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About District Irish Dance
At District Irish Dance, we bring the energy and excitement of the Broadway stage direct to the studio! Whether you're looking to compete, perform, or simply experience the joy of Irish dance, we’re here to help you reach your full potential. Come join our vibrant community and step into something extraordinary!
We're not just a dance studio, we're a community.
Meet Our Faculty
Led by a world-class team — including former cast members of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance — our expert instructors make every class engaging, challenging, and fun. Located in our beautiful, spacious studio in Tenleytown, DC, we provide a supportive and inspiring environment where every dancer can shine.
Joe Duffey, TCRG
Founder, Owner & Creative Director
Former Cast Member in Riverdance and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance on Broadway & London's West End
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Bernadette Devereaux, TCRG
Head of Programs & Lead Instructor
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Former Lead Dancer in Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance on Broadway & London's West End
Stephen Brennan, TCRG
Certified Instructor, Workshop Choreographer
Former Principal Dancer and Dance Captain in Riverdance
Moira Ragen, TCRG
Certified Instructor, Beginner Program Coordinator
Dance Professional / Educator, BA in Dance
Sarah Tully
Assistant Instructor
Former Cast Member in Trinity Irish Dance Company
Siobhan Cooney
Assistant Instructor
Kendal Griffler, TCRG
General Manager, Certified Instructor, Head of Marketing + Outreach
Former Cast Member in Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Elyse Transon, TCRG
Certified Instructor, Workshop Choreographer
Owner / Director of Milwaukee Irish Dance
Mary Kate Fogarty
Assistant Instructor
Morgan Kelleher
Assistant Instructor
Phil Stacy, TCRG
Certified Instructor, Adult Program Coordinator
Southern Region Oireachtas Champion
Mark Chichester
Workshop Choreographer
Former Cast Member in Lord of the Dance on London's West End
Julia Topper
Assistant Instructor
Kat Olrick
Assistant Instructor
Our Story
Native Washingtonian Joe Duffey always dreamed of opening an Irish dance school and putting his mark on the DC dance scene. An alum of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, and George Washington University (B.A. 2013), his love for the DC area is reflected in the school's brand and vision. At District Irish Dance, we apply innovative instruction to pass along our love for an art form rooted in tradition. In doing so, we enable students the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive as Irish dancers in recreational, competitive and pre-professional tracks.
Starting a dance school didn't happen overnight: Joe brings over a decade as a professional dancer to the studio. Highlights of his remarkable career include touring with iconic Grammy Award-winning show Riverdance, working directly with and performing alongside Michael Flatley in Lord of the Dance on London's West End and on Broadway [read this Washington Post article to learn more about Joe’s time on Broadway!].
Joe, joined by fellow DIDA instructors Elyse and Kendal, had the distinct honor of performing at the U.S. Capitol for President Biden, Speaker Johnson and An Taoiseach (Irish President) Leo Varadkar at the 2024 Friends of Ireland Luncheon, which was followed by a private reception at the Oval Office.
Joe Duffey (2nd from right) performs with the cast of Lord of the Dance on the Graham Norton Show.
Joe, Kendal and Elyse with President Biden, Irish President Varadkar and Speaker Johnson at the U.S. Capitol.
Joe began dancing at age 6, training under renowned teacher Maureen Berry, TCRG at the Teelin School of Irish Dance in Columbia, MD. He earned his Irish dance teacher certification, TCRG with honors, in 2017. Joe's extensive experience in both Irish dance and fitness help ensure a comprehensive well-rounded Irish dance experience is given to every District Academy student. These qualifications include:
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​✅ Certified TCRG with Honors – Registered with An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG)
✅ SafeSport Child Protection Certified – Committed to a safe and supportive learning environment
✅ CPR/AED/First Aid Certified – Trained through the American Red Cross
✅ Fitness Expert – NASM-CPT and Fuse Pilates certified
✅ Active Member – Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA), CLRG, and IDTANA - Southern Region
Joined by certified instructors Bernadette Devereaux, TCRG, Kendal Griffler, TCRG, Phil Stacy, TCRG, Moira Ragen, TCRG, and Elyse Transon, TCRG (who lives in Milwaukee and is the owner of our sister school, Milwaukee Irish Dance), together with a talented assistant instructor team, District Irish Dance shares the fun and excitement of Irish dance with students throughout the greater Washington, DC area. Pupils of District Irish Dance have achieved regional and national titles in solo and team championships, and have gone on to pursue professional tracks. District student Maddie Cabral is an actively touring cast member with Trinity Irish Dance Company! We are proud to offer a bespoke learning atmosphere and vibrant community focus at District Irish Dance.
Joe Duffey, owner, with "Riverdance" in Times Square, NYC. Credit: Time Out Magazine
Bernadette Devereaux (center) performing the lead role in Lord of the Dance
