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 / Owner
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. There she took classes 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.
She teaches 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 our show and parents days.
Qualifications
Dip., Theatre Studies:Dance• RAD RTS • ISTD DDE
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
Our Classes
We offer students from the age of 3 an opportunity to train in ballet and modern dance.