The High Kicks
Authentic Irish Dance Entertainment
Dublin, Ireland.
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About Us
The High Kicks are an Irish Dance Entertainment group, specialising in corporate events and wedding shows. Established in 2015, the team of full time professional dancers perform weekly at three different residency shows across Dublin’s City Centre. Collaborating with the best musicians Ireland has to offer, their traditional choreography and extensive experience makes them the industry's leading professionals in Ireland.
Meet the Team
The High Kicks are constantly looking out for the next best performer to join our team, if you’d like to be considered for an in person audition, please send your Showreel and Dance CV to Jean at contactthehighkicks@gmail.com
*21 years of age or older, 3+ years of show experience required.
The High Kicks
The High Kickers are full time professional Irish Dancers, who have toured the world with multiple productions and between them have won an array of competitive titles from All Ireland to World Championships. They each bring something unique to the team and love working together, sharing their talents with audiences near and far.
Jean Kennedy
Founder and Director, Jean is said to have danced straight out of the womb! All Ireland Champion from The Lynam School in Laois, and cast member of Michael Flatley’s show The Lord Of The Dance, Jean throughly enjoys touring the globe with the worlds most successful Irish dance show. Jean is also leading lady for Slidestep - a powerful and modern dance troupe from Dublin. Choreographer of PULSE drummers - this all female group are taking the corporate world of entertainment by storm.
Ciara Kennedy
The younger of the Kennedy sisters, Ciara is a qualified 'TCRG' or dance teacher and The Beauty behind The High Kicks. Ciara styles each costume for our bespoke performances ensuring each outfit compliments our performances. A classically trained ballerina, her forte on stage is the soft shoe solo which captures her elegance and grace, leaving audiences in awe.
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Alasdair Spencer
Alasdair is the muscles of the team, his powerful performance and intricate footwork brings audiences to their feet, having toured as the Lead role ‘Don Dorcha’ with Lord of the Dance for twelve years, he has had more nights of standing ovations than he can remember! Alasdair also has a keen eye for photography and all things tech!
Ruth Charles
Dublin born and bred, Ruth brings a ray of sunshine to the team, her friendliness and infectious smile fills the room complimented by her flawless rhythm and stunning stage presence. Ruth has most recently toured with Riverdance and performed in The Gaiety show during their summer residency. You might also recognise her from her advertising work ‘on d telly’!
Ciarán Mcmanus
Ciarán brings his cheeky personality on stage with him, he is rarely not laughing or making a joke, serving up a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere at our performances. Ciarán’s speciality is the old style or ‘Sean-Nós’ brush dance - where he dances with the broom! A very traditional style of Irish Dance which he practices everyday in his kitchen... Ciarán is rumoured to have the cleanest house in Ireland !
Wedding Performances
The High Kicks wedding routine showcases both the soft and heavy shoe dances, the renowned and highly energetic brush dance, and of course a ‘céilí’ or dance participation element that gets the wedding party up to join in on the fun. Our performance ends with everyone up on their feet, clapping and stamping along to the fast fiddle tunes, ready to dance the night away! If you would like to add a surprise element to your special day we can work with you in advance to choreograph a Riverdance inspired first dance, which is also a really fun rehearsal day for the wedding party to be involved in!
Corporate Entertaintment
Bring the craic to your Corporate Event by booking The High Kickers who are true professionals when it comes to being creative and welcoming international guests to our Emerald Isle. The High Kicks can work with your vision to produce unique and authentic performances to match your event, this could range from a short impactful routine to open your event or launch your product, to our full one hour Show Production with our live musicians. Our interactive ‘Ceili Buzz Experience’ is a popular option, perfect for movement breaks during your conference, an ice breakers event or even a team building exercise.
Our Residency Gigs
The High Kicks have residency performances at three different venues in Dublin’s city centre. Entertaining thousands of tourists every week, we love to share our Irish culture with those visiting the area.
Our pub gigs are typically solo or duet performances to live musicians however we also offer a unique Showcase Experience. This intimate and educational display of Irish Dance and the associated paraphernalia, allows the punters to get to know two professional Irish Dancers and their stories. Not only do they learn about the history of Irish dance, they also get the opportunity to try out the basic steps of céilí or ‘group’ dancing.
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The Vaults
@The Castle Hotel
Fri & Sat Solo
21:00-21:30
Come meet some of the team and get to know us!
Shots of our Show
Arms By Your Side
Our production of ‘Arms By Your Side’, A Story of Irish Dance is a musical play written and performed by The High Kicks Director Jean Kennedy and was filmed as part of the Local Live Performance Laois County Council in association with Laois County Council.
Recorded live at the Dunamaise Arts Center the play tells the story of Irish dance and how it has evolved over the years with live traditional music and traditional interpretations of modern songs. Jean hopes to tour with her production in the near future.
About our Director
Jean secured her place in Michael Flatley's show in 2022 and has performed on five different continents with the iconic production. Jean has also joined The Young Wolfe Tones on their Caribbean Cruise, performed in Portugal with The Finns Music and joined the almighty UK tour with The Irish House Party. After qualifying as an Irish Dance teacher in 2024, Jean launched ‘Jigjoy’, bringing Irish Dance to children in Africa. Having been lucky enough to travel the world through her extensive career as a dancer to date, Jean felt it was time to give back and share the joy of a jig to those who need it the most. Jean hopes that one day these budding dancers will get to perform alongside The High Kicks in Ireland!
2015
Ten years of residency in Dublin City Centre
2017
All Ireland & International Champion
2019
Performed 515 gigs after graduating from DCU
2024
Jean has toured 76 cities with Lord of the Dance
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Jean Kennedy
Director and Founder of The High Kicks
The High Kicks Entertainers were excellent, sheer talent and expertise, perfect for our international group to get a real flavour for Ireland! Thanks again for organising!
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Robert @ Newbridge Silverware
We will never forget The High Kicks performance and the energy they brought to our wedding party. Jean also booked the live trad band for us and they had everyone on the dance floor all night long.
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Sinead & Alex @ Tinnakilly House
Testimonials
We saw Jean perform in Dublin about 6 weeks before our wedding, she went above and beyond to accommodate our last minute booking.. So easy to deal with and a performance our guests are still talking about!
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Alison & Charlie @ Johnstown Country Estate
We had a few rehearsals where Jean taught us a version of ‘Riverdance’ before our big performance for John at his 60th Birthday Party. Such fun I’ll miss the practice and pints sessions! 100% recommend!
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Dan @ The Old Storehouse
I simply couldn’t recommend Jean and her team enough, extremely entertaining and true professionals. In my experience, they are hands down the best in the business when it comes to world class Irish dancers.
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