Shaylyn Courses 09

Shaylyn is a Traditional Performing Arts Centre  here in Ballinamore … run by 3 sisters … Jane, Martha and Laura Gilheaney.

Jane describes the Centre and many of its activities:- (the highlighted bits are my emphasis)

The Shaylyn Group Ltd – At the Top of the Town!

The is a voluntary, community organization and a true social economy business.

It was established by Ballinamore sisters Jane, Martha and Laura Gilheaney (children of:  John Aughnasheelin and Nora Fox, Corraleehan) in 2000 to provide performance and development opportunities for musicians, singers and in particular for dancers beyond the classroom and competition experience.

All Irish people can relate to the peculiar tradition of going to Irish Dancing for years and then retiring in your teens no matter how good you are!

Shaylyn aim to stimulate social and economic growth of Ballinamore and Leitrim by marketing the area culturally.

We believe that Irish Dance, Music and Song are our finest natural resource … sadly underdeveloped, under supported and  undervalued a lot of the time.

We developed a two hour show that is the genuine authentic experience of Irish Dance, Music and Song.  You won’t see any wigs here!

The show is a celebration of Irish Dance through the ages that attempts to show how the events of history have impacted on and shaped our music, song and dance and our own changing attitudes to these traditions …

Sounds serious … and yes people have been moved to tears at parts … and … it’s impossible to watch the show without a smile on your face, tapping your toes and without quite simply being blown away by the talent and skill in front of your eyes.

You won’t believe that this show is here in Ballinamore, how exciting and different it is to anything you’ve seen before … you will want to see it again and again.

Note:  To those who say they’ve seen the show and are talking about the platform at Ballinamore festival eight years ago – trust us you haven’t seen the show!

In 2004 Shaylyn played the Town Hall on 43^rd St in New York an experience made possible by the support of the Leitrim Society over there.

It was really touching on the night to meet so many people who had emigrated from here years ago and who were so proud that a show from Ballinamore was playing off Broadway.

Since then Shaylyn have played the main stage in the Rose of Tralee festival, at festivals and tours in France, Germany, Poland and England as well as in theatres around Ireland.

Shaylyn have also appeared on ‘Seoige and O’Shea – it was O’Shea then!), Ireland AM and were part of RTE’s prelude to Eurovision, You’re a Star!  The show has played theatres and festivals around Ireland.

Due to all our firsts:

• first to secure major funding for traditional performing arts,
  
• first to link with the University of Limerick,
  
• first to base a project on shared learning of Irish and Scottish dance

We have featured hotly in Irelands National press ... the Irish Daily Star, Sunday World, Farmers Journal and in 2008 on the front page of the Irish Times in a full colour pic showing two of our dancers jump over the Sliabh an Iarainn!

If that doesn’t draw visitors what would!  The image also featured in the Times ‘Best pictures of 2008′ all fantastic and positive promotion of Ballinamore

The Shaylyn Group today is more than the show.

After years of research, planning and applications (a lot of applications, a lot of work!) Shaylyn were awarded funding for the development of The Shaylyn Traditional Performing Arts Centre (where Smyths monuments used to be, across the road from Priors Pub).

The centre is home to a variety of projects and activities:

• Shaylyn have linked with the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick to bring the first year of the Degree in Irish Music and Dance to Ballinamore on a part time basis.  This is a first in Ireland and will make training at this level more accessible for people in this part of the world.  More information for the Certificate starting in September 2009 will be available soon on www.shaylyn.net

• Shaylyn have and continue to feature strongly in Cross Border Community Development and peace and reconciliation work.  They have delivered (and have a brand new project starting in February of this year) a project that uses Irish and Scottish dance to bring people of conflicting communities together for workshops and social dance nights.  The projects are designed on the basis that music and dance are a universal love and a way for people to find common ground while also having the opportunity to experience and advance in their own dance tradition.
• Shaylyn run lots of classes for adults and children including at the moment Music, Irish Dance, Pilates, Yoga, Circuit Training and Digital Photography.  Its worth noting that we are the only providers of classes in Irish step Dance for adults in Ireland!
• Irish Dance Workshops. We provide Irish Dance workshops for groups or individuals at all levels in our fully kitted out dance studios.
• The centre is home to Shaylyn members who rehearse here every weekend rain hail or shine and travel from as far away as Tyrone and Mayo for the pleasure of it!
• In 2010 we will be holding an International Festival of Irish Dance with shows, workshops and master classes for all levels and interests in Irish Dance.

Shaylyn have yet to confirm performance dates for 2009/10 and will post here and on our website www.shaylyn.net as soon as all details are finalized.

If we are performing in your area we would really appreciate the support and guarantee a great nights entertainment in return!  The show is our pet project but unfortunately it’s not funded/supported.  Keeping a production such as this going is not for the faint hearted as anyone involved in musical or drama productions will know only too well!

In 2010 Shaylyn will be 10 years old so expect big celebrations! If you would like to contact us our email is info@shaylyn.net

Check their website for all the great things they are doing.

They have a number of courses starting soon and Jane wanted me to let you know that:-

We at Shaylyn are happy to run any class if there is an interest in the subject. If there is a class you would like to see in the centre let us know.

If you would like to offer a class in something interesting let us know.

We only use the best teachers we can find so send us your qualifications and detail all your experience.  Right now we would like to hear from an experienced aerobics teacher plus teachers of other dance styles but are open to suggestion.

CLASSES AT THE SHAYLYN CENTRE 2009

DRAMA

Starts Mon 19^th Jan.  3:15-4:05 for 4-7yr olds & 4:05-4:55 for 8-13 yr olds

YOGA, PILATES & CIRCUIT TRAINING

Classes start Wed 21^st Jan -

Circuit Training @6:30pm, Pilates @7:30pm & Yoga @8:30pm

IRISH DANCING WITH THE O’NEILL SCHOOL OF DANCE

Irish Dancing classes with Tracy O’Neill every Monday @ 6pm.

GUITAR CLASSES

Guitar classes with Larry Donlon start Fri 23^rd Jan.

SUBJECT TO INTEREST

6 pm for Beginners & 7pm for Improvers

FIDDLE CLASSES

Fiddle Classes with Devon MacGillivray starts Tuesday 20^th Jan for 6 weeks @4pm

IRISH DANCE CLASSES FOR TEENS & ADULTS

Classes start Saturday 7^th Feb @ 2pm and will run for 6 weeks

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Digital photograpy classes with Peter Wilcock will resume on Friday 23^rd Jan @ 7pm for 2 hours each night and the course will run for 6 weeks

TO BOOK INTO THESE CLASSES TEXT 087 310 5942 CALL 07196 81101 OR EMAIL info@shaylyn.net

CLASSES WILL ONLY RUN IF THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE BOOKED IN – SO MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR NAME IN EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT