Beglan Academy of Irish Dance — Local services in Glendale

My children danced with Beglan academy for five years. In the beginning, we thought that Sean Beglan was a very kind man. He seemed interested in our children, their well-being and development. He does a fabulous job of getting the beginners and their parents to think he is a great guy.

My kids enjoyed Irish Dance while they worked their way up the levels and they did quite well. Both advanced to the preliminary champion level. They did this on their own, with no special attention from the teachers and very few private lessons.

As they got older and more aware of the competitiveness of Irish dance they started to notice that Sean and Chelsea, one of the uncertified teachers in the school, had a handful of kids they would nurture. Out of a school of about 120 dancers, there were maybe 10 that Sean and Chelsea felt were worthy of their attention and instruction. My daughter told me that while some of the dancers would receive corrections, Sean would be distracted by his phone while she was dancing and he would tell her "good job".

When I asked Sean why my daughter was not getting corrections, he denied it and said she was doing fine. I even asked him why he would tell her "good job". Obviously the dancers who were better than her would get corrections, it seems that she should get them as well. Then he told me, in different words, that if he didn't think they were working hard enough they didn't deserve corrections.

He wasn't going to waste his time giving corrections to someone who was not going to the world championships or Nationals. She was not going to be a money maker for him. Everyone in that level was paying $150 per month for dance instruction and they should all receive the same dance instruction. He also charges $60 per hour for private lessons. He gave my daughter just enough hope to keep her coming to class and me paying the tuition.

Over the years I have had many conversations with other mothers who had similar concerns. Most of them have left the school and their children are much happier in other activities. Of the dancers who are still there, their mothers keep their mouths shut.

There is an unwritten rule at Beglan Academy that you don't tell your parents what happens in class. My child told me that periodically Sean would tell stories about the dancers who are no longer at the school. These stories would often include an upset child and/or parent. Many times after these stories were told, Sean would say, "I should have kicked them out right then!"

Many of the dancers are terrified of Chelsea as well. She has a handful of dancers that she likes, the rest she either ignores or treats them very poorly. Several years ago my son was in a class getting ready for the Oireachtas, the regional competition. As the class was concluding, Chelsea asked if anyone wanted to do the dance one more time. My son was the only one who responded with a "yes" and she responded to him with "No, sorry it's too late". I was there and I heard her say this to him. I asked her "Did you really just say 'no' to him? And she said "yes, I did." And that was it.

In the end, my daughter sent Sean an email letting him know she was leaving the school. He responded to her with a very nasty message. He told her that it was a good thing she resigned from the school because her behavior had caused too many problems for him, his dancers, and their families. She is a 15 year old girl. He has no comprehension of how inappropriate and irresponsible that was. Especially since no one has any idea what behaviors he is referring to.

Sean Beglan has many traits of someone with a narcissistic personality: an inflated sense of importance, a deep need for admiration, and lack of empathy for others. He also has very poor social skills and has no understanding of the development of adolescent children. The biggest red flag that I should have recognized a long time ago is that he does not want parents to know what goes on in class. I would not recommend getting involved with...

Beglan Academy of Irish Dance has been a blessing to our family! I have written several emails with Sean and the instructors thanking them for their leadership and would like to take time today to share on Facebook too! Here are several reasons:

The Professional Quality: Sean is a professional Irish dancer and shares his experiences and talent with the students. This is a large part of the value! The standard that is set for the students is not only the best but also attainable through his consistent coaching. If at any time students need some extra attention on steps or form they are separated into another classroom with another instructor to work on those steps. The teacher/student ratio is excellent! At other dance schools I have noticed that the owner/professional isn't involved in all the classes (especially the beginners) but this is not the case at Beglan Academy. My daughter began lessons there around 5 years old and Sean has been there since day one. I see his involvement with all of the classes. This is rare and something I value immensely! Performances range from program recitals, Irish Fest, news shows, to dancing in Irish restaurants/pubs and malls. All of the performances are done with professional quality and yet flexible/light hearted approach that allows the dancers to be confident in a supportive environment.

The Flexibility and Understanding: Sean listens to the dancers and the families. If not in the studio instructing, you can find Sean talking with families in the hall ways. There are windows that look in each practice studio for parents to view the instruction and progress of their child. Occasionally Sean invites parents into the studio to give us more insight and give the students an audience. This is one of my favorite parts! After class, if my daughter has something to improve on or has done better on something she can articulate what those things are. This tells me the teachers are communicating these things to her and have her best at mind. Further, I have never felt pressured to sign my child up for competitions or events. There is plenty to be involved in but Sean and the teachers inform the families and leave the amount of commitment up to the family. If we don’t want to take part in a competition or have to miss out on St. Patrick performances (my husband’s busiest time of year at work) the teachers understand and are more than reasonable.

The Pricing/Affordability: The value we receive for the rate of lessons is exceptional! We drive a long distance to attend Beglan Academy. Why? Because I have gone to similar extra curricular activities and find this to be the best value worth our investment. Sean is sensitive to the high costs that can come from new shoes, costumes, and competitions. Beglan Academy meets the needs of families by having “used” item sales throughout the year and Clan Beglan (the board) also have multiple fundraising events/programs throughout the year that help keep costs down. Clan Beglan also shares a newsletter to keep the dance families up to date with all the events and opportunities their child can participate in.

The Community and Culture: The families that make up Beglan Academy are super supportive and are a treasure of information. During practice I often talk with other parents and glean from their tips and experience. There is a great sense of encouragement from each other. Our kids aren’t competing with one another but are a team! This is so refreshing. Also, the Irish culture that permeates the performances and instruction is fantastic. I love that my daughter is learning Irish culture. It enhances her understanding of the art! Thank you again to the Beglan Academy instructors...

I have been at Beglan Academy since 2007 and have loved every year here. I couldn't ask for or dream of better and more motivating instructors. Every single class or private lesson I have attended they both are fully committed to helping me become a better dancer. I choose to spend almost everyday at the studio because it is where I can be myself and where I grow the most as a person. Sean and Chelsea not only have made me the dancer I am today, they teach me incredibly important life lessons. I have learned to lose graciously and Sean always encourages me to wish good luck and congratulations to the other dancers in every competition I attend. He is so welcoming and when moving into a new class or even into the school as a new dancer, Sean helps them feel at home. Chelsea has taught me the value and importance of hard work. With her help I have developed a good work ethic and know that if I want something bad enough I will have work for it. They have both provided me with amazing opportunities such as a trip to Ireland for the Riverdance Summer School. Without their help I know I wouldn't have been able to go or be where I am today. My hard work has payed off and I am now assistant teaching Tuesday and Thursday nights. I get the chance to work with incredible people like Callie, Riva, and Sam. They are amazing role models and I hope to be like them when I am older. However, the people I look up to the most are Sean and Chelsea. They inspire me every day to do my best and I can't imagine better role models than they are. I wouldn't trade my years at Beglan for anything and hope to continue to be a part of the Beglan Academy...