There is nothing I want more than to share a piece of my passion, this love of dance with my students. Even though I no longer compete, the love of dance still surrounds me. It is part of me, something that I know I want deep on the inside. The classroom generates a whole new passion for dance because I get to share pieces of me each and every class. I easily climb into a zone - one where we work together as partners, to advance your skill and build your love for the music and movement. What I give to my students and what they give back to me is nothing short of a gift. No matter how much of myself I give each class, I get the same amount in love, admiration and respect from my students.

I fulfilled my accreditation requirements in Ireland in July 2004 and opened up my own school. The McCormack School of Irish Dance that year. Our school is currently located at 28 Blackfoot Road, Sherwood Park. We offer Irish Dance, soft shoe, hard shoe and team dancing classes for approximately 35 dancers ranging from 4-18. There is also adult classes available for recreational and competitive dancers.



A Wee bit of history.....

A Dancer begins...

I remember in my early Irish Dancing days, in Navan, County Meath. I was five or six when I first started dancing.  I competed in my first competition right before immigrating to Canada. I won my reel trophy and was presented with a perpetual trophy that I had to give back because we were moving. 

Our family settled in Fort McMurray in 1989 and my dancing experience grew. Gloria Brady, TCRG was my first Canadian dance instructor, and Deirdre Penk- O'Donnell ADCRG taught me my last year of dance. I qualified for my first Nationals held in Calgary in 1991. From there dancing and competitions took me all over the world. I traveled to Chicago, San Diego, Vancouver, Toronto, Dublin and Galway. My last Nationals was Vancouver in 1997, where I placed 14th in solo's and our eight hand won 1st place, our second Nationals victory. The one accomplishment I am most proud of is my eight hand team's 15th place at Worlds in Galway, where we were also presented with Best Oversea's award given to the best non- European team at the competition.

Although years have passed since I stood on the stage as a dancer, I still have adrenalin every time I hear the music. It is these experiences, taken from my childhood, that have formed the foundation for who I am as both a person and an instructor of Irish dance. There is no greater joy than watching my kids grow in their love of dance and build lasting friendships along the way.