Good luck to our World Championship contenders

The 2007 World Championships of Irish Dance take place in Glasgow, Scotland from Sunday 1 April until Sunday 8 April. Four dancers will represent the Bernadette Short school: Allison Coull (Girls 12-13); Stephanie Coull (Ladies 19-21); Anne-Marie Keenan (Ladies Over 21); Casey Costello (Mens Over 21). Natasha Wotyiuk (Girls 16-17) is unfortunately not able to take part, having just recovered from injury. We wish all our dancers the very best of luck in their competitions and we are extremely proud that they are representing us on the World stage.

We would like to also take this opportunity to thank all those who organised fund-raising activities for our dancers going to the Worlds. Just as important are all those people who supported these fund-raising activities - your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Details of the World Championships including schedules and results can be found at www.worldirishdancing.com. Don't forget to check it out.

Feis Montreal - check your school dress

With the Montreal Feis coming up soon, Bernadette would like to ensure that everyone has a suitable school dress, particularly for the figure competitions. If your dress no longer fits, please bring it to class during the upcoming weeks so that a suitable replacement can be organised.

Extra practice sessions at Marian Hall

A series of extra practice sessions are being held on Monday evenings at Marian Hall. There are three sessions for dancers at different competition levels as follows:

• 4:00 - 5:00 pm; Beginner and Advanced Beginner
• 5:00 - 6:00 pm; Novice and Open/Prizewinner
• 6:00 - 7:00 pm; Preliminary Championship and Open Championship

All are welcome to attend. The cost is $5 per session. If in doubt, please consult Bernadette concerning which session is most appropriate for your dancer.

St. Patrick's season shows - thanks

Many thanks to all the dancers (and parents) who participated in shows during the recent St. Patrick's season. Your efforts help to showcase our school within the local community as well as promoting our cultural heritage. There are still a few shows available for sign-up and we would encourage those who have not yet had the opportunity to participate to think about volunteering for these. Details are available on our School Calendar and our Show Sign-up page.

Our entry in the St. Patrick's Parade last Sunday won the William C. Hickey prize for Best Celtic Dancing Unit for the second year running (click here for details). Congratulations to those dancers who braved the cold wet weather to win this prestigious honour.

Bus to Hansen-Keohane Feis (Boston Area)

It is now confirmed that our school will organise a coach to the Hansen-Keohane Feis in North Attleboro, MA, which takes place on Sunday 15 April. The coach will leave Montreal on the morning of Saturday 14 April and return on the Sunday evening after the feis. An overnight stay in a local hotel will be organised, details to follow. Completed entry forms must be submitted to Bernadette at class this week ending Friday 30 March. The cost of the trip will depend on the level of interest and will be finalised once all the entries are received. The trip will be subsidised by Ville-Marie Feis and dancers will travel at no cost. For more details please contact Rosanne Banas at 514-694-2305 or Bernadette Short at 514-697-4343. For the syllabus and entry form, and more details on the feis itself, click on the links below:

Syllabus
Map & directions

"Reel Champions" Fundraiser

A night of music and dance with:

• Bernadette Short Irish Dancers
• Beaurepaire Suzuki Strings
• Special Guests

Friday 23 March at 7:30 pm at Beaconsfield High School, 250 Beaurepaire, Beaconsfield.

Tickets available at the door: Adults $12, Children $5

Please give your support to this fundraiser for our World Championship dancers.

Map and directions

St. Patrick's Season Show Sign-Up

As usual our school dancers are in big demand, in the lead up to St. Patrick's Day, for lots of shows celebrating the "Irish" season in and around Montreal. All the confirmed shows are now posted on our School Calendar with details of the venues and times as well as the classes invited to participate. Links to maps & directions are also provided for your convenience.

On-line sign-up is available again this year. Go to www.montrealirishdance.com/shows.html, select the show that you wish to sign-up for, add the required contact details and click on the "Submit" button. Hopefully you will find it convenient to use.

7th Annual St. Patrick's Pub Night Fundraiser

Friday 9 March 2007 (8:30 pm – midnight)

Bistro Westminster, 49 ave Westminster Nord, Montréal-Ouest

Map & Directions

The Bernadette Short Irish Dancers will perform at a Pub Night fundraiser on Friday, March 9th. Come and enjoy the opportunity to witness our top dancers as they prepare for the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. The Annual Pub Night is always a great way to start the St. Patrick’s Season. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support the school’s Major Championship Development Fund.

Tickets are $35.00 each and are available from Kathleen Coull at (514) 481-1134 (ext. 222)