About
Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance offers Irish dance classes for children and Adult Ceili dancing. The program includes spring beginner and pre-beginner sessions as well as annual children’s classes and weekly adult classes.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring beginner classes run as a 4-week session starting April 20, with dates on April 20, 27 and May 4, 18. Spring beginners ages 6+ meet Mondays from 4:30–5:15pm, and spring pre-beginners ages 3–5 meet Mondays from 5:15–5:45pm. Pre-beginner classes run in 8-week sessions. The annual children’s dance year begins after Labor Day each September and runs through June, with a celebration at the Dublin Irish Festival the first weekend of August and a break for the remainder of August. Ongoing children’s classes include a Monday Beginner class from 4:30–5:15pm, a Wednesday Beginner class from 5:45–6:30pm, and a Monday Pre-Beginner class from 4:45–5:15pm. Adult classes meet once weekly on Mondays from September through July, with Beginner Adults and Adult Ceili Dancing from 6:30–7:30pm and Advanced Adults from 7:30–8:30pm.
• Price: Spring Beginners ages 6+ on Mondays from 4:30–5:15pm cost $65 per dancer for the 4-week session. Spring Pre-Beginners ages 3–5 on Mondays from 5:15–5:45pm cost $50 per dancer for the 4-week session. In addition to tuition, there is a required annual membership fee of $50 to the Columbus Celtic Dancers to participate in the adult class.
The Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance has a history that began over 35 years ago when founder Ann Richens ADCRG, a native of Dublin, Ireland, began traveling to Columbus from Dayton, Ohio to share Irish dance. After her pupil John Timm captured the 1993 Senior Men’s World Championship title, they partnered and the school became the Richens/Timm Academy. Following Ann Richens’ passing in 2011, the Academy has been directed by John Timm and his wife, Heather Timm. The Academy currently serves locations in Dublin, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Academy’s mission states that Richens/Timm provides a fun, friendly, family atmosphere where each dancer is given the polished skill set to maximize his or her potential and accomplish personal goals, whether that is performing at a grandparent’s nursing home, capturing a World Medal, or learning simply for the love of dance, and that there is a place for everyone in Richens/Timm. The Academy notes that whether a Beginner, Novice, Champion or adult dancer, participants have access to highly qualified instructors and their close attention, and that all dancers receive a high quality education in Irish dance. The Academy also states that there are few artistic disciplines in the world where students begin with the best.
The Richens/Timm Academy is described as one of the most recognizable and respected names in the world of Irish dance, and as the most established and accomplished school in central Ohio, central Indiana and Wyoming. It is known for success in competition, with 55 Regional Champions, 20 North American Champions, 3 All-Ireland Champions with 2 runner-up finishes, and 2 Senior Men’s World Champions. Over time, Richens/Timm dancers have earned more than 50 World medals, including over 30 top 10 finishes, more than 10 top 3 finishes, and 2 World Championship titles.
The Academy celebrates at the Dublin Irish Festival the first weekend of August. Adult participation requires an annual membership fee to the Columbus Celtic Dancers, and families are directed to visit Columbus Celtic Dancers for more information on the adult dancing group. The Academy notes that it is now offering a pre-beginner class for dancers who are not quite ready for the Beginner program, recommends ages 3.5–5.5 years old for the pre-beginner class, and recommends that dancers be at least 5 years old for the annual children’s Beginner class, while noting that some dancers may be ready at 4 or 4.5 depending on the individual.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring beginner classes run as a 4-week session starting April 20, with dates on April 20, 27 and May 4, 18. Spring beginners ages 6+ meet Mondays from 4:30–5:15pm, and spring pre-beginners ages 3–5 meet Mondays from 5:15–5:45pm. Pre-beginner classes run in 8-week sessions. The annual children’s dance year begins after Labor Day each September and runs through June, with a celebration at the Dublin Irish Festival the first weekend of August and a break for the remainder of August. Ongoing children’s classes include a Monday Beginner class from 4:30–5:15pm, a Wednesday Beginner class from 5:45–6:30pm, and a Monday Pre-Beginner class from 4:45–5:15pm. Adult classes meet once weekly on Mondays from September through July, with Beginner Adults and Adult Ceili Dancing from 6:30–7:30pm and Advanced Adults from 7:30–8:30pm.
• Price: Spring Beginners ages 6+ on Mondays from 4:30–5:15pm cost $65 per dancer for the 4-week session. Spring Pre-Beginners ages 3–5 on Mondays from 5:15–5:45pm cost $50 per dancer for the 4-week session. In addition to tuition, there is a required annual membership fee of $50 to the Columbus Celtic Dancers to participate in the adult class.
The Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance has a history that began over 35 years ago when founder Ann Richens ADCRG, a native of Dublin, Ireland, began traveling to Columbus from Dayton, Ohio to share Irish dance. After her pupil John Timm captured the 1993 Senior Men’s World Championship title, they partnered and the school became the Richens/Timm Academy. Following Ann Richens’ passing in 2011, the Academy has been directed by John Timm and his wife, Heather Timm. The Academy currently serves locations in Dublin, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Academy’s mission states that Richens/Timm provides a fun, friendly, family atmosphere where each dancer is given the polished skill set to maximize his or her potential and accomplish personal goals, whether that is performing at a grandparent’s nursing home, capturing a World Medal, or learning simply for the love of dance, and that there is a place for everyone in Richens/Timm. The Academy notes that whether a Beginner, Novice, Champion or adult dancer, participants have access to highly qualified instructors and their close attention, and that all dancers receive a high quality education in Irish dance. The Academy also states that there are few artistic disciplines in the world where students begin with the best.
The Richens/Timm Academy is described as one of the most recognizable and respected names in the world of Irish dance, and as the most established and accomplished school in central Ohio, central Indiana and Wyoming. It is known for success in competition, with 55 Regional Champions, 20 North American Champions, 3 All-Ireland Champions with 2 runner-up finishes, and 2 Senior Men’s World Champions. Over time, Richens/Timm dancers have earned more than 50 World medals, including over 30 top 10 finishes, more than 10 top 3 finishes, and 2 World Championship titles.
The Academy celebrates at the Dublin Irish Festival the first weekend of August. Adult participation requires an annual membership fee to the Columbus Celtic Dancers, and families are directed to visit Columbus Celtic Dancers for more information on the adult dancing group. The Academy notes that it is now offering a pre-beginner class for dancers who are not quite ready for the Beginner program, recommends ages 3.5–5.5 years old for the pre-beginner class, and recommends that dancers be at least 5 years old for the annual children’s Beginner class, while noting that some dancers may be ready at 4 or 4.5 depending on the individual.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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