Celtic Academy of Irish Dance
Dayton's premier Irish dance school for all ages and levels
An Irish dance school teaching traditional Irish step dancing, céilí, and sean-nós styles.
Photo: Hailey Sander via Google
Before your first class
The Academy welcomes all ages and levels and is known for treating dancers like family while building confidence and skill progressively.
Parking lot on-site; located near the intersection of Airway Road and Woodman Drive, across the street from McDonald's and Airway Shopping Center in Riverside.
About this studio
Celtic Academy of Irish Dance teaches Irish dance to youth and adult students across all competitive and recreational levels. Under the direction of Mary Laffey Beemsterboer, the school has grown from fewer than 20 dancers in 1989 to over 100 today. The academy's mission is to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Irish culture through dance, while instilling positive self-confidence in dancers and helping them achieve their goals in this intricate art form.
The school is known for its family atmosphere and emphasis on both competitive excellence and joy in dancing. Dancers compete at local, regional, national and world levels. The Academy's youth and adult ceili teams hold titles from the Mid-America Regional Championships. Teams and soloists have won medals from the Mid-America Regional Championships, North American Irish Dance Championships and the World Irish Dancing Championships. The Adult Group alone holds 7 Mid-America Region Championship titles. In 2025, dancer Molly Stephens won the Mid America Oireachtas championship in the adults under 40 category.
Beyond competition, the Academy is a high-demand performance group. They have performed with nationally and internationally known bands including Gaelic Storm, The Elders, Scythian and We Banjo Two. St. Patrick's Day is the highlight of the year, with performances at over 70 locations throughout Dayton and surrounding communities. The Academy also performs at the United Irish of Dayton Celtic Festival, A World A'Fair, the Ohio Renaissance Festival, the Harlem Globetrotters, and various schools and nursing homes. The Academy has been voted Best of Dayton by Dayton Magazine and Dayton.com.
The teaching staff includes Mary Laffey Beemsterboer, who competed for over 18 years and attended the World Championships of Irish Dance in Ireland before retiring in 1989 and taking over the school. She received her official teaching certification (TCRG) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha in 1991 and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Wright State University. Other certified instructors include Anna Bumiller (TCRG), who was a competitive dancer for 22 years and earned a Master of Arts in Irish Dance Studies from the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in 2022. She is conversationally fluent in Irish and has received hundreds of hours of instruction from native speakers. Assistant teachers Emily Sollinger, Annemarie Cunningham, Megan Hammond and Emma Halpin all bring extensive competitive and performance experience.
What to expect
Your first visit
Classes are offered for youth and adults at all levels. The school emphasizes a welcoming, family-oriented environment where dancers progress from beginners to championship level. You can expect instruction from experienced, certified teachers, many of whom have competed at regional, national and world championships themselves.
Instructors
Who teaches here
The studio is directed by Mary Laffey Beemsterboer (TCRG), a former competitive dancer who attended the World Championships of Irish Dance. Anna Bumiller (TCRG) teaches and holds a Master of Arts in Irish Dance Studies from the University of Limerick. Assistant teachers Emily Sollinger, Annemarie Cunningham, Megan Hammond and Emma Halpin are all experienced competitive dancers and performers.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
The Academy welcomes all ages and levels and is known for treating dancers like family while building confidence and skill progressively.
Studio history
Mary Laffey Beemsterboer began Irish dancing at age 5 and competed for over 18 years before retiring in 1989 after dancing at the World Championships of Irish Dance in Ireland. She then assumed ownership, directorship and artistic control of the Celtic Academy. In 1991 she received her official teaching certification (TCRG) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. Under her direction, the school has grown from fewer than 20 dancers in 1989 to over 100 today.
Styles offered
2 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Celtic Academy of Irish Dancehasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Celtic Academy of Irish Dance, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Celtic Academy of Irish Dance
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Celtic Academy of Irish Dance teach?
Celtic Academy of Irish Dance teaches General, Irish dance. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Celtic Academy of Irish Dance located?
Celtic Academy of Irish Dance is located in Dayton, OH. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Celtic Academy of Irish Dance offer private lessons?
Contact Celtic Academy of Irish Dance directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Celtic Academy of Irish Dance teach kids and adults?
Celtic Academy of Irish Dance welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Celtic Academy of Irish Dance?
The fastest path is to visit Celtic Academy of Irish Dance via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.
Is there parking at Celtic Academy of Irish Dance?
Parking lot on-site; located near the intersection of Airway Road and Woodman Drive, across the street from McDonald's and Airway Shopping Center in Riverside.