Dance Performers

Cass Academy of Irish Dance

Since being established in 2005 by director Erin Cass, TCRG, Cass Academy has been captivating audiences in the Houston area and beyond! Traditional Irish Dance lessons are offered in two locations for girls and boys of all ages. Cass Academy's competitive success has led their students to compete at the local, national, and world levels. You don't want to miss this electrifying performance group! Visit www.cassacademy.com, or email Erin at irishdancelessons@yahoo.com for more information.

Michael and Susan Harrison - Céilí Dance Workshop and Céilí Callers

Michael and Susan met as dancers at Scarborough Faire. After Riverdance brought Irish dancing into the cultural spotlight, Michael and Susan found an Irish dance school in 1997 that welcomed adults, and they were soon hooked on step dance and céilí. Susan earned her TMRF, a céilí dance instructor certification, from An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha in January 2007.

Travel to Ireland introduced Michael and Susan to Irish set dancing, which they study and practice as much as possible locally and via dance conventions across the country. They perform annually at the North Texas Irish Festival with the Emerald School of Irish Dance and call the céilí at the festival. They also teach set and céilí dancing weekly via the Plano Parks and Recreation Department, and they organize and call frequent céilís for the Southwest Celtic Music Association.

Lone Star Céilí Band

The Lone Star Céilí Band (LSCB) is one of Texas’ custodians of traditional Irish music and dance. Reflecting a growing heritage of Texans who perform the timeless music and dance of Ireland, the LSCB dedicates itself to promoting these arts to the general public at venues throughout the Southwest. The ensemble gives a worthy representation of traditional “ceili” bands as found in Ireland. The members of LSCB are accomplished players of traditional Irish music. Each performs with other ensembles encompassing a wide-range of musical interests and styles. But because of their common love for playing music for dancers, they formed LSCB in the fall of 2000 and immediately became a dance band in demand whether the venue is a céilí or a contra dance.

For most of its stage performances, the band is joined by a number of Irish step dancers to demonstrate the important bond that exists between the dance and music of Ireland. The Lone Star Céilí Band will be performing music for the Saturday evening céilí on the Emerald Dance Stage. The Lone Star Céilí Band accepts a variety of engagements: céilís, contra dances, stage shows, festivals, celebrations, weddings, and more. It also can provide music and/or Céilí dance workshops. For bookings, contact Ken Fleming at lonestar@trad-music.com.

Emerald School of Irish Dance

The Emerald School of Irish Dance has been teaching and promoting the art of Irish dance in Dallas/Ft. Worth since 1977. Directed by Emily Touzin, a native Dubliner, and Leslie Touzin Middleton, TCRG, Emerald dancers have performed shows throughout the North Texas area, including the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center with the world famous Chieftains, the Bass Performance hall with the Trinity Irish Dancers, and the North Texas Irish Festival, to name a few.

This award winning school includes dancers who have qualified to enter the World Irish Dance Championships and the North American National Championships. We offer classes for adults and children - beginner thru championship - for fun or competition in Dallas, Lewisville, and Arlington.

The Emerald School will host the 2nd annual Emerald Bluebonnet Feis and Ceili on April 18, 2009, at the Westin D/FW Hotel. http://www.emeraldschool.com

Jackson Irish Dancers

Jackson Irish Dancers, founded in 1998, is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to spread knowledge, enjoyment and understanding of traditional Irish dance through instruction, performance, and social gathering. In other words, we started this group so we’d have more folks to dance with, and so far, it’s working!

We offer classes and are available for performance bookings or to call your next céilí. Our performances –with live music by Legacy at NTIF this year – feature traditional Irish set dancing, céilí dancing, and solo dancing. Visit www.jacksonirishdancers.org or call 601-592-9914 for information. See you on the dance floor!

Maguire Academy of Irish Dance

The Dallas-based branch of Maguire Academy of Irish Dance is led by ADCRG and TCRG-accredited instructors Darren Maguire and Maeve Croke who together have over 50 years of Irish dance experience. With classes ranging from 4-year-old beginners to adults, students learn traditional Irish jigs, reels and specialty dances. Dancers can take classes for fun, compete in Irish dance feisanna, or perform for audiences around the DFW Metroplex. Since its opening in the Spring of 2008, competing students have already won a combination of over 50 medals. For more information, go to www.maguireacademy.com.

McTeggart Irish Dancers of San Antonio

McTeggart Irish Dancers of San Antonio have a long history going back to the very first NTIF in 1983. Back then the group was known as the San Antonio Irish Dancers. The group became known as McTeggart in February 2008. The Director of McTeggart Irish Dancers of San Antonio is Maureen Hall, ADCRG, Teacher is Christie New TCRG, Instructor is Jenny Powell. Since becoming a McTeggart School the group has grown considerably and now has classes all thru the week. A colorful revised website at www.sanantonioirishdancers.com provides comprehensive information on the group.

McTeggart Irish Dancers of North Texas

The McTeggart Irish Dancers of North Texas, under the direction of Maureen McTeggart- Hall ADCRG and Christie New TCRG practice weekly in the DFW metroplex. Dancers from the school perform throughout the North Texas area area at major cultural events to promote and keep traditional Irish Step Dancing alive. McTeggart students compete against dancers from across North America, Ireland, and Canada in competitions known as feiseanna.

The school is proud to have under it's roof numerous World-qualifying dancers, National Champions and the 2006 World Champion; the first ever winner from the Southern Region US. Classes are offered in Bedford, Southlake, and Irving for anyone interested in partaking in the fun of Irish Dancing whether for competition or recreation from age 5 and up! Our website is www.mcteggartntx.org

Shandon School of Irish Dance

Under the instruction and direction of Kay LaGreca TCRG, Shandon is a certified school of traditional Irish step and ceili dancing in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, registered with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (the Irish Dancing Commission) and the Irish Dance Teachers of North America Southern Region. Our classes meet weekly in Plano and Fort Worth. The Plano studio is located in Dance Depot at the corner of Park and Los Rios. Classes in Fort Worth meet in the dance room at Nolan Catholic High School, located just off of Interstate 30 at Oakland. Dancers of all ages and abilities learn Irish Dancing in a supportive and caring environment.

For information contact shandonschool@yahoo.com. www.shandonirishdancers.com