Today’s interview is with Molly Bennett of Bennett School of Irish Dance in Denver, Colorado. The 
Bennett School of Irish Dance was founded by Molly Bennett, T.C.R.G., her sister Libby Skipper and her husband Bill to provide instruction in Irish dancing for all ages and all interests. They started the school when the certified teacher at the school they then belonged to moved and left the adult dancers in her school “orphaned with no accredited school to attend. (The younger dancers joined a newly formed school which didn’t take adults). Since it is a requirement that Irish Dance teachers have to be certified by one of the accrediting agencies like the Irish Dance Commission, Molly took and passed the five teacher certifications. They built their own studio in 2000 when the studio where they’d rented space suddenly went out of business and taking over the lease wasn’t an option.
Molly believes there are two things that make her dance studio different from other Irish dance studios. First of all, she believes that although The Bennett School performs in more than 80 competitions and shows each year, the School is more performance-oriented and less focused on competition than most Irish dance schools. For all that, the dancers who do compete tend to do well because they have a very solid curriculum. Three of their dancers qualified for and competed at the World Championships this year. Secondly, they are very family-oriented, with the largest adult program in Colorado. They even have three generations of dancers from the same family, and many of the adult dancers have children in our school.
Molly said the school is always looking forward to the Next Big Thing, be it a festival, show or competition. They celebrate their dancers’ accomplishments in previous events through their newsletter and displays on the studio bulletin board.
She didn’t seem to have one specific time of which she was most proud. Although we are justifiably proud of their champions’ accomplishment, Molly said that often the most satisfying moments are when dancers succeed through pure perseverance and love of the dance.
The biggest mistakes Molly sees dancers make when competing has to do with posture and form. One of their coaches, a retired champion dancer himself, says to dancers, “You’re inches away from the podium” because they know how to do their steps, they’re well in time with the music but details of posture, foot-point, turnout etc. are holding them back.”
The school’s dancers purchase specifically Irish dance costumes, as well as specialized costumes for 
summer performances at festivals (they perform at Celtic festivals all summer long) and showpieces. However, the hallmarks of good costumes are universal – quality construction, audience appeal, and value.
When I asked Molly why she would recommend Irish dance over other forms of dance, she replied that many of their dancers are from Irish-American families, so the music and dancing are a cultural inheritance. Others are attracted by the music itself, while some of the dancers are attracted to the performance opportunities that their school presents. They have a range of performers – avid performers, keen competitors, and those that value the dancing for its heritage, its exercise value, or as a social opportunity. Some families, interestingly enough, value the relative modesty of Irish dancing and its costumes compared to some other types.
The school is family-friendly and has many multigenerational family dancers ranging in age from 4 to over 60. The fee structure is designed to make the classes as accessible as possible for families including reduced tuition for additional family members with a maximum fee for families. The Bennett School has a very strong adult program that has won both the North America Adult Irish trophy and the State Championship in adult team dancing.
The purpose of The Bennett School of Irish Dance, more than anything else, is to preserve and extend the tradition of Irish dance and its music.
If you have experience with Bennett School of Dance or Molly Bennett please leave a comment below about your experience!
