Instructors - Dwyer School of Irish Dance

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Instructors

Kathleen Dwyer, TCRG

began her Irish dancing career at the early age of 5 with Ann Richens in Dayton, Ohio. In addition to those classes, Kathleen had the opportunity to practice at home under the watchful eye of her late Aunt Tess Donnelly, who started teaching Irish Dance in Dayton, OH in the late 1950’s at the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Kathleen first competed at the World Championships in Dublin, Ireland in 1983 at eleven years of age. In 1986 Kathleen transferred to the Hoswell School, affiliated with the Dayton Hibernians. This school later became the Celtic Academy of Irish Dance in 1987. She continued her competitive career qualifying for the World Championships three more times. Kathleen made the trip in April 1990 to dance again at the World Championships in Cork, Ireland. She continued to be a competitive dancer during her college years, dancing as a soloist and ceili team member at the Regional Championships until 1997.

Kathleen graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management in 1995. In March 1998, Kathleen received her official teaching certification (TCRG) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the Irish Dancing Governing Board in Ireland. She was co-director at the Celtic Academy of Irish Dance for 13 years. In December 2011, Kathleen opened the Dwyer School of Irish Dance. She started the school to offer multi level training programs tailored to each dancers needs. This individualized approach will accelerate dancers to achieve their highest goals.

In November 2018 she was honored to be elected to the IDTAMA Ethics committee.

Kathleen was selected by the Cincinnati Arts Association to judge at the 2013 Annual Overture Awards Scholastic Competition held at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. She judged those applicants presenting Irish Dance as their discipline. Kathleen was very honored to have been selected for this prestigious Regional Scholarship competition. She has been asked once again to judge the Annual Overture Awards Scholastic Competition to be held at Northern Kentucky University in January 2018.

Her teaching ability and passion for Irish Dance has helped dancers compete successfully at local competitions, the Regional Championships, the North American Championships, and the World Championships with top five finishes at all of these prestigious events.

Kathleen is a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish Dance Teachers Association of Mid-America, Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. In keeping with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha child protection policies, Kathleen was successfully vetted by Asurint. She has also completed the Child Protection renewal class by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for 2023. She and her husband, Shane, live in Centerville with their two sons, Sean and Aidan. Kathleen plans to continue what her Aunt Tess started almost 50 years ago, sharing the love of Irish Dance and culture with children of all ages.

Erin Rosati Ryan, TCRG

Erin Rosati, TCRG

was introduced to dancing by her mother, Mary (Stoff) Rosati. Mary began Irish dancing at eight years of age as a student of Tess Donnelly. Erin’s parents started her in dance classes at the age of six with the Nugent School. She later transferred to the Celtic Academy of Irish Dance and danced as a student of Kathleen Dwyer. After fifteen years of competing at the regional, national and world levels, she went on to perform in several shows as a professional Irish Dancer throughout the US. These shows included, “And They Called it Ireland” and “A Little Bit O’Ireland” at The Fireside Theatre in Wisconsin, and a brief tour with Dancing on Common Ground. She also worked as a counselor for five summers at Camp Rince Ceol (Irish Dance camp) in the Catskill Mountains, New York.

Erin graduated from The Ohio State University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Erin and her husband Sean live in Upper Arlington, Ohio with their son Declan. Erin works in Risk Management at the corporate offices of Abercrombie & Fitch.

In October 2011, Erin received her official teaching certification (TCRG) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the Irish Dancing Governing Board in Ireland. Erin is a member of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of Mid-America, Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. In keeping with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha child protection policies, Erin was successfully vetted by Asurint. She has also completed the Child Protection renewal class by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for 2023.

Megan Dunn, TCRG

began dancing at the age of 9 at the Celtic Academy of Irish Dance as a student of Kathleen Dwyer. She competed at numerous regional and national competitions, as well as the 2009 World Championships.

Megan is a 2014 graduate of the University of Dayton. During her time at UD, she was co-president of the University of Dayton Irish Dance Club, helping grow the club both in membership and recognition on campus. Megan choreographed the routine that the club competed with at the first Intercollegiate Irish Dance Competition at Villanova University in 2013. UD Irish Dance won the competition, setting the bar for collegiate Irish dancing. She also helped to plan UD’s first annual Intercollegiate Irish Dance Competition, first held in 2014. Megan has choreographed and performed group dances for multiple UD events – including her favorite, UD basketball games!

Megan has also danced under Sandra Connick, at the Connick School, in Charlotte, North Carolina. In January 2018, Megan received her official teaching certification (TCRG) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the Irish Dancing Governing Board in Ireland. Megan is a member of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of Mid-America, Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. In keeping with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha child protection policies, Megan was successfully vetted by local law enforcement. She has also completed the Child Protection renewal class by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for 2023.

When Megan isn’t teaching classes at Dwyer, she is working as the Dayton Arcade Community Manager for Cross Street Partners. Megan lives in Kettering with her husband Matt and their young son Euan.

Christine Comer Lensch, TCRG

Christine Comer Lensch

began Irish dancing at the age of 6 with the Celtic Academy of Irish Dance and danced as a student of Kathleen Dwyer. She danced for 15 years, competing on multiple ceili teams and as a soloist at several regional and national championships. In 2003, she placed 4th in the Mid-American Region Ladies Under 19 competition and qualified for the World Championships in Belfast, Ireland, where she competed in April 2004.

Christine started assisting with dance classes at the age of 16, working with students at all levels to understand material, improve technique, and nurture the love of dance. After a 6-year hiatus due to a job opportunity in Washington D.C., she returned to Ohio and began assisting at the Dwyer School. She completed the CLRG Grade Exams and successfully passed her TCRG exam in September 2023. In keeping with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha child protection policies, Christine was successfully vetted by Asurint. She has also completed the Child Protection class by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for 2023.

Christine graduated from the University of Dayton in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and currently works as a Financial Specialist at WPAFB. Christine lives in Beavercreek with her husband Scott and their two sons Ryan and Andrew.