Ardagh School of Irish Dance

Ardagh School of Irish Dance offers authentic Irish Dance instruction in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Okinawa, Japan, as well as online classes. Established in 2009, Ardagh was the first An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) accredited Irish Dance school in Japan.

Under the direction of Tomoko Shirasawa, TCRG, ADCRG, Ardagh welcomes dancers from age five through adulthood, from complete beginners to advanced competitive dancers. Tomoko became the first Japanese person to earn CLRG's TCRG teaching qualification and later earned her ADCRG adjudicator qualification, becoming Japan's first internationally certified CLRG Irish Dance adjudicator.

Ardagh provides high-quality instruction tailored to each dancer's individual goals. Students can enjoy Irish Dance recreationally, participate in performances, pursue competitive dancing, take CLRG Grade Examinations, or work toward becoming an Irish Dance instructor.

The school has a strong international competitive program, with Ardagh dancers competing throughout Japan, Asia, Europe, and the United States, and students have qualified for and competed at the World Championships.

Ardagh has also played an important role in the development of competitive Irish Dance in Japan. In 2016, the school organized Japan's first Irish Dance feis and international Grade Examinations. The school continues to promote Irish Dance and culture through competitions, performances, collaborations with Irish musicians, workshops, and cultural events.

Whether a dancer wants to experience Irish Dance for the first time or pursue competitive goals on the international stage, Ardagh offers a welcoming and supportive environment for dancers to learn, grow, perform, and become part of the worldwide Irish Dance community.

Locations: Tokyo, Yokohama & Okinawa, Japan
Teacher: Tomoko Shirasawa, TCRG, ADCRG
Ages: 5 through adult
Levels: Beginner through advanced/competitive
Languages: Japanese & English