Claddagh Dance
Company
About our Dance Teachers
Claddagh Dance Company is under the
direction of Máire O’Connell, A.D.C.R.G. We are proud to have an
amazing world-class staff
of five full time - certificated teachers and 12 assistants. Our teachers represent a
wide range of talents including talented teachers, chorography specialists, musicians, and former
champions.
 Máire
O'Connell, ADCRG began the Claddagh School of
Irish Dancing in 1985 in Ventura who moved to Ventura from Galway, Ireland in
1978. Ms. O'Connell has been dancing most of her life and is accredited to
teach and adjudicate and has recently
been certified as an examiner by
by the Irish Dancing Commission of Dublin. She is active
in the Irish-American community and participates in a wide variety of community
events. She held the position of president of the Irish American Club of
Ventura County. Máire is also a 1995 honoree of the City of Los Angeles for her
participation in the Irish community of Southern California. She encourages her
students to get involved in many community projects and benefit shows.
Gaelic is Máire’s first language and she is a graduate of University College,
Galway, where she earned the credentials B.A., H.D.E., and LL.B. She is also
fluent in Spanish, which serves to further the artistic and cultural exchange
within Southern California.
Máire has 2 sons, Ross & Dara, who have both
danced throughout the years and continue to offer support to Claddagh.
 Kelly Sullivan,
TCRG
Kelly has grown up with Claddagh! An
Open Champion, Kelly was 3rd in 9 Western Regionals, danced on title winning
teams and competed in the World Championships.
Kelly began assisting in the studios as
a teen, and after completing school became a full-time assistant. In 2001,
Kelly sat for the TCRG exam and was awarded her license on the first attempt.
Kelly then accepted a TCRG position in a new school opening in Germany. While
in Germany, Kelly’s dancers placed in the European Championships. After
teaching for 2 years, Kelly returned to Claddagh where her friends and family
are.
Kelly now teaches all levels of competitors in our Southern locations and
Salt Lake City.
 RaCHELLE
BURKE, TCRG
RaChelle has danced as long as she has
walked! In addition to being a championship Irish dancer, RaChelle is a
champion Scottish dancer, and has performed and competed in jazz, hip-hop and
ballet.
RaChelle, an engineering graduate from
Loyola Marymount University (with honors), successfully passed her TCRG license
in 2002 and teaches classes in Simi Valley. RaChelle also instructs the adult
classes in Ventura.
 DENISE
BARRY, TCRG
Denise Barry is another Claddagh
Champion dancer who has opted to stay with the Claddagh Clan. Denise achieved
Western Regional medal winner in both solo and team events, was a National solo
and team medalist, and competed in the World Championships and professional
dance troupes. Denise became a TCRG in 2003.
Denise, a graduate and post-graduate of
Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo (with honors), is responsible for our San Luis Obispo
studio location.
 ROBIN
JORDAN, TCRG
A dancer of
many talents, Robin has been a champion Irish and Scottish dancer
and has
participated in team and solo competitions at local, regional and
international
levels. One of Robin’s major accomplishments was winning the
Western Regional
titles for her age group in both Irish and Highland dancing in the same year!
Robin, a graduate of the Chapman
University, successfully passed her TCRG in
2004. She teaches in the Lake
Forest studio.
Katie Darlington, TCRG
Katie, our newest accredited teacher,
became a TCRG in 2006. She was one of the first dancers to join the Claddagh
studio, and was Western Regional champion nine times. She also holds multiple
North American and World medals and was on numerous winning Regional and
National teams.
Katie is a graduate of UC Irvine and teaches at our Lake Forest studio.
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