Mission Statement

Established in 2014, East Coast School of Ballet provides RAD Classical Ballet and ISTD Modern Theatre Dance training to children of 3 years of age to adults.
We provide high quality teaching with a professional approach at all times.
We teach in a child-centred environment and provide fun, friendly and safe dance practice.

We hope all that all of our students develop a love, passion and appreciation of dance in a non-competitive environment.
Students can take part in East Coast School of Ballet shows, presentation days and can be invited to partake in Royal Academy of Dance Examinations and Class Awards.

Principal & teacher

Karen O'Hara

Karen started ballet at the age of 7 with the Irish Ballet School in Swords. She took ISTD and RAD examinations from Grade 1-8 under the direction of Sara and Emma Gannon and performed in various ballet shows dancing Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, A Chorus Line, Le Corsaire and more.

She did a three year ‘Theatre Studies: Dance’ course in Inchicore College FE where she completed ISTD and RAD vocational examinations from Intermediate level to Advanced 1 (RAD) and Advanced 2 (ISTD). While attending Inchicore Karen was offered a scholarship to take part in dance festival Impulstanz in Vienna, gaining more experience in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and different Hip Hop styles. She gained her teaching certificate and diploma for ISTD Modern Theatre Dance in Inchicore and furthered her training by doing a 2 year ‘Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies’ course with Royal Academy of Dance, London.

Since then Karen has gained lots of experience in various dance schools in Dublin, Meath and Louth teaching students of all ages Ballet and Modern/Jazz, preparing them for their dance exams and choreographing for shows before setting up East Coast School of Ballet in 2014.
Since 2014 East Coast School of Ballet students have been entered in and successfully passed various levels of examinations and taken part in shows and parents days.

Qualifications

Dip., Theatre Studies: Dance
Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (RAD RTS)
Diploma in Dance Education (ISTD DDE)
Certified Barre Concept Instructor
Certified Silver Swans Instructor
PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique)

Ballet Teacher

Aoife Brogan

Aoife Brogan is a dancer and teacher from Roscommon. Aoife’s love of dance began at an early age when she started as a student of the McDermott school of Classical Ballet and Dance. It was there that Aoife successfully completed all her ballet exams up to Advanced Vocational Level. Aoife simultaneously attended Irish Dancing classes from an early age, completing her graded exams with An Comhdháil at The Fahy School.

In 2015, Aoife graduated with an International Bachelor of Education from St. Patricks College. During her time studying in St. Pats she continued her ballet education as well as becoming a member of the DCU Ballet Squad.

Currently, Aoife teaches in a Primary School in Dublin and has experience teaching children of all age groups, including children with special needs. She has completed Tusla’s Children First training and Sport Ireland Ethic’s Safeguarding course.

In January 2019, Aoife began studying with the Royal Academy of Dance, having been accepted onto the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies course. Aoife graduated in August 2021 and is now a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. Aoife is passionate about education and hopes she can pass on her love of learning to her students.

Qualifications

B.Ed. Primary Education • Royal Academy of Dance RTS (Registered Teacher Status)

Ballet & Jazz/Contemporary Teacher

Federica Staderini

Federica was born in Florence, Italy. She started ballet when she was 4 and hasn’t stopped since then. She successfully completed ballet exams in ISTD Chechetti Ballet up to & including Intermediate. She decided to become a dance teacher at the age of 15 and started her journey soon after. She moved to Ireland in 2014 and gained acceptance into Inchicore College FE to continue her dance teaching and training.

Within 5 years she passed and achieved RAD exams up to Advanced 1 and is currently working on Advanced 2. She also studied Modern Theatre Dance and successfully passed all vocational levels up to Advanced 2.

During college she was selected for two Erasmus+ programs to spend 3 weeks in Grenoble, France studying various styles of contemporary and creating choreography. Federica has performed in different festivals such as Belfast Dance Festival and took part in Impulstanz in Vienna, Austria.

She has successfully gained her teaching qualification degree with ISTD in Imperial Ballet and Modern Theatre Dance and is currently working towards her Licenciate and Fellowship with the ISTD as well as working towards her RAD teachers diploma.

Federica teaches Ballet and Jazz/Contemporary on Thursdays with East Coast School of Ballet.

Qualifications

FETAC Level 5 Diploma: Dance
ISTD Level 4 Diploma: Ballet & Modern Dance Teaching

Ballet & Jazz/Contemporary Teacher

Jessica Straford

Jessica began studying ballet when she was four years of age. She successfully completed her Royal Academy of Dance graded examinations up to vocational level with The Mcdermott School of Classical Ballet and Dance. Jessica has experience performing with The Mc Dermott School and Youth Ballet West, a youth ballet company based in Co. Galway.

Jessica began working with The Mc Dermott School of Classical Ballet and Dance in 2016. She gained experience working backstage at shows, exams, as a music operator for Royal Academy of Dance exams, assisting teaching classes and assisting choreography for shows.

In January of 2020 Jessica began her studies with The Royal Academy of Dance after being accepted into the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS) Course.

After successfully completing her CBTS Jessica was awarded RAD registered teacher status. Since then she has worked with dance schools, ballet schools, arts centres, stage schools and gymnastics clubs. Jessica has also taught dance in primary schools, secondary schools and outreach programmes.

Jessica has experience teaching ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip - hop and acro. She is passionate about creating a safe and inclusive environment for students of all ages and abilities to reach their full potential.

Qualifications

Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (RAD RTS)

Ballet Teacher

Cornelia (Conny) Hendrych

Cornelia began ballet at the age of three and from an early age knew that dance would be her lifelong passion. She trained in Munich at the Ballet Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts and, after being awarded a scholarship, finished her studies at the Zurich Dance Academy (ZHdK) in Switzerland.

In 2014 she joined The Czech National Ballet in Prague, where she danced for nine years. During her career she performed in many of the great classical ballets, for example Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Onegin, as well as many others. She also danced the solo role of Kate in William Forsythe’s The Second Detail and worked with renowned choreographers such as Jiří Kylián (Petite Mort), Ohad Naharin (Decadance) and Alexander Ekman (Cacti).

Alongside her professional stage career, Cornelia discovered her love of teaching and has since taught ballet and repertoire to children and adults of all ages. She is currently completing the Royal Academy of Dance Professional Dancers’ Graduate Teaching Diploma and also holds a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certificate, teaching yoga from classic Hatha to flowing Vinyasa.

Cornelia is very passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience, and loves inspiring both children and adults to discover the joy of movement through dance and yoga in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Professional Career & Qualifications

2014 - 2023: Professional Dancer with The Czech National Ballet, Prague
Professional Dancers’ Graduate Teaching Diploma (in progress), Royal Academy of Dance
Certified Yoga Instructor, 200-hour Yoga Alliance
Scholarship Graduate, Zurich Dance Academy (ZHdK), Switzerland
Ballet Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts, Munich – Germany

Ballet Teacher

Rebecca Moriarty

Rebecca has been dancing since the age of 3. Alongside ballet, she has attended the Billie Barry Stage School. She has studied Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and Modern Theatre Dance. Rebecca has performed in numerous shows including the Gaiety Pantomimes.

Rebecca is currently training towards completing Advanced foundation and Grade 7 with East Coast School of Ballet. She began assisting with Karen in her early teens and has now progressed to becoming a Ballet Teacher to the junior levels in the school.

Teaching is dream of Rebecca’s and she is currently in St.Pats, DCU studying to be a primary school teacher. She has a passion for music and dance, and loves to share it with all her young students.

Ballet Teacher

Lauren Drummond

Lauren has studied ballet with East Coast School of Ballet since age 8, where she has completed her ballet Grades up to Intermediate Level and is now training towards completing Grade 7 and Advanced Foundation Levels.

Lauren started Ballet Assisting with Karen in her early teenage years and has since become a Ballet Teacher to the junior levels of the school, teaching her passion of ballet to her adoring students and sharing her love of dance.

Lauren is in her first year of college in St Pats DCU and would love to become a Primary School teacher. In her free time she loves to shop and socialise with her friends.