Irish Dancers

Dancers from the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance in Indianapolis perform traditional Irish dances. Irish Fest runs Sept 13-16 in Military Park. Hannah, Erin, Shannon give you a sampling of what to expect at this year's Irish Fest.

The Irish Dancers of Indianapolis has been around for over 30 years, founded in 1977 by Pat Spellacy.  Through the years, they have arranged for instruction from various traveling teachers, including Michael Flatley for one year, as they fostered the growth of Irish dance and culture in the Indianapolis area.  Since being blessed with John Timm as a committed dance instructor for the past sixteen years, The Irish Dancers of Indianapolis has become the official name of the not-for-profit parent support group that helps to support the Richens/Timm Academy through: coordinating and organizing events; volunteering for performances and activities; and by helping the dancers realize that the fruits of hard work can be very satisfying as well as fun! 

The Richens/Timm Academy is one of the most recognizable and respected names in the world of Irish Dance and is home to over 180 dancers in Indianapolis.  The dancers can be seen performing throughout the community at various events including the Indy Irish Festival each September, a highlight for the dancers every year.  Students have also performed with bands such as the Chieftains, Natalie MacMaster, and Eileen Ivers of Riverdance fame.  One pupil is currently on tour with the renowned Lord of the Dance.  In the competitive arena, Richens/Timm dancers from Indianapolis have achieved phenomenal success including Mid American Regional Championships, North American Championships, an All-Ireland Championship and two 2 ^nd place finishes at the World Championships.  The curriculum at the Academy focuses on all aspects of Irish dance: from solo to team, children to adult, and social to competitive.  There is something for everyone at the Richens/Timm Academy.

www.richenstimm.com