Instructor

Sharon McCormack TCRG Instructor/Choreographer

I remember my early Irish dancing days in Navan, County Meath in Ireland. I was just five or six when I first started dancing. I competed in my first competition and won my reel trophy right before immigrating to Canada. I must have been destined to become an Irish dancer from birth. I am, after all, a St. Patrick’s Day baby born on March 17th.

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, I traveled to Chicago, San Diego, Vancouver, Toronto, Dublin and Galway. My last Nationals was Vancouver in 1997 where I placed 14th in solos and our eight hand won 1st place, which was our second Nationals victory. Despite those achievements, I am most proud of my eight hand team’s 15th place at Worlds in Galway, where we also received Best Overseas’ Award given to the best non-European team at the competition.

There is nothing I want more than to share a piece of my passion, this love of Irish dance with my students. The classroom generates a whole new opportunity for me to share my experiences with my dancers, to work together as partners to advance the skills and techniques required to become successful. To watch as students build their love for music and movement. To give of myself and receive even more in return as students grow in their confidence, abilities, and friendships.

I fulfilled my accreditation requirements in Ireland in July 2004 and opened up my own school, the McCormack School of Irish Dance later that same year.

We offer classes in modern Irish step dancing, including soft shoe, hard shoe, and team dancing choreography for dancers ranging from 4-18. There are also adult classes available for recreational and competitive dancers.