Irish Dance Association of Columbus​ (IDAC)

Irish Dance Association of Columbus (IDAC) was incorporated in 1996 in order to promote Irish dance and its culture throughout the Central Ohio community. Our primary promotion efforts center around the Richens/Timm dancers and studio. Prior to our current studio, classes were held at a small church in downtown Columbus and then to an old school building in Whitehall. The resources of IDAC coupled with the resources of Richens/Timm facilitated a move into the studio that we currently know and love today. IDAC and Richens/Timm entered into an informal partnership, which continues to this day.

IDAC subleases space from the Richens/Timm studio for the IDAC gear room, additional ancillary storage space, performance rehearsal space as needed, and meeting space as needed for IDAC associated meetings. This arrangement allows IDAC to conduct its business efficiently and gives an added benefit to all dance families by helping to allow the yearly tuition of Richens/Timm to remain affordable and accessible to many families thus allowing IDAC to fulfill its incorporated mission – to promote Irish dance and its culture throughout the community.

IDAC provides many services in, many times transparently, to our families. Some of these services include:

• Organizes and maintains the School Dress Rental Program which allows dancers to be outfitted in beautiful, high quality, current costume styles at a reasonable financial commitment.
• Installed state of art dance floors, mirrors and ballet barres in the studio.
• Helps to organize and coordinate various school and community performances throughout the year including St.
  Patrick’s Day.
• Fosters a spirit filled community by celebrating the accomplishments of all dancers and highlighting those dancers who qualify for the Oireachtas, National and World Championships.
• Provides World Qualifier dancers and teachers with a donation to aid in offsetting travel expenses to the World Championships which continues the Irish tradition of traveling dance masters.
• Donates performances to those who cannot afford the fees, i.e. nursing homes and schools.
• Offers our dance families new and used Gear Sales and the ability to order wig and shoes on site.
• Provides support to Beginner families, educating them on the world of Irish dance through various workshops including feiseanna and wigs.
• Organizes and facilitates the “Big Buddy” program to partner new dancers with an experienced mentor.
• Organizes various fundraisers to aid in the support of the School Costume Rental Program and yearly operating needs.
• Plans, organizes and facilitates the annual Ceili.
• Plans, organizes and facilitates in conjunction with the instructors the annual Recital.
• Coordinates the Richens/Timm presence in the yearly St. Patrick’s and 4th of July parades.
• Coordinates costume outfitting.
• Coordinates various social gatherings – Christmas Party, Big Buddy Party, Pub Night and Richens/Timm Dad Golf Outing.
• Creates, maintains & provides a school roster which includes dancer contact information and important Irish dance information.
• Maintains and manages email distribution. Creates & distributes a studio newsletter.

As you can see, all dancers and families benefit from IDAC and its parent volunteers. To this end, we are requiring dues from all families. We look forward to serving the Richens/Timm dance families in the 2023-2024 dance year and welcome new and experienced volunteers. Help us continue to make Richens/Timm the wonderful dance community it is today!