About O'Grady Quinlan

Teachers

All TCRGS are certified and registered teachers with:

- An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha, Ireland (CLRG)
- Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA)
- Mid-Atlantic Region, USA

The teachers have gone through extensive training to pass the TCRG Certification administered by CLRG. An Coimisiun prides itself on the high standard of testing that goes into becoming a certified teacher. This extensive certification process is not required for all Irish Dance organizations.

An Coimisiun, established in 1927, is currently the largest Irish Dance organization in the World. It was An Coimisiún which first established a standard for teachers, and later for adjudicators, of Irish dancing, published a handbook of Céilí dances, and established Oireachtas an Rince (The World Championships). The international dimension of Irish Dancing is ever growing, with nine Regional Councils overseeing a vibrant Irish dancing scene in Ireland and Britain and organizations such as the I.D.T.A.N.A. in North America, R.T.M.E. in Mainland Europe, A.I.D.A. in Australia and T.I.D.A.N.Z. in New Zealand. The influence of An Coimisiún continues to spread throughout the world and they can proudly say there are active classes in continental Europe, in South America and as far away as South Africa.
 

Maureen O'Grady White

Maureen introduced Irish dancing to the Lehigh Valley, starting a school with 10 students in 1992 and growing student enrollment to over 150 within a few years. Her experience as an Irish dance instructor and businesswoman is well known in the Lehigh Valley, with thousands of students passing through her studio doors and competing and performing on local, national and world stages. Beginning at age 4, Maureen studied under Peter Smith, President Emeritus of An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. Maureen enjoyed much competitive success as she competed at numerous National and World championship competitions throughout her childhood. She is a member of the Irish Dance Commission, Lehigh Valley Arts Council, and Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. A teacher of children by heart, Maureen has recently retired as an ESOL instructor in the Allentown School District where she worked since 1990. 

Colleen Schroeder

Colleen began dancing with Maureen O’Grady in 1992 at the age of eleven. She instantly fell in love with the art form and with Maureen’s help and encouragement she began to develop her skills. Colleen was soon competing in Regional and National Competitions and dreaming of one day having her own school. Colleen joined the Coyle School of Irish Dance, in Philadelphia, at the age of 15 where she qualified and competed at the Word Championships in Galway. In the year 2000, at the age of 20, she passed her TCRG exam and founded the Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance. Now, after merging schools with Maureen O’Grady in 2005, she is co-owner of the O’Grady Quinlan Academy.  

Stacie Greiner

Stacie first started Irish dancing with the Sheehan-Gormley School of Irish Dance at age 11. She later joined the O’Grady Quinlan Academy at age 15.   During her years as a competitive dancer, she enjoyed success regionally and nationally! Some of her fondest memories of Irish Dance are the trips she and her mother took to Ireland to compete in the All Ireland Championships. Stacie took some time off of the competitive world of Irish Dance to further her education at the Pennsylvania State University where she obtained her B.S. in Kinesiology.  In the fall of 2010 Stacie completed an internship with the O’Grady Quinlan Academy aiding in fitness, stretching and nurtition.  In July of 2011 Stacie passed her TCRG exam and is a great asset to the O’Grady Quinlan Academy.