Rose & Sword Academy of Irish Dance, a member of  World Irish Dance Association (WIDA), offers Irish dance classes in Williamsburg, Virginia, for children through adults.  As the premier WIDA Irish dance school in the Southeastern Peninsula, Rose & Sword Academy provides many performing opportunities, competitive Irish dance, and fun classes for all ages. The school is under the direction of champion dancer Kathy Nelson TCRG and is committed to the development of skilled  performers as well as award-winning competitive Irish dancers. We offer many opportunities for our dancers in nurturing their love and education of Irish dance, music and culture.  Kathy is an experienced and successful professional who shares her knowledge of Irish dance to all students. Kathy Nelson is a WIDA-certified Irish Dance Teacher (TCRG). She passes on her extensive experience as a performer and dance choreographer to the students of the school. She is also a health and fitness expert of over 50 years. Ashley Starkins is one of our dance instructors.  She is in the process of taking the WIDA exams and has completed 1-2.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in performing arts management and a Master of Business Administration degree. Mark Mulligan is our other instructor. He is in the process of taking WIDA exams. He has done Irish dance for many years and is an excellent choreographer.  He earned his PhD in history from William & Mary in 2023. Our students come from the Hampton Roads area including Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Yorktown, Gloucester, Grafton, Carrollton, Smithfield, James City, Isle of Wight, Poquoson, Toano, Seaford, and all over the greater Peninsula in southeast Virginia!

At Rose & Sword Academy, we strive to bring the highest quality dance instruction in a warm and friendly environment. We want everyone to feel comfortable so that they can enjoy the experience. By giving our students the most fun and enjoyable classes that we can, we feel that the school will stand out and become the highlight of the week for those who attend. When we hear the students say that they can’t wait for the next class, then we feel that we have achieved success. Throughout the year our dancers participate in numerous competitions, dance shows, and performances, including St. Patrick’s Day activities. Come and join us and see what the school is all about! We also offer classes from beginner to champion level along with private lessons and personalized dance instruction and we are homeschool friendly. We have homeschool students in the majority of our classes! Check the class schedule page for more information and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Learn Irish dance with us – enroll today! We look forward to seeing you soon!