A SAFE, FUN ENVIRONMENT FOR KIDS & ADULTS TO MEET NEW FRIENDS AND GET IN SHAPE!
At MJP, discover Self-Confidence, Teamwork, Leadership Skills, and a Healthy Lifestyle.-Top quality Irish dance instruction by professional and experienced teachers that know how to have fun!
-A structured environment where kids can still enjoy being a kid.
-For boys and girls
-Age 2 and up
- Adult classes
-Great for fitness!
-Make new friends
-Classes in North Calgary (Highwood) and South Calgary (Midsun)
-Choose to dance for fun, fitness or competition.
With classes 4 days a week for beginners to pre-professional, in the North and South of Calgary, MJP teachers cater to a variety of ages and abilities. MJP offers numerous performance opportunities, exciting workshops and fun in-house activities throughout the year.
Using clear polices and well thought out procedures, our class environment is safe, organised and structured allowing dancers to learn while having fun. MJP is dedicated to helping our students develop independence, confidence, resilience and organisation.
If you’re looking to start for the first time, or to pursue a career in Irish dance, MJP Academy certainly has it all under the one roof.
If you would like to give Irish dance a try, come join us for our 2021-2022 dance season! We will be accepting early registrations online from August 1- August 27th and from September 1 and on (After August 27th, registration will close until September 1.
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
NORTH
Tuesday, September 7th - Highwood Community Center, 16 Harlow Ave. N.W
Thursday, September 9th - Highwood Community Center, 16 Harlow Ave. N.W.
SOUTH
Wednesday, September 8th - Bonavista, #14, 1215 Lake Sylvan Dr SE
Monday, September 13th - Midsun Community Center, 50 Midpark Rise S.E/ Bonavista, #14, 1215 Lake Sylvan Dr SE
For maps to our locations, please see our "Locations" page.
COVID-19, MJP will be following government distancing and cleaning guidelines very closely. For more details, see our restricted class guidelines below and in our registration package. If your dancer is showing symptoms, use our MJP COVID PROTOCOL FLOWCHART.
TO SEE FULL GUIDELINES, CLICK THE POSTER BELOW
A fun video highlighting our favourite moments from this year's St. Patrick's day virtual show, 2021.
Dancers from MJP (or from any dance school) are welcome to use our shoe and dress exchange. To buy or sell an item, simply e-mail our used shoe exchange at mjpshoes@hotmail.com. If you are selling an item, please include the following information:
1) What item you are selling (Dress, Hardshoes, MJP Jacket etc.)
2) The size of the item
3) Brand
4) Colour (If applicable)
5) The price you would like to sell the item for (Remember to add on $5.00 as a donation to MJPIDA for selling your item for you).
For more information on upcoming competitions (times, location etc.) please visit the feisworx website. For a full list of all North American feiseanna, please visit the North American Feis Commission website.
Joelle started Irish dancing at age 5 at the Regent Academy of Irish Dance and continued dancing and competing until the age of 22.
Reaching Open Championship level, Joelle competed at the Western Canadian Oireachtas, Munsters Oireachtas in Ireland, the North American Championships, in both teams and solos, and the World Championships of Irish dancing in solos.
Joelle's teaching career began at the Regent Academy of Irish Dance where she began student teaching at the age of 12. At age 16, Joelle obtained her first job teaching Irish dance at Kel Soloway’s Dance Arts. For the next six years, Joelle continued to compete and student teach with Regent Academy while teaching the Irish dance program at Kel Soloways, Free House Dance and Celtic FX.
During this time, Joelle obtained her Bachelor Degree at the University of Calgary while taking classes in Jazz, Modern and Ballet at various dance studios and the University of Calgary.
Following this, Joelle attended the university of Limerick, Ireland and obtained her Master of Arts in Irish dance performance.
Joelle returned to Ireland the following year to study for and obtain her T.C.R.G.* under the tuition of her mentor Orfhlaith Nibhriain and the added help of Michael Ryan.
Joelle went on to get her adjudicators certification (A.D.C.R.G.**) in September, 2017, allowing her to judge Irish dance competitions .
After returning home from Ireland in December of 2006, M.J.P. Academy was created and had its first official class on February 6th, 2007. Since it's first class, M.J.P. has experienced exponential growth and soaring success. The students and teachers of M.J.P. are like a big family and Joelle loves nothing more than to help a student's dance dreams come true.
*T.C.R.G. stands for: Teastas Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. Which when translated to English means Irish Dancing Commission Teacher.
**A.D.C.R.G. stands for: Ard Diploma Coimisiuin le Rinci Gaelacha. Which when translated to English means Commission Certified Irish Dance Adjudicator.
of MJP Academy
Marissa is as dedicated to her students as she is to her dancing. Any students that have her as a teacher adore her and can’t wait until their next class.
Monique treats everyone with kindness and respect. She maintains high espectations of her students, encouraging them to reach their full potential.
Leora expects hard work and dedication from her students. Her caring approach makes her students feel challenged and accepted.
Anya enjoys sharing her passion for Irish Dance. A hard worker and very talented dancer, she inspires her students to strive for excellence.
Paige is a positive role model who offers gentle but insightful input. Sstudents that experience Paige as a teacher request to have her again.
Below are the most frequently asked questions we get from families of MJP. If you have a question you don't see below, feel free to contact us.
What do I wear to class? (Children and Adults)A CHEAPER OPTION
Beginner girls may wear black ballet slippers. (Pink ballet slippers may be worn but if dancing in performances, black slippers are required)
Beginner boys may wear a black jazz shoe.
These can be purchased at any dance store throughout the city.
IRISH DANCE SHOES
Girls wear a soft black slipper-like shoe called a ghillie (also called pomps)
Boys wear a boys reel shoe. These shoes have a hard heel on them that makes a clicking noise when they hit their heels together.
If you intend to purchase these shoes, please do not buy them at the ballet shops around town as they will sell you Highland dance shoes instead of ghillies which are the wrong shoe.
For more information, please read our MJP Shoe guide HERE
© MJP Academy of Irish Dance Calgary 2021.
All rights reserved.
