Ballet Classes in Dublin 15
Seven ballet schools teach at nine venues inside Dublin 15. They are spread across Castleknock, Carpenterstown, Clonsilla, Ongar, Phibblestown, Huntstown and Mulhuddart, which means the practical question in this part of Dublin is rarely whether there is a class. It is which side of the district you can actually get to on a weekday evening.
Everything below is drawn from the schools’ own listings, with the venue and eircode for each, so you can work out the journey before you ring anyone.
Where the classes are
Chester School of Dance teaches at Diswellstown Community Centre in Carpenterstown (D15 VH05) and Castaheany Community Centre in Huntstown, Clonee (D15 HX61). IDTA syllabus, exams entered, trial class offered, and adaptive classes at both venues. The school also runs Dunboyne in Meath, which is useful if you are on the county boundary.
Clare Connolly Dance & Ballet School teaches at Phibblestown Community Centre, Phibblestown Wood (D15 XT85) and Ongar Community Centre, Ongar Village (D15 VR72). RAD and ISTD, and one of only two schools in the district taking adults as well as children.
Marian Lennon School of Ballet teaches at Luttrellstown Community Centre, Porterstown Road, Clonsilla (D15 DY29). RAD syllabus with exams.
Jill O’Neill School of Dance teaches at Junction 6 Dance Studio, River Road, Castleknock (D15 EA43). A proper dance studio rather than a hired hall, exams entered, and a trial class offered.
Isabelle Ashe Dance teaches at Castleknock Parish Centre, Main Street (D15 DK54), as one stop on a wide Dublin circuit.
Dublin School of Dance & Etiquette teaches at Rathborne Vale, Castleknock, on the Phoenix Park side (D15 RK4A).
Viva School of Dance teaches at Mulhuddart Community Centre (D15 R2VF), and takes adults as well as children.
Which one to ring first
The district splits neatly, and geography will decide this for most families before anything else does.
If you are in Castleknock or Carpenterstown, you have the most choice: Junction 6 on River Road, Castleknock Parish Centre, Rathborne Vale and Diswellstown are all within a few minutes of each other. If you are in Ongar, Phibblestown or Littlepace, Clare Connolly runs both of the nearest venues. Clonsilla and Porterstown point to Luttrellstown. Mulhuddart, Tyrrelstown and Blanchardstown point to Viva at Mulhuddart, or Castaheany if you are further north.
After location, three things separate them. Only Chester and Jill O’Neill list a trial class, which is worth having before a term’s fees. Only Clare Connolly and Viva teach adults. And the exam board differs: RAD at Clare Connolly and Marian Lennon, ISTD also at Clare Connolly, IDTA at Chester. If there is any chance of moving schools later, the board matters, because syllabi do not transfer cleanly between them. Our guide to the five exam boards sets out the full grade ladders.
Blanchardstown and Tyrrelstown
Worth saying plainly: no school currently lists a venue in Blanchardstown village or in Tyrrelstown, despite both being the areas most people mean when they say Dublin 15. Mulhuddart Community Centre and Castaheany Community Centre are the nearest options, both a short drive.
Schools add and drop venues every term, and plenty run classes they never put online. If you run a ballet class in either area and you are not listed here, tell us and we will add it.
Nearby
Dublin 15 sits on the western edge of the northside. For the wider picture, see ballet in North Dublin, ballet in Dublin or every school in County Dublin. To sort schools by distance from where you actually are, the schools directory has a “Use my location” button with a radius from 5 km to 100 km.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ballet schools are there in Dublin 15?
Seven ballet schools teach at nine venues inside the Dublin 15 postal district: Chester School of Dance (Diswellstown and Castaheany), Clare Connolly Dance & Ballet School (Phibblestown and Ongar), Dublin School of Dance & Etiquette (Rathborne Vale), Isabelle Ashe Dance (Castleknock Parish Centre), Jill O’Neill School of Dance (Junction 6, River Road), Marian Lennon School of Ballet (Luttrellstown, Clonsilla) and Viva School of Dance (Mulhuddart).
Which Dublin 15 ballet schools offer a trial class?
Chester School of Dance and Jill O’Neill School of Dance both list a trial class. The others do not advertise one, which does not mean they will refuse if you ask. A single class before committing to a full term is a normal request in Irish ballet schools.
Are there adult ballet classes in Dublin 15?
Two of the seven teach adults as well as children: Clare Connolly Dance & Ballet School, at Phibblestown and Ongar community centres, and Viva School of Dance at Mulhuddart Community Centre. The other five are children’s schools. Adults willing to travel have considerably more choice in the city centre and south Dublin, covered in our guide to ballet for adults.
Which exam boards do Dublin 15 ballet schools teach?
Clare Connolly Dance & Ballet School teaches RAD and ISTD. Marian Lennon School of Ballet teaches RAD. Chester School of Dance teaches IDTA. Jill O’Neill School of Dance enters pupils for exams without naming the board on its listing. Syllabi do not transfer cleanly between boards, so the board matters if you may move schools later.
Is there a ballet class in Blanchardstown or Tyrrelstown?
No school currently lists a venue in Blanchardstown village or Tyrrelstown. The closest are Viva School of Dance at Mulhuddart Community Centre and Chester School of Dance at Castaheany Community Centre in Huntstown, both a short drive from either. Schools open and close venues every term, so it is worth asking directly.