Elevate · Irish Dance Strength & Conditioning

Stronger Dancers Start Here

Irish dance specific strength and conditioning for stronger, more confident dancers.
Explore Elevate Juniors (Ages 7–12) Explore Elevate 13+ (Ages 13 & Up)
Nov 16

Registration Opens

New Year Cycle 1 | Both Programmes

Why Strength & Conditioning for Irish Dancers?

Irish dance has evolved into a highly athletic discipline, requiring more than exceptional technique alone. While traditional dance classes remain essential, strength and conditioning help dancers develop the physical qualities needed to meet the demands of modern Irish dance.

A well-rounded training approach can help improve strength, power, flexibility, coordination and stamina. These qualities support the development of skills such as higher jumps, sharper movements, stronger clicks and improved posture.

Beyond performance, strength and conditioning help dancers develop body awareness, improve movement quality and build the physical capacity to manage the repeated jumps, landings and demands of dance training.

At Elevate, our goal is to develop strong, confident and capable Irish dancers through progressive, age-appropriate training that supports their technique, performance and long-term athletic development.

More Than Just Strength & Conditioning

Every Elevate cycle includes a range of bonus classes and resources to support dancers beyond their regular workouts. From recovery and performance psychology to feis day preparation, posture, turnout, extensions and more!

Bonus content varies by cycle. See our programme brochures below for full details.

Choose Your Programme

Two programmes, adapted to each dancer’s age and stage of development.

Ages 7–12

Elevate Juniors

Coached by Chloey Turner and Keeva Corry

Building Strong Foundations for Young Irish Dancers

A fully online strength and conditioning programme designed specifically for younger Irish dancers.

Sessions focus on developing foundational strength, balance, coordination, mobility, movement skills and confidence through age-appropriate exercises and coaching.

Our goal is to help younger dancers establish strong movement foundations and healthy training habits that will support their Irish dance development as they grow.

Class Schedule

January 4 – March 12, 2027 · 10 weeks

  • Monday: 6:00 PM Eastern
  • Friday: 5:30 PM Eastern
  • Approximately 40–45 minutes per session
  • Fully online, with all recordings available

Pricing Per Cycle

Standard (2 classes per week)
$199
Academy members and CRC participants
$175
Dance schools registering 10+ dancers
$170 per dancer
Download Brochure (PDF) Registration Opens Nov 16
Ages 13 & Up

Elevate 13+

Led by Chloey Turner

Strength, Power & Conditioning for Irish Dance Performance

A progressive strength and conditioning programme designed to help Irish dancers develop the physical qualities needed to support technique, performance and long-term athletic development.
Sessions combine power development, progressive strength training and conditioning to help dancers build strength, improve body awareness and develop the stamina needed for the demands of Irish dance.

Class Schedule

January 6 – March 12, 2027 · 10 weeks

  • Wednesday: 7:30 PM Eastern
  • Friday: 6:30 PM Eastern
  • Approximately 50–60 minutes per session
  • Online and in-person options available

Pricing Per Cycle

In-person, twice weekly
$319
In-person, once weekly
$225
Online, twice weekly
$199
Academy members and CRC participants (online, twice weekly)
$175
Dance schools registering 10+ dancers (online, twice weekly)
$170 per dancer

The Academy/CRC discount and school group rate apply to the online programme, not the in-person options.

Download Brochure (PDF) Registration Opens Nov 16

Training Cycles & Upcoming Dates

Both programmes follow three main seasonal cycles aligned with the Irish dance competition calendar.
  1. 1

    Worlds Prep

    January–March

    10 weeks

  2. 2

    North American Nationals Prep

    Spring / Early Summer

    10 weeks

  3. 3

    Oireachtas Prep

    Autumn

    12 weeks

Dancers do not need to be competing at these championships to participate.

New Year Cycle 1 | 2027

Elevate Juniors
January 4 – March 12, 2027 · 10 weeks
Elevate 13+
January 6 – March 12, 2027 · 10 weeks
Nov 16

Registration Opens

New Year Cycle 1 | Both Programmes

Meet Your Coaches

Chloey Turner

Head Coach: Elevate 13+ | Co-Coach: Elevate Juniors

Chloey Turner is a former Riverdance lead dancer of 12 years, strength and conditioning coach, and qualified yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in Irish dance, fitness and performance. She is the founder of From Head to Toe Academy and Elevate Irish Dance Strength & Conditioning.

Keeva Corry

Coach: Elevate Juniors

Keeva Corry is a four-time World Champion Irish dancer, former Riverdance lead dancer and dance captain, qualified strength and conditioning coach, and sports massage therapist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to find out more. Still unsure? Email info@fromheadtotoeacademy.com.
What’s the difference between Elevate and Elevate Juniors?

Both programmes are designed specifically for Irish dancers, but the training is adapted to their age and stage of development.

Elevate Juniors (ages 7–12) focuses on building foundational strength, balance, coordination, mobility and movement skills through age-appropriate exercises. Classes are slightly shorter, with an emphasis on developing good movement habits, confidence and body awareness.

Elevate (ages 13+) follows a more structured strength and conditioning programme, incorporating power development, progressive strength training and conditioning to support the physical demands of Irish dance.

Both programmes complement regular Irish dance classes rather than replace them.

Who can join Elevate and Elevate Juniors?

Elevate Juniors is designed for Irish dancers aged 7–12.
Elevate is designed for dancers aged 13 and up, including adult Irish dancers.
Dancers of different abilities and competitive levels are welcome. Exercises can be adapted depending on experience and individual needs.

Does my child need previous strength training experience?

Not at all!
Both programmes are suitable for dancers who are new to strength and conditioning, as well as those who have previous experience.
Our coaches provide guidance, exercise progressions and modifications to help dancers work at an appropriate level.
For Elevate Juniors in particular, the emphasis is on learning how to move well before progressing to more challenging exercises.

Is strength training safe for younger Irish dancers?

Yes. Appropriately designed, coached and supervised strength training can be a safe and beneficial part of a young dancer’s physical development.
Elevate Juniors is specifically designed for ages 7–12. We focus on movement quality, coordination, balance and gradually building strength rather than simply lifting heavy weights.
As sessions take place online, parents should ensure their dancer has a safe training space, suitable equipment and appropriate adult supervision where needed. Our coaches provide instruction and modifications, but cannot offer the same hands-on supervision as an in-person session.

Do dancers need to be competing to participate?

No!
Dancers do not need to be competing at Worlds, Nationals or Oireachtas level to participate.
Although our training cycles are organised around the Irish dance competition calendar, both programmes are suitable for dancers who simply want to develop their strength, movement skills, confidence and overall physical fitness.

Can dancers participate from home?

Absolutely!
Elevate Juniors is fully online, so dancers can participate from home.
Elevate 13+ offers both online and in-person options. Our in-person classes are held at Oak & Iron Fitness in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Online dancers can join live or complete recorded sessions at a more convenient time.
You do not need access to a gym to participate in the online programmes.

What equipment will we need?

Equipment requirements differ slightly between programmes.

Elevate Juniors
We recommend:

  • Exercise or yoga mat
  • Yoga blocks
  • Mini resistance band
  • Long resistance band
  • Light dumbbells where appropriate
  • Small step, sturdy box or chair

Many exercises can also be completed using bodyweight or simple alternatives.

Elevate 13+
For online training, we recommend:

  • A selection of dumbbells appropriate to the dancer’s strength and experience
  • Kettlebell, if available
  • Mini resistance band
  • Long resistance band
  • Yoga blocks
  • Exercise or yoga mat
  • Sturdy step or box for certain exercises

Modifications and alternatives are provided where possible for dancers with limited equipment.

How often are classes, and how long do they last?

Both programmes include two classes per week.

Elevate Juniors

  • Monday at 6:00 PM Eastern
  • Friday at 5:30 PM Eastern
  • Approximately 40–45 minutes per class

Elevate 13+

  • Wednesday at 7:30 PM Eastern
  • Friday at 6:30 PM Eastern
  • Approximately 50–60 minutes per class

Our classes are designed to complement dancers’ existing Irish dance training schedules.

Are classes recorded if we can’t attend live?

Yes!
We understand that Irish dancers have busy schedules with classes, school, competitions and other commitments.
Both programmes offer recordings, allowing dancers to complete their sessions at a more convenient time if they cannot join live.
We encourage live participation where possible, but dancers can still follow the programme using recordings.

When are class recordings available, and how long can we access them?

We aim to make class recordings available within 18 hours of each live session, so dancers who can’t attend live can catch up at a time that suits them.

For both Elevate and Elevate Juniors, dancers have access to all class recordings throughout their training cycle and for an additional two weeks after the final class.

How is Elevate different from the From Head to Toe Academy membership?

Elevate is a structured, coach-led strength and conditioning programme delivered in training cycles, with two scheduled sessions per week.
The From Head to Toe Academy is our wider online wellness and training platform, offering an extensive on-demand library covering Irish dance technique, strength, mobility, flexibility, recovery, nutrition and performance psychology.
Elevate provides a structured weekly strength and conditioning training plan, while the Academy offers a broader collection of resources dancers can access throughout the year.
They complement each other, and Academy members receive a discounted rate for Elevate’s online programmes.

Can dance schools register groups of dancers?

Yes!

We offer a special group rate for dance schools registering 10 or more dancers.

Elevate Juniors: $170 per dancer, per cycle.

Elevate 13+ (online): $170 per dancer, per cycle.

For dance school registrations or further information, please contact info@fromheadtotoeacademy.com.

Ready to Elevate?

Registration for New Year Cycle 1 opens November 16 for both Elevate Juniors and Elevate 13+.
Elevate Juniors Elevate 13+

Questions? info@fromheadtotoeacademy.com