Ratton School in Eastbourne celebrates 10 years of making expensive Irish dancing hobby accessible to hundreds of youngsters

Rinceoiri Ratton began over ten years ago when Vikki Potten, head of drama at Ratton and a retired Irish dancer, began teaching Irish dance as a lunchtime club.

Vikki said: “Knowing that Irish dance is such an expensive hobby, I wanted to make it accessible for everyone who fancied giving it a go - knowing first hand how much fun it can be, as well as a great fitness and culture boost.

“I don’t charge for the three classes a week that I run and we fundraise for all of our costumes.

“We began doing a few displays around Eastbourne for community events and the popularity grew. By the end of the second year word had spread and I had over more than girls dancing.”

The group has gone from strength to strength and in 2009 successfully applied for an arts grant to buy hard shoes, which usually cost upwards of £70 a pair.

Vikki said: “That’s when things really took off. There’s something about the thundering rhythm of hard shoe Irish dance that just mesmerises you, draws you in. And to be part of one of those lines - the likes of which you see in Riverdance or Lord Of The Dance - makes you feel a huge sense of belonging. We want everyone to experience that.”

They now have more than 100 dancers on their books and have outgrown the school hall. They have raised more than £1,500 for St Wilfrid’s Hospice and £1,700 for the Rockinghorse charity.

Rinceoiri Ratton’s 10th anniversary Irish Night is at the Congress Theatre on March 29 at 7pm. Tickets available at the box office. They will also do a flash mob outside River Island at 12.30pm on March 15.