Lots of dancers went to the John Flanagan Memorial Feis in Oxford as it is the closest feis to us in Swindon. It was a lovely feis in a fab new venue and the girls enjoyed dancing and won many trophies. Sophie, Courtney, Nichole, Chloe L, Chloe W, Bethany and others all moved up a grade. Beth was 3rd in the U6 Championship. Alex danced in her first prelim doing brilliantly to come 5th.

Click the thumbnail for pictures

Some of the younger dancers danced for a very special guest - Santa!. He arrived at the Wyvale garden centre in Swindon and a number of special events were held in his honour, including a wonderful display of irish dancing. The girls had fun and danced beautifully.

Click the thumbnail for pictures or HERE for the video clip

(the full length video is on Boyd Exclusive)

At the last minute a few dancers got together to dance at a party after an International Mass at St Peters Church. The stage was tiny and had wrinkly carpet but after Yvette came through with gaffa tape to stick down the carpet, and lots of chairs were moved, the dancing went off without a hitch...until Beth's wig came off when she bowed at the end that is!

Click the thumbnail for pictures or HERE for the video clip

Ian, Bethany and family travelled up to Kilmarnock in Scotland for the All Scotland Championships where Bethany came 19th in the U6 championship. Bethany thoroughly enjoyed the scale of the occasion - and the stage, in her first major. Ian took the opportunity to meet with many other teachers and watch some of the older competitions - and we managed to avoid the floods (just!)

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Despite lots of holidays Boyd dancers put together great displays for two events this month - at Old Town Bowl for Swindon's first ever Pride, and at a family fun day. The weather stayed dry for both  and everyone had a good time.

Click the thumbnail for a pictures  of the Old Town Bowl display or HERE for a video

Seventeen dancers dodged the rain to dance at the Childrens Fete in Farringdon Park on the 19th July. Despite the flooring not being ideal the girls did great (and thanks to Ashley for organising them). Many of the dancers were able to enjoy the fete afterwards too - which was first held in 1862!

Click the thumbnail for photos

Two feiseanna were held in July - the SERC Grades Feis and the Maguire O'Shea Feis. Boyd was well represented at both. Great results included Ashey moving a dance to Open, Courtney & Erryn moving a dance to intermediate and Chloe W moving a dance to primary. Beth was 2nd in the U6 Championship. If anyone has any more results or photo's please mail Gemma on info@boydirishdance.com

For photos from SERC Grades Feis click here and for Maguire O'Shea Feis click here

The last two weekends have been very busy with feiseanna, first the Seamus & Marie Moore Memorial feis in London, then the Feile Solent near Portsmouth. There were some great Boyd results including 1st & 2nd in U6 and 3rd & 4th in U7 Solent Championships!

  - Ashley competed in his first prelim & Ashley & Alex moved dances to Open; Nichole,

    Jess, Ailish, Erryn & Lauren moved dances to Intermediate.

  - Erryn, Chloe L, Chloe D, Megan, Tia, Courtney & Lauren all moved dances to primary.

  - Mia, Sophie, Beccy, Beth & Abbie all placed too

Overall across the two weekends, between 16 dancers, Boyd won 64 1st-3rd places (including 27 1sts) and 98 medals/trophies in total!

For photos from Moore Memorial Feis click here and for Feile Solent click here

Everyone got in the party mood and had a fab time at the Family Disco at the Ferndale club. There was a full hall, a great DJ and lots of dancing - none of which was irish !. It was great to see everyone having fun together and we raised around £180!

Click the thumbnail for photos

Leon has been using his irish dancing talents to great effect again. He has just won the National 8 year old festival dancing competition in Chelmsford. Congratulations!

 Click the thumbnail for a bigger picture

Click the thumbnail for some photos

Click the thumbnail for some photos

The Conway Lally Feis was attended by 17 dancers Chloe D & Lauren danced in their first feis and Beccy made her come back, it was lovely to have so many dancers supporting each other. Overall Boyd dancers won 30 trophies and 26 medals! Well done to everyone!

   - Ashley moved a dance to open, Sophie and Ailish to Intermediate, Ailish, 

     Abby, Chloe D, Aimee, Sophie, Courtney & Chloe W moved dances to primary.

   - Mia, Chloe L, Erryn, Ellie, Nichole, Beccy, Jess and Bethany all placed in their

     dances & Beth was 2nd in the U6 Championship.  Click thumbnail for photos

Well done to all the dancers that took part in the McGahan Lees Feis. Bethany won the U6 Championship. Ashley & Bethany moved dances to Open; Alex & Chloe L to Intermediate and Aimee, Chloe L, Erryn, and Ailish to primary. Chloe W, Nichole and Mia also danced great with Nichole and Chloe W placing in their reels.

 Click the thumbnail for some photos

• Charlotte, Jess, Chloe and Bethany all danced at the Trainor Feis and Chloe and Bethany both move dances up a grade. Well done to all of them.

• The Class Feis was a great success with 40 dancers and standing room only with so many family and supporters attending. It raised £473 !. For more click here

• Congratulations to everyone for two fab performances in the Thames Water Charity Pantomime at the Wyvern Theatre!. For more click here

• New Boyd t-shirts are available - see Boyd Exclusive for more info. There will also be Boyd badges, rulers, pens and keyrings for sale at the class feis - all proceeds go to the fund for the new flooring.

• Congratulations to the 14 dancers who competed in the Surrey Championships.

• Chloe L, Erryn, Alish, Ellie, Abi, Sophie, Evie and Chloe W all danced in a feis for the first time.

• Chloe L, Nichole, Evie, Sophie, Chloe W, Aimee & Jess all moved dances to Primary, Ashley to Intermediate and Bethany to Intermediate and Open

• Mia also won a trophy for her Intermediate Hornpipe - with all the dancers winning 22 in total!

For some pictures click here

• The last lesson before Christmas will be on the 20th December. Lessons will restart on the 7th January

• Many of our dancers are gearing up to compete in their first Feis on the 8th December in Surrey. There will be around 15 dancers competing.

Dancers - check out the information page for hints and information and the calendar page for timetables

• An Irish dancing show "The Magical Dance of Ireland" is on at the Wyvern theatre on the 27th November. Click here for details

• Five dancers took part in the Great Britain Championships in Brighton. We were proud of all of you :)

• Congratulations to the dancers who took part in the Joseph Loughlin Feis. Mia & Bethany both move up a grade in dances having gained first places.

• Adult Ceili class starts with 14 dancers at its first practice

• Congratulations to the 5 dancers who took part in the Ceim Oir Feis. Mia gained first places in three of her dances and now moves into Open.

• Good luck to Emma as she heads off to study at University in Portsmouth, for some pictures click here