MEET THE TEAM | Danceworld

MEET THE TEAM

Founder & Creative Director

Áine Egan

Áine’s imagination and vision was her ambition to succeed and so came along the birth of Danceworld - here is her story.

Áine grew up in a traditional household with Irish dancing her first love. She has performed and competed in many shows and competitions, winning multiple awards and medals, ranging from Connacht Oireachtas to World Irish Dancing Championships, Áine also toured with the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and was a member of the Ballina Straw Boys. During her teenage years, she developed an interest for other dance styles and so began her quest to learn and train herself. Áine’s first taste to other styles of dance came when she entered the Readorí Pioneer Disco Dancing competition aged 12, where she won many competitions with solos and groups which she choreographed herself. She also performed on the ‘Let Me Entertain You’ TV talent show in 1999 hosted by the late Gerry Ryan.

After secondary school, she decided to pursue her passion for dance and hoped one day to turn her passion into a career, but first completed her third level studies in childcare and Montessori education. Although she was away in Galway and Dublin on weekdays, she came home to Ballina at the weekends to pursue her classes. Áine’s imagination and vision was her ambition to succeed and so came along the birth of Danceworld. For Áine, it was a very simple philosophy and her passion in life became her venture.

After college and while still running her dance classes, Áine strived to develop and educate herself further in the art of dance and performance. In 2007, she was awarded a National Certificate in Exercise and Fitness from the Physical Education Association of Ireland at the University of Limerick. The following year she travelled to London, England and was awarded a Certificate of Highly Commended in Professional Street Dance Associate from the National Association of Teachers of Dancing. Áine has participated in many workshops including the prestigious Annual Teachers Training Workshop, “The Pulse” in New York in both 2010 and 2011. While in New York in 2011, she received a Certificate of Excellence in successfully completing a 3-month international program with Broadway Dance Centre. This certified that Áine had exceeded the rigorous demands of the program, and achieved excellence in accordance with her individual pursuits in the art of dance and performance. Áine dedicates her life to the art of dance and now shares that love and passion with her teaching staff and students.

Áine quotes, “From my journey to now, it is important for me to acknowledge the support of my family and wonderful team, and to the many parents/guardians and students over the years who believed and trusted in my passion. I am truly grateful to you all who have motivated me to grow me and the success of Danceworld.”

General Manager & Choreographer

Jade Clayton

With a passion for dance since a very young age, Jade began her dance training at the age of 3 years old, studying a range of dance styles including Jazz, Tap and Ballet. Yearning for a broader range of training at the age of 11, she became a student at Danceworld, learning new styles including Hip Hop and Musical Theatre. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, Jade was no stranger to the stage, performing in many dance showcases, musicals, competitions and feis’. She has even appeared on television twice, taking part in RTE’s talent show for under-14s, “Star Stream”.After secondary school, with a desire to learn more about the arts, Jade pursued her third level education in England studying dance, music and drama at Liverpool Hope University. During her final year she focused mainly on the dance elective where she learned new skills in many styles of dance including Contemporary, Samba and Bharatanatyam.

During her time at university, Jade performed with professional dancers from India’s Dancing with the Stars at the BBC Worldwide Showcase 2014, shehad a leading role in a musical ‘Asco: The Supermarket Musical’ and toured the North-West of England with the Liverpool Hope Graduate Dance Company. In 2014, after successfully completing her three-year course, Jade was awarded a BA(Hons) degree in Creative and Performing Arts.

After graduating from university, Jade joined the Danceworld team, this time not as a student but as a teacher! She values every opportunity she has to instil confidence and teach dance to a new generation and is dedicated to creating an encouraging and enthusiastic learning atmosphere for her students. She is known to all her students as “JJ”.

Jade quotes, “It is such a privilege to work with the Danceworld team and to be doing what I love every day. With my education and experiences I can convey my passion for dance and performance through all of our superstars. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the students evolve in their self-confidence and having the courage to perform on stage.”