The Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dancing has been in existence since 1994. It is run by the Fitzpatrick sisters- Mary, Kathy, and Maggie. It is an organization formed to promote Irish culture and to bring Irish step-dancing to a new generation. It began at the Bristol A.O.H. with fifteen students and a lot of energy. The school has grown considerably since then. It has been exciting to see the resurgence of Irish step dancing in our area and around the country. The popularity of shows like Riverdance and Lord of the Dance has had a major impact on the interest of the traditional art of Irish step-dancing.
The Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance is an accredited Irish Dance School. Teacher Maggie Fitzpatrick Guenther has obtained her T.C.R.G. certification. She is a certified teacher with the An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, Dublin, Ireland, The Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and the Irish Dance Teachers Association- Mid Altantic Region. Maggie studied at the Carr-Bennett School in Philadelphia and then under the direction of Cyril McNiff in New York. She has studied new techniques under the direction of trained dancer and teacher (TCRG) Father Brian Frain, SSJ. Father Brian Frain also performs workshops for the dancers. The Fitzpatrick dancers have been taking additional classes with professional Irish dancer and choreographer Maureen Berry, TCRG, of Baltimore, MD.
Lessons are held in Lower, Central, and Upper Bucks County.
Students range in age from age four to adult.
The Fitzpatrick Dancers have performed at a variety of venues including: The St. Patrick's Day Parades in both Bucks County and Philadelphia; A benefit for the Jeanie Johnson Famine Ship was held at The Bristol Riverside Theater in 2000 and again when the ship arrived in June 2003. The school also performed in 2002 and 2003 at The Trenton War Memorial for the Irish Tenors. The dancers also dance at fairs and festivals, at area retirement homes and schools, special events and even weddings.
In May 2004 and again in 2006 the dancers and thier families journeyed to Florida to perform at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. The students also performed in the Ireland section of Busch Gardens, Virginia, at the AbbeyStone Theatrein 2005. In 2007 we traveled and performed at Molly Malone's Irish Yacht Pub in St. Thomas, VI, and finally, Los Angeles at Disneyland and Universal Studios in 2008.
The students love performing!
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