a number of private lessons to get caught up. Permitting new students to join a class is at the discretion of the instructor (usually at the start of the month).

We of course understand that the timing might not be right to commit which is why we offer several abbreviated sessions and drop-in class opportunities. Short Sessions (generally offered in Fall & Spring): District Tots - Irish Movement & Music for Age 2-4 + Parent (4-Week) Intro to Irish Dance for Kids (6-Week) Intro to Irish Dance for Adults (6-Week) Drop-In Classes available to attend on an individual / drop-in basis include: Celtic Fit® Feis Prep + Drills (*must be enrolled in a regular weekly class to sign up) Open Studio (*must be enrolled in a regular weekly class to sign up)

As with any activity that involves developing a challenging skill, learning Irish dance takes time to progress. In order for students to feel a deep sense of progression and accomplishment, it does require a commitment. For all weekly-held classes (what we call our "Academy Program"), tuition is assessed on a monthly basis and classes run for a 10-month school year, September-June. We permit all students to make changes to their class schedule and/or withdraw without penalty within the first 30 days of attending a class. After the initial 30 day permitted withdrawal window, there is an obligation to continue paying tuition for the remainder of the school year. Withdrawals are not permitted except in specific circumstances. We do not require tuition to be paid up front. For all classes, billing occurs through ClassBug, our registration portal. Tuition (auto-pay required) is the same for each month. Clients should they like may choose to pay their tuition in full under “balance payment” on their family account on ClassBug. See the ClassBug FAQ page for specific sign-up-related questions. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about our class/studio policies.

Monthly fees for academy program classes begin at $109. Our tiered pricing means that the more hours per week a student attends, the less it ends up costing per class. And yes - we offer progressive sibling discounts as well as discounts for students who enroll in more than two classes in a term. For our most dedicated District dancers, we offer a bundled class option called Studio Pass which provides substantial value for those who plan to attend 3+ classes weekly, in addition to a number of exclusive Studio Pass Holder-only perks.

The youngest age to enroll in our Shamrock Beginner Program is 5 years old. We invite children as young as 2 to attend along with a parent in our interactive District Tots 4-week program, offered throughout the year (be sure to sign up for our e-mail list to get updates about when the next session will be offered!).

We love our parents, but we kindly ask that parents refrain from watching class in session, as it can be very distracting to students and teachers. Parents are welcome to hang out in our Family Waiting Area and utilize our free WiFi during class. We do, however, invite parents to join their child's class during our designated Parent Participation Week which is typically scheduled in the fall.

For kids, please check out our upcoming Introductory / Beginner Sessions here. We also hold an annual Open House which is free to attend. Please also send us an e-mail if you have a question about class placement. New students are first month of classes with us, space permitting, year-round, with no commitment. For adults, we invite new students to try out our drop-in classes with a 2-for-1 New Student Class Special! (Redeemable for Celtic Fit - The Irish Dance Workout®). You can check out our full adult class program here.

We are proud to have a wide range of ages in our adult classes (we have adult students in their 20s through to their 60s & up!), and our philosophy is that Irish dance is truly for everyone! It should be noted that in all District Irish Dance classes, but especially in our adult program, we place an important emphasis on injury prevention. Additionally, we are more than happy to work with students to modify movements in order to manage an existing medical condition or injury, keeping in mind that our teachers are not medical professionals and are not qualified to provide any medical advice.

Yes we do! We have a diverse, fun and growing adult Irish dance community! We invite those new to Irish dance to join us as well as those with previous experience. Irish dance is a great fitness activity in an artistic and social atmosphere. Learn more about our adult program!

We strive to create a positive, growth-focused environment for all students by promoting individuality and confidence. While lots of people have a “wigs and jigs” impression of competitive Irish dance, at District Irish Dance we promote natural hair and traditional, understated costuming, as well as an ongoing refocus on the quality of dancing and the art form itself. We encourage both recreational and competitive tracks. We strive to ensure our school image is in keeping with tradition, and we want to make sure that families feel not overwhelmed by expensive costume elements.