July 25, 2009
Class Registration 2009-2010
We mailed out registration information this week to all returning students and incoming beginner students. If you are interested in registering your child for beginner classes please contact us via our website or by calling Regina Coogan at 872-3781 and we will send out registration materials. Our classes this year will be held on Monday and Friday evenings (all levels will meet on Monday nights and additional classes will be held on Friday evenings for our more advanced dancers). See you all in a few weeks!
October 02, 2008
Feis Information
We encourage our students to get involved in competitions throughout the region during the dance year. You can visit www.petersmithschool.com to view a complete listing of available feisana. There are many local venues this Fall. Beginner II students can check with the Coogan School Staff to see if they are ready to attend competitions. As alway, dancers should get approval from the teaching staff prior to changing dance categories or performing new dance steps at feisana. Thank you!
Teachers
Brenda Coogan | Regina Coogan | Sarah Hobson
Brenda A. Coogan O'Leary, Co-Director, A.D.C.R.G.
The co-director of the Coogan School of Irish Dance, Dr. Brenda A. Coogan, is a seasoned teacher, and holds certifications with The Irish Dance Commission Dublin Ireland, The Irish Dance Teacher's Association of North America, and the New England Irish Dance Teacher's Association. Brenda is also a registered adjudicator (A.D.C.R.G.) with the Irish Dance Commission, judging various events throughout the region during the year. Brenda has been a certified teacher for 12 years and she began her teaching career as a student assistant at the young age of eleven. She opened the Coogan School of Irish Dance in 1997. Brenda trained with the Griffith Academy from the age of 2 1/2 until she completed her competitive dance career at the age of 21. She was fortunate to start her dance career under the direction of the late, Mary Ann Griffith and she was a teacher with the school for many years.
Brenda has competed at the National and International level and she has also received accolades for her teaching skills, receiving the Distinguished Teacher Award through the Presidential Scholars Program and the U.S. Department of Education. She traveled to Washington, D.C. in July 2001 to meet President George W. Bush, attending a ceremony in recognition of the 200 teachers from across the United States honored with this award. Brenda is a previous second place New England Champion and top fifteen National awardee in addition to her participation in two World Championships. Brenda was also recognized for her dance achievements by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and she completed seven years of tap, jazz and ballet training and six years of voice training to complement her Irish Dance career.
In addition to her teaching endeavors, Dr. Coogan holds her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and is a school psychologist at the middle school level.