College help

[reelgurl91]

I am a high school junior and have recently begun my college search. I eventually want to get my TCRG and have my own dance school. However, I live in New England (US) and (as far as I know) there are no schools with ID majors anywhere near here. I know I can't be the only IDer who ever has had this problem. I was wondering what other dancers have done in this situation.

Thanx in advance & Lots o' luv

[reeldancer1]

I don't think that I have ever heard of an Irish Dance major. Most large colleges offer a general "Dance" major, so you could look into that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I also believe that Boston College has an Irish Dance Program... I doubt that many colleges would have enough people interested to start up a major for those of us dancers who wish to become TCRGs. As long as you stay in touch with your/an Irish dance teacher, they can help you prepare for taking your exam, and if you want to study at a university I'm sure that that will only expand your horizons even if it is not in Irish dancing.

[Eire _ girl]

There is one in Limerick Ireland U Limerick and try Boston college I know people who have done TCRG prep courses there.

mwe too! im a junior and i really want to dance in college and maybe eventually get my tcrg but i dont know what to do!! ive looked at maybe studying in ireland or going to a college close to my dance school (i actually live 2 hours away from my dance school) but i just dont know what to do!!!

[kicks_n_clicks]

My suggestion would be to go to college and keep an open mind. Who knows you might want to be an astronaut instead. But keep dancing so that you know for sure that you want to be a TCRG and your teachers will help you prepare for the exams.

i just visited sweet briar college in lynchburg, va and there are two irish dancers there so im really excited because i might go to college there and then i would have some irish dancers around to practice with!!!!

[luv2jig]

Boston College has an Irish Studies major...my dance teacher in Boston did the program and now she's a professional dancer/teacher/performer.

[reelgatorstreble]

I would love to get my tcrg someday- but I only started dancing two years ago and it will be a long time before it happens. My advice is this (and I'm about to graduate from college)- find a major that you like, that will give you lots of employment opportunities when you graduate. Maybe even major, or minor, in business, so that when you start your own school later in life you will know how to run it very well. Keep dancing, as hard as you can, and get your tcrg when you are ready. Then, you can open your own school and still have a regular job for as long as it takes to build your school. My dance teacher is actually a grad student in a field completely unrelated to dance. She got her tcrg last year sometime, and has her own school. It's a small school but it is her source of income while she's in college. You won't be able to support yourself right away on dance alone once you start your school- it takes time to attract dancers and build it up. So the best advice I can give? Go to a good school and major in something that will let you find a good job when you graduate, and dance the whole time, getting your tcrg and starting your own school whenever you get the best opportunity. Good luck!