Why choose Trinity?
Perhaps you are following your family’s cultural traditions or starting new ones. Perhaps you are looking for a fun, healthy form of exercise for your child. Check out the items below to see why Trinity might be the right choice for you.
The Trinity Philosophy
Trinity dancers are strong, consistent and driven. We are each other’s supporters, competitors and motivation. We represent all neighborhoods and walks of life. We believe in what we do, who we are and what we will become. We trust that the skills we’ve gained have made us better daughters, sons and citizens. It is our responsibility to keep this art form alive and pass it to future generations. We accept that challenge proudly.
Trinity is much more than a dance school - it is a community with a soul. For nearly 30 years, Trinity has been a living legacy, elevating our communities and shaping the lives of strong, determined adults. Trinity’s innovative program raises the bar and sets the standard for Irish dancing schools across the globe.
Children have a great ability to learn from other children. Knowing this, Trinity provides opportunities for children to lead and learn, allowing them to grow in the program in multiple ways. In our performance program, our youngest dancers are paired with older mentors to perform their first jig for enthusiastic audiences. Experienced teenaged dancers can apply to be a Trinity Driller and assist the teaching staff by running steps with dancers in repetition. Drillers also benefit from this experience by learning basic teaching and leadership skills as teenagers. Dancers of this age and experience can also apply to be an assistant or lead Trinity Show Captain. Show Captains lead performances by preparing dancers, checking on costumes and wigs, working with sound engineers and show MC’s, and managing the performance.
Highly Trained Teaching Staff
Trinity’s world class teaching staff brings a professional and committed presence to the classroom. A majority of our teachers are former Trinity students themselves who had Founder, Mark Howard, as their coach and mentor. They grew up together, danced together and now teach together. Their depth of character, extraordinary dedication and integrity make them impeccable role models.
Trinity maintains a teacher/student ratio of 1/12. Each class has a Lead Teacher who is assisted by either an Assistant and/or Driller(s), depending on the number of students.
A child's success in the classroom or on the dance floor begins with a teacher who believes in them. The combination of belief and inspiration from a teacher leads to students who believe in themselves. It is this confidence that leads people to achieve extraordinary things.
The Trinity Elements
Trinity is focused upon three key elements of Irish Dance: solo dancing, performance and team dancing. Putting equal focus on these three areas, a dancer becomes the best dancer he/she can be.
Solo dancing
Trinity prepares dancers for all aspects of competitive Irish dancing if they choose to participate. From general expectations to walking on and off stage to the mastery of steps, Trinity guides young dancers and their parents through the competition experience. In addition, through demonstrating to young dancers the benefits of a strong work ethic and discipline, they learn to present themselves with poise and integrity.
Whether or not a dancer decides to compete, Trinity puts the focus on achieving a personal best. We know that it’s the commitment and the battle that creates a winner, not the competitive results. We also know that a fall is just a fall. This approach molds dancers into strong adults, giving lessons in humility and knowing that we all “fall” now and then. Trinity teaches us how to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and keep on dancing!
Performance
Even the most confident adults can get stage fright. Performing with Trinity helps children overcome these fears, turning them into confident and composed young adults. As early as four years old, “River” dancers take the stage with older dancers, helping to ease them into their first performance experience.
Trinity has special local, regional, national and international performance opportunities. Trinity dancers perform regularly at neighborhood festivals and sporting events, as well as morning news and talk shows. Trinity II dancers also serve as US Ambassadors at international cultural festivals.
Recently, Trinity dancers were the opening act for the 2009 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, introducing Mr. Lewis and presenting a check for funds that they raised. Trinity dancers have also been featured numerous times on major network shows including appearances on “The Tonight Show,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Live” with Regis, “CBS This Morning,” “Good Morning America” and “The Martha Stewart Show.” International performances include: The 2009 Latium World Folkloric Festival in Cori, Italy; the World Cultures Festival in Schoten, Belgium (2006 and 2008); the Gannat Festival in France; and the International Folklore Festival Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria. In the summer of 2010, Trinity will be traveling to the Couleurs du Monde Festival in France and headlining a tour of Japan.
Teams
Teamwork is a skill that all people need but few master. Trinity’s team environment goes beyond team dancing classes to influence solo classes and performances. Through mentor programs, student drillers and performance groups, dancers are surrounded by peer support and motivation. The Trinity program teaches children to make decisions based not only on what is good for them as individuals, but also what is good for the team.
Trinity has brought home an unprecedented 32 World medals in team dancing for the United States and has become the leader in this type of group dance. Dances range from 3-hands, 4-hands and ceili dancing (8-hands) to figure choreography and dance drama (16-hands).
The Trinity Booster Club and Academy serve as two halves of the whole Trinity experience. To learn more about the Booster Club, click here.
