Irish Around Sydney › Irish dancing
Irish Dancing Classes in Sydney
Whether you danced at home and want to get back to it, you've a child who won't stop jigging around the kitchen, or you just want a social night out, Sydney has Irish dancing in nearly every part of the city.
This list is built from the Australian Irish Dancing Association's NSW school list and each school's own website. Where a school publishes days, times or prices, we've included them. Timetables change each term, so check with the school before you turn up.
Last checked 11 November 2026. Things change, so confirm with the venue before you travel. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Adult Irish dancing classes
Plenty of schools run adult classes, and most welcome complete beginners. These are the ones that publish an adult class on their own site:
Surry Hills: Callanan Academy, Tuesdays 6:30pm to 8pm, all levels. Canterbury: Kennedy Dance School, Mondays, with beginner, primary and advanced classes between 6:30pm and 9pm. West Pymble and Manly: Cox Academy, Tuesdays 7:30pm at West Pymble and Thursdays 6pm at Manly. Crows Nest: Spreagadh na Rince. Castle Hill: Rince Academy, Wednesdays from 6:30pm. Penrith: Brosnan Academy, Mondays and Thursdays 7pm to 8pm, and Maher Lenihan at Penrith Gaels. South: Derwent School takes ages 4 to adult.
If you'd rather a social night than a class, skip down to set dancing and céilí.
Inner city, east and inner west
Callanan Academy of Dance
Classes at St Sophia's Greek Church, 411A Bourke Street, Surry Hills on Tuesdays (kids 4:30pm to 6:30pm, adults of all levels 6:30pm to 8pm) and Saturdays 1pm to 3pm, and at St Stephen's Anglican Church hall, Westcott Street, Eastlakes on Thursdays and Fridays for kids. Adults from beginner to advanced, solo and céilí.
Kennedy Dance School
Its own studio at Unit 4, 186-192 Canterbury Road, beside Canterbury station. Preschoolers from age 3 through to adults. Adult Irish dancing is on Mondays, and the first class is free.
Dwyer-Whelan Academy
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW, including adult classes. No website, so enquire by email: [email protected].
Sheard Academy
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW. Enquire by email: [email protected].
Reilly School
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW. Enquire by email: [email protected].
O'Neill School
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW. Enquire by email: [email protected].
North Shore and Northern Beaches
Cox Academy of Irish Dance
Classes from Tiny Tots to Open level across four venues. Adult classes run at West Pymble Scout Hall on Tuesdays 7:30pm to 8:30pm and at Manly Scout Hall on Thursdays 6pm to 7pm. The 2026 price list has classes from $9.50 for 30 minutes to $19.50 for an hour, plus $70 yearly registration, and there's a free trial.
Spreagadh na Rince
A studio at Level 1, 449a Pacific Highway, Crows Nest, with preschool to championship classes plus adult and recreational classes. Free trial, with multi-class and family discounts.
Hills and north west
Rince Academy
At Unit 41, 7 Hoyle Avenue, Castle Hill. Adult-only classes on Wednesdays from 6:30pm, with an all-levels class that welcomes beginners and an advanced class. Free trial, and there's no need to compete. Recreational and competitive classes for kids too.
Higgins Academy
At Unit 21, 589 Withers Road, Rouse Hill. Irish dancing alongside ballet, tap and jazz.
Scoil Rince Creer
Preschool to young adults, beginners to Open level, with a free trial.
Western Sydney and Penrith
Maher Lenihan Irish Dance at Penrith Gaels
Formed in late 2022 from the Maher and Lenihan schools. Tiny Tots from age 2, beginner and primary classes, championship classes and an adult class for people with no experience. Free trial. The dancers perform in the club on the last Sunday of each month.
Brosnan Academy of Irish Dance
Beginners from age 4. Adult Irish dancing on Mondays and Thursdays, 7pm to 8pm, from $18 a class plus GST, and your first class is free.
South and south west
Derwent School
Beginners to Open level across the Sutherland Shire and St George, plus Hornsby. Email [email protected] for class times.
Fiona-Gaye Moore Academy
Kids classes, céilí and teams.
Currie Henderson Academy
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW, including adult classes. Enquire by email: [email protected].
Walton School
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW. Enquire by email: [email protected].
DCI Dance School
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW. Enquire by email: [email protected].
Carey South West Academy
Listed by the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW, including adult classes. Enquire by email: [email protected].
Set dancing and céilí
Set dancing is the social side of Irish dancing: sets of four couples, a caller, and no need for a partner or a costume. It's the easiest way in if you've never danced a step.
Sydney Irish Céilí Dancers
Step dancing from 6:30pm to 7:45pm, then set, céilí and two-hand dancing from 8pm to 10:30pm, with supper after. The club's page lists $10 a class or $15 for both when you pay by term, and $15 or $20 casual.
INA Set Dancing at the Gaelic Club
An informal class run through the Irish National Association, two minutes from Central Station. Leather-soled shoes are best.
How to pick a school
Most schools offer a free trial class, so try one near you before you commit to a term. Ask whether the class is recreational or aimed at competitions (feiseanna), what a term costs, and what shoes you need to start. Beginners usually start in socks or soft shoes.
The full official list of registered schools is on the Australian Irish Dancing Association NSW website.
Quick answers
Are there Irish dancing classes for adults in Sydney?
Yes. Schools that publish adult classes include Callanan Academy in Surry Hills, Kennedy Dance School in Canterbury, Cox Academy in West Pymble and Manly, Spreagadh na Rince in Crows Nest, Rince Academy in Castle Hill, and Brosnan Academy and Maher Lenihan in Penrith.
Do I need a partner for set dancing?
No. Set dancing and céilí classes are social and you can come on your own.
What age can children start Irish dancing?
It depends on the school. Several Sydney schools take children from age 3 or 4, and Maher Lenihan at Penrith Gaels has a Tiny Tots class from age 2.