our teachers
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Read More ▶Frances Ryan
LISTD MB, AISTD IB (Dip) RSA, CDE, PBT.
Frances Ryan is a fully qualified and registered dance teacher of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She holds Licentiate status within the organisation and also holds a CDE, Certificate in Dance Education, with the same teaching body.
Frances also holds certificates in Anatomy and Physiology, History of Dance, Occupational First Aid and PBT – Progressive Ballet Technique.
Frances began her dancing career at the age of 7 with 'Annette Hynes School of Classical Ballet and Modern Theatre Dance'. While attending the school, she achieved high honours in all the graded exams up to and including Intermediate level.
On leaving school, Frances auditioned and was accepted into 'Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre', Liverpool, where she completed the teacher-training course and received her teaching qualifications with Distinction.
In college, Frances studied Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre / Jazz dance, National, Contemporary, Tap, Pas de Deux work/Repetoire, Drama, Musical Theatre and Singing. While in the UK, Frances danced professionally in many musical theatre productions and pantomimes.
She continued performing on many stages around Ireland once back home and has appeared in many productions such as, 'Cabaret', 'Oklahoma' – where she danced the part of Laurie in the dream scene, 'Carousel' – where she played the part of Louise, 'Fiddler on the Roof', 'Showboat', 'My Fair Lady' and many more.
Aside from teaching children and students during the day, Frances also currently works as a professional choreographer. She has enjoyed working with many societies around the country on a huge variety of shows - 'Evita', 'Guys & Dolls, 'Bugsy Malone' 'West Side Story' to name a few - and she has won many awards for her choreography.
At the beginning of her teaching career, Frances taught in several dance schools and primary schools in County Wicklow. She returned to work for Annette Hynes in the early nineties and in 1994 took over the school and it became 'Frances Ryan School of Dance'. The school expanded into Gorey, Co. Wexford in 1999 and both branches have grown and developed into thriving exciting venues, dedicated to providing children and young adults with the very best of dance education in the area.
The school has since expanded into Gorey, Co. Wexford and into Avoca, Co. Wicklow. In the 2000's Frances was chosen to teach and prepare students to demonstrate new syllabus work at an International Dance Congress for the ISTD. She also became one of the first people to hold Licentiate status in Ireland.
Frances believes in the power of dance to build confidence and self-esteem in all children. Her obvious love of dance ensures that talent is nurtured in a positive and encouraging environment.. She also believes it is very important that children and students are taught by qualified teachers from the beginning of their dance journey, in order to create, guide and shape dancers and performers of the future.
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Read More ▶Natasha McGuire
LISTD MB, DDE IB, TB, Acrobatic Arts
Natasha is a fully qualified Dance Teacher and is registered with the Imperial Society of Dancing. She began her training at the age of 3 with Frances Ryan School of Dance, passing her graded exams with distinction. On leaving school she continued training in the UK to become a professional dance teacher.
She studied at Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre for 3 years and completed her Vocational exams up to Advanced 2 level and achieved three DDE’s (Diploma in Dance Education) in Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre and Tap. She is also a qualified teacher with Acrobatic Arts.
Throughout her time in the UK Natasha gained an enormous amount of experience teaching in a variety of dance schools, including Jelli Studios in Liverpool which is owned and run by West End star Jennifer Ellison.
Before returning to Ireland, Natasha travelled all over the world, teaching and dancing. She taught in schools in Derby (UK), Luxembourg, China and Abu Dhabi. While working abroad she taught a variety of age groups, not only in the ISTD syllabus but also RAD, Hip Hop, Jazz, Acrobatic Arts, Contemporary and Musical Theatre.
As well as teaching in Arklow & Gorey Dance Studios, Natasha teaches in Primary and Secondary schools throughout Wicklow and also teaches each week in Spotlight Studios, Wicklow Town. She also coaches Inbhear Mor Marching Band’s Colour Guard on a weekly basis.
Natasha also trains Arklow and Gorey Dance Studios, ‘Elite Team’ in a large variety of dance styles and techniques. She is an enthusiastic and inventive dance teacher who teaches with an upbeat, positive and supportive attitude. She loves to watch her students grow and become more confident as they master new skills and is very much looking forward to the coming years as she has many exciting plans in store for everyone.
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Read More ▶Edel Quinlan
RAD Teaching Diploma, AISTD, IDTA
Edel began her dance training at the tender age of 3, beginning with Ballet before going on to study Modern Theatre, Tap and Contemporary in her hometown of Wexford.
Edel graduated from college with a Distinction in Dance Diploma before returning for a further year to complete her teaching certificate with the Royal Academy of Dance & the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.
Winning a Fulbright Scholarship funded by the Irish Government and Riverdance, Edel continued her studies in the USA and it allowed her to work with José Limon Dance Company, Anastasia McGloughlin of Art Art Barking Dog Dance Company, Sandra Jennings who worked & danced alongside George Balanchine, & Randy Duncan.
Edel opened her own very successful school in Waterford in 2005 which continues to grow in strength and professionalism. On the home front Edel is an experienced dancer & performer having danced for Wexford Festival Opera, Wexford Pantomime Society, Oyster Lane Theatre & most recently auditioned and was selected to perform as one of the 15 lead female dancers for the A.I.M.S 50th Anniversary Concert in the Bord Gais Theatre to a sold-out audience.
Edel is also a long standing member of Wexford Light Opera Society and has choreographed their 'Hits from the Musicals' for 2009/2010/2011 & also 'The Mikado' for their Centenary Year in 2011 and 'Follies' the year after.
Edel also choreographed the Polish opera 'Maria' which was nominated for Best Opera in the Irish Times.
Most recently Edel has judged Wexford Has Talent and also choreographed for Carrickand of the Opera (2023).
Edel is delighted to have been asked to join the teaching staff of Frances Ryan School of Dance and is looking forward to welcoming students to the Gorey school.