Register
  • 1st Floor, Smithlands Centre, Bohernatounish Rd., Loughboy, Kilkenny

Our Team

At Kilkenny Academy of Dance, our team is made up of teachers who focus on nurturing the ability of the students through fun and learning. Our teachers put emphasis on furthering their qualifications and attending courses regularly to improve their craft. We believe that the  bond created by our team of teachers is an integral part of running successful and safe classes for our students and their development.

Directors: Gemma Grant & Finn Power

Teachers

Gemma Grant

My passion for teaching comes from showing students what they CAN achieve. For me, teaching dance acts as a vessel for educating confidence, self discipline, and social connections in a fun and exciting way. I find it so rewarding to know that learning these skills will be useful in all aspects of life.

Read Gemma's Bio

Finn Power

It's so rewarding to see my work as a dance teacher shining through the happy children of Kilkenny. I am grateful to be able to facilitate determined, hardworking and passionate dancers. My students surprise and inspire me in every single class which is why I love this job so much.

Read Finn's Bio

Ciara-Peaches McDermott

I wouldn’t be where I am today without all the lessons that dance has given me, and to have the opportunity to share that with my students is the most fulfilling experience. Dance to me has always meant having the opportunity to express yourself and forget everything else in that moment, and I feel so lucky to be able to share that with my students.

Read Ciara's Bio

Contact

Email us at info@kilkennydance.com
or visit us on facebook and instagram

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Gemma Grant

From childhood to the age of eighteen, Gemma was a pupil of Kilkenny Academy of Dance. On completing her BA degree she decided that dance was still to be part of her future. From here, Gemma continued her dance studies in Inchicore College and beyond and became a fully qualified Ballet and Modern Dance teacher. During the last sixteen years of her teaching, choreographing and performing, she has actively continued to evolve as a teacher to give the best possible service that she can.

In recent years, Gemma has become interested in the connection between mental health, sports psychology and dance and how this connection can aid the physical and mental development of children and adults through dance. To develop a better understanding of this area, she has completed a FETAC Level 6 in Child psychology, taken part in many courses involving mental skill sets within a dance setting and she is currently in her second year of a psychology degree.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • BA in Music and Mathematical Studies – NUI Maynooth
  • Diploma in Dance Education in Modern Theatre Dance – I.S.T.D
  • Diploma in Dance Education in Imperial Ballet – I.S.T.D
  • Graduate of Inchicore College – 3 years dance training in Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Improvisation
  • FETAC Level 5 in Dance Performance and Production (Kinesiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Occupational First Aid, Exercise and Fitness and Dance History also included)
  • FETAC Level 6 in Child Psychology
  • Qualified First Aid Responder
  • Currently in second year of an Honours Degree in Psychology

EXPERIENCE

  • Worked at Kilkenny Academy of Dance since 2008, then managed the school before taking over as director in 2016.
  • Worked at Bunclody Academy of Dance since its opening in 2009 and was the principal from 2011 – 2017.
  • Past Dance teacher at Bray school of Dance
  • Past Dance Teacher at Bray Institute of Further Education
  • Attended The Deborah Capon College of Dance, England for a 4 week course
    received a scholarship to visit Impulstanz Dance festival in Vienna
  • Past Choreographer for Kilkenny Musical Society, Watergate Productions, KYMP, Devious Theatre, FCJ Bunclody, Maynooth Drama Soc on such productions as Little Shop of Horrors, Chess, Westside Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Into the Woods, Back to the Eighties, Devious Theatre’s ‘Smitten’, Kilkenny Pantomimes and Kilkenny Musical Society’s Aims award winning ‘ Michael Collins – A Musical Drama’
  • Runs successful Adult Ballet Classes
  • Writes a blog called ‘Dance Teacher to Dance Teacher’.
  • Performed such roles as Maria in ‘Westside Story’, Ronette in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, Dorothy in ‘A Life’,Caroline Cassidy in ‘By the Bog of Cats’,Uncle Thomas in ‘The King and I’, and Snow White in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’.

Finn Power

A former student of Deirdre Forristal School of Dance, Finn has been working with The Kilkenny Academy of Dance since 2010.

A graduate of Inchicore VEC, Dublin where she spent 3 brilliant years in full time training, Finn gained her DDI and DDE in Modern Theatre and Classical Ballet, she is a fully qualified and registered teacher of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

While at Inchicore College Finn was awarded a scholarship to attend Impulstanz Dance Festival, Vienna, where she had the opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed dancers and choreographers.

Finn also studied in the UK with the Anthony Clifford Dance Studio under ISTD examiner, Ms Helen Steggles and continues to do so regularly.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Diploma in Dance Education Imperial Ballet – ISTD
  • Diploma in Dance Education in Modern Theatre Dance ISTD
  • Graduate of Inchicore College – 3 years dance training in Classical Ballet and Pointe Work, Modern Theatre, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Improvisation
  • FETAC Level 5 in Dance Performance and Production (Kinesiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Occupational First Aid, Exercise and Fitness and Dance History also included)
  • National Certificate in Exercise & Fitness University of Limerick
  • Qualified First Aider
  • Working With Children With Dyspraxia (DCD) – Child Psychology Institute

EXPERIENCE

Finn began her career as a dance teacher working in Dublin musical theatre school – LiveWire as head dance teacher where she gained invaluable experience under the direction of Diane Richardson.

While still in college she travelled around the country teaching in dance schools in Wexford, Wicklow, Kildare, Howth and Drogheda.

In 2010 Finn began teaching in Bray School of Dance where she has also worked as manager. During her time as manager in Bray she prepared students for ISTD ballet and modern exams and, also produced and choreographed their full-scale school production.

She has also made a strong mark on many of the local Primary and Secondary schools where she has shared her knowledge of fitness and dance in these schools, providing fun and energetic dance classes throughout the city and county. Finn adores working with Kilkenny Recreation & Sport Partnership teaching online Dance & Movement classes for young people with disabilities.

Ciara-Peaches McDermott

Ciara-Peaches McDermott has been dancing with Kilkenny Academy of Dance since the age of 3 and has been working there since 2016. She completed a four-year BA Hons Degree in Contemporary Dance at the University of Limerick where she received a first class honours result. This included training in Ballet, Yoga, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Flamenco, Aerial Dance and Pilates, as well as Dance History, Dance for Camera, Inclusive Dance, Anatomy and Music. She researched and wrote her dissertation on the topic of Gender and Dance. In her time at UL she was a committee member of the Dance UL society and competed at the 2020 All Ireland Dance Inter-varsities where they came second in Contemporary dance. She also performed at the Tipperary Dance Platform in 2019. As part of her time with Kilkenny Academy of Dance, she has taken many exams in ballet, modern, and tap, and has performed in many productions. Ciara-Peaches has completed certificates in Continued Professional Development in areas such as Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Improvisation, and Early Years Free Work. As well as this, she is currently studying and training for her ISTD Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) teaching qualifications in ballet, while working in both the Kilkenny Academy of Dance and the Kildare Academy of Dance, alongside running dance workshops in primary schools. Ciara – Peaches runs very successful Contemporary classes at Kilkenny Academy of Dance for 9 – 18 years, and has a big focus on promoting confidence and independence in dancers.