I started dancing at the age of 11. I was a member of a dance studio ANDREA, where I danced classical tap-dancing taught by Andrea Myslivečková and Barbora Šálková. I took part in Czech and German competitions in group choreography in 1997.
Later, I became a member of a contemporary and jazz dance group POP BALET, where I began in the advanced group, which was led by Marie Veselá. During my dancing activity in Pop Balet I performed at various events, and also attended summer workshops held by world well-known dancers and choreographers of contemporary and jazz dance such as Steve Lachance (US), Silvia Martiradonna (Italy), Florance Meregalli (France), Marco Antonio Quattrone (Italy), Vjačeslav Ivanov.
I first came across Irish dancing through the video of Riverdance show, and later I attended Rinceoirí - Irish dancing club in Prague, which was focusing mainly on Ceilí dancing. I started my hard shoes dancing under the lead of Tereza Bachová, the founder of a dance group Kaskáda. I spent some of my summer holidays in Ireland, first with my family, later with friends. I attended classes of traditional dancing (Old style and Sean nós dancing) held by Margaret Wray, Mick Mulkerrin and Mairéd Casey at Willie Clancy Summer School. In July 2008 I returned to Miltown Malbay with my family. That time I attended ‘Steps and Rhythm of Clare sets’ class held by Aidan Vaughan and Betty McCoy.
My first success at dancing was recognized at Pardubická Ryengle competitions between the years 2001-2005. In autumn 2002, I was asked to create dances to adaptations of Irish drama „Criple of Inishman“(M.McDonagh) for famous Prague theatre association Gasper. In co-operation with director Jaroslava Šiktancová I created choreographies for „Dancing at Lunasadh“(B.Friel) Irish drama adaptation at Opava Theatre in spring 2003.
Due to increased interest in Irish dancing in the Czech Republic and regular workshops with qualified teachers there was in the opportunity to start competing at Irish dancing competitions (feis) for me as well as for a few other dancers. As my engagement with Irish dancing deepened, I decided to intensify my education in Irish dancing and moved to London, where I spent a year (2003-2004) as a student at Delaney Academy led by Lisa Delaney (T.C.R.G. at that time). I started successfully competing at local fesianna at primary level, where I regularly placed on the highest positions. Just before going back to the Czech Republic I passed to Intermediate level in all dances and shortly after my comeback to continental Europe I passed to Open level at the first coming feis. Back in Prague I participated in and coordinated the founding of Rinceoirí Irish Dancing Academy where I acted as a head teacher for two years – first year co-operated with Anne-Marie Cunningham (T.C.R.G.) exRiverdancer. Together with Anne-Marie I participated in regular teaching in Germany – in Roth by Nürimberg – as well as at summer schools in Prague (2003-2005), in Roth (2004-2007) and in Proitze Mühle (2003, 2004). At the same time I was intensively working with the dancing group Rinceoirí, the popularity of which had risen considerably in the Czech Republic. I choreographed most of the Rinceoirí performances and prepared dancers for competitions. Still under Anne-Marie’s lead I participated on historically the first World championships qualifying in continental Europe and together with Tereza Bachová I represented the first Czechs ever to dance at the World championship in Ennis, during Easter 2005.
In 2006, I left dancing school RIDA (a year after leaving the Rinceoirí dance group) and opted for enhancing my Irish dancing experience. I went back to London to Lisa Delaney-Galal ADCRG, the teacher I had successfully worked with before. After having learned all dances I started competing again. Beside many local feisanna I participated in major championships such as Great Britain (2006), World championships qualifying in London (2006) and All Ireland (2007) in Killarney, where I won a medal in Heavy shoes Recall. I successfully passed the first ten grades from twelve of Diploma of Irish dancing at the end of March 2007.
Since September 2007 I have been living on the west coast of Ireland, in Galway city, where I regularly attend dance classes led by teachers trio – Gemma Carney ADCRG, Deirdre Gallagher and Mary McDonagh – at the Hession School, the top-class school of Irish dancing. I often spend my free evenings at set dancing events in Galway pubs.
I participated at Oireachtas Rince Connacht at the end of October 2008, where I won a very nice 2nd place in my age group. So I qualified for the Worlds 2009.
At the beginning of this year, I participated at All Irelands in Killarney, where I recalled for heavy round and won nice 43rd place (in total). During the Easter I represented Connacht region at the World championships (Ladies O21), in Philadelphia, USA.
During the time I have been involved in Irish dancing, I became well-known in Irish dancing circles not only in the Czech Republic. I have been invited to teach at workshops also in Germany, Poland and Slovakia. During my dancing activity at Delaney Academy, Rinceoirí and Hession School I have performed at various events in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, France, England and Ireland.
Tereza Bernardová