Independent competition at the Scientology Community Centre welcomes dancers from Ireland, England and Germany, bringing traditional and modern Irish dance onto the same stage

Brussels, Belgium, 12th Sep 2026 — Dancers from Ireland, England and Germany gathered at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin for the inaugural RINCE All Irelands, an independent competition bringing together different organisations, generations and approaches to Irish dance.

Competitors ranged from four years old to over 50 and represented four different Irish dance organisations. The format allowed dancers who might not ordinarily meet within the same competitive structure to share a common floor, while recognising achievement from beginner level through to open championship.

RINCE grew from an initiative created to keep the Irish dance community connected during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“We started as a magazine about Irish dance but were forced to take a break during lockdown,” said Erin Coyle, founder of RINCE. “Instead, we decided to host an online competition to raise money for various food banks. Following its success, we were asked to continue and help keep dancers’ spirits up. From there, our competitions grew in popularity and have since developed into regular events, both online and in person.”

That experience eventually led to RINCE All Irelands, conceived as an independent competition where dancers from different organisational backgrounds could perform together while maintaining the standards and identity of Irish dance.

One of the main features of the Dublin event was the Set Belt competition, which asked championship dancers to demonstrate their command of both modern and traditional forms.

Competitors first performed a modern set, allowing greater freedom in their choice of movements, followed by a traditional set performed according to established standards.

“For me, hosting the Set Belt was one of the most meaningful parts of the event,” Coyle said. “It was amazing to see dancers perform both styles to such a high standard and show how Irish dance can preserve its traditions while continuing to develop and innovate.”

The format reflected a balance familiar to many living cultural traditions: maintaining skills and standards passed down through generations while giving new performers room to develop their own abilities and expression.

Irish dance also places considerable demands on competence. Progress comes through instruction, observation, repeated practice, physical discipline and attention to detail — qualities evident among competitors across the different ages and levels represented in Dublin.

For the Scientology Community Centre, that emphasis on developing ability and recognising accomplishment also reflects principles found in The Way to Happiness, the nonreligious common-sense guide to better living written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Among its 21 precepts is “Be Competent”, which emphasises learning, practice and the development of skill. Other precepts encourage people to set a good example, respect others and contribute constructively to the society around them.

Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, said the event illustrated how cultural heritage, personal development and respect for diversity can reinforce one another.

“Culture remains alive because people learn it, practise it well and pass it on,” Arjona said. “The precept ‘Be Competent’ from The Way to Happiness is especially relevant to what these dancers are doing: behind every performance are learning, discipline and persistence. And when people from different organisations, generations and countries come together through a shared tradition, they show that cultural identity and respect for diversity can comfortably go hand in hand — something of particular value in today’s Europe.”

The competition also featured a Parade of Champions, recognising winners at every level from Beginner through to Open Championship.

Organisers said the opportunity to acknowledge dancers across the full competitive spectrum was particularly well received, giving younger and developing competitors a visible place alongside experienced championship performers.

The event was organised with the support of volunteers Grace Noblet, Sarah Angus, Colette McCann and Jamie Dunne, who contributed to its preparation and delivery.

Coyle also highlighted the practical support provided by the Scientology Community Centre, where she had previously organised another event.

“This was my second event at the Scientology Community Centre, and both times the planning and the event itself have gone extremely smoothly,” she said. “In the weeks beforehand, the team worked through everything we needed, from lighting and tables to the presentation of the results. When I walked into the venue on the day, everything was ready to go, which took away so much of the stress involved in running an event.”

The Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin opened in 2017 as a place for Scientology religious services and as a venue for cultural, educational, charitable and community activities.

Its facilities have provided a meeting place for organisations and initiatives from across Dublin, reflecting Hubbard’s view that Scientology churches should contribute positively to the communities in which they operate and provide space for constructive cooperation.

Asia Kuzma, Public Relations Officer at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin, said RINCE represented the kind of activity the Centre was pleased to accommodate.

“RINCE brought together children, adults, families and dancers from different organisations around something that requires dedication and creates genuine connections between people,” Kuzma said. “Irish dance shows how cultural heritage can remain strong without becoming static. Each generation develops its abilities, learns from what came before and then carries that tradition forward.”

At RINCE All Irelands, the emphasis remained on culture, accomplishment and participation.

From four-year-old beginners taking some of their earliest competitive steps to experienced dancers performing at championship level, the event presented Irish dance as a living tradition sustained not simply by preserving what came before, but by continuing to learn, practise, compete and pass those skills to others.

By bringing dancers together across organisational and national boundaries, the inaugural RINCE All Irelands also demonstrated how a shared cultural tradition can provide common ground while allowing participants to retain the identities and traditions they bring with them.

About the Church of Scientology in Europe

The Church of Scientology, its churches, missions, groups and members are present throughout the European continent. Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology supports educational and humanitarian initiatives in areas including human rights education, moral education, volunteer assistance and community betterment. These include The Way to Happiness, human rights education programmes and the work of Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

Recognition of Scientology as a religion and, in a number of jurisdictions, within charitable, religious or public-benefit frameworks has continued to grow under Europe’s differing national legal systems, alongside an established network of churches, missions and groups committed to education, prevention and community betterment.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release id: 48973

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