Quick Link: Contact Information
The McGahan Lees Irish Dance Academy is based in Chelmsford, England, and holds classes across Essex and Kent -- click here for a full list of classes.
The Academy is run by Frances McGahan, A.D.C.R.G., an experienced and qualified teacher and adjudicator registered with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha -- one of the governing bodies of Irish dance.
The Academy was born in 1996 when Frances gave up her job in London to launch herself into the less certain world of Irish dance teaching. Frances is assisted whenever possible by husband Guy, who has a full-time day job of his own. From small beginnings, Frances has built up a thriving and successful school. Frances achieved a major goal in 2004, when she took her adjudicator's examination. She passed with flying colours, changing from Frances McGahan T.C.R.G. to Frances McGahan A.D.C.R.G.
In 2008 Frances was joined by Cecily Charlton, who passed her T.C.R.G. examination following her retirement from open competitions in 2008 as Senior Ladies World Champion. Then, in February 2010, Frances' sister Debbie Leavens also passed her T.C.R.G. and joined the school as a teacher.
Although the Academy is a relatively young Irish dance school, it now has regular championship winners, a number of regional champions, and a host of dancers who compete at international level. In April 2005, Academy solo dancers won no fewer than nine individual World medals in Ennis, Ireland, and topped that in 2006 with two solo world champions -- Caroline Gray (U13) and Stephen Brennan (U19). This was followed in 2008 when Cecily Charlton won the Senior Ladies World title in Belfast 2008.
As well as 3 coveted World Championships, McGahan Lees dancers have also won titles at the All Ireland's, Great Britain's, British National's, All Scotland's, and North American Irish Dance Championships. But more than that, the Academy has become a real community with its own ethos and social life. The dancers have a strong sense of identity and support each other in competition and training -- but don't underestimate that competitive edge, evident at the annual Class Feis!
Contact Information
For further details of the Academy itself, and for up-to-date locations and times of classes, contact Frances McGahan (tel: 01245 451081, mobile: 07534 240990) or Cecily Charlton (mobile 07737 226545). Alternatively, email: mccoiglees@aol.com