“It’ll make me a better teacher”

Athlone native Shauna Coffey has delighted to be one of 30 international dance teacher to be selected to participate in the Mather Dance Company training course earlier this month.

Shauna is the owner of the Leinster School of Dance, which runs classes in both Moate and South Dublin.

"Mather Dance Company is a really prestigious dance company in the US," Shauna said.

"They only accept a certain amount of teachers each year for this course, this year there were 30 places.

"It was I was delighted to get the chance to work with instructors who are at the top of their game."

Owner of Mather Dance Company, Shannon Mather, has worked with big names such as Jason Derulo, Katy Perry, and Sia, to name a few. The course also saw Shannon and her fellow dance teachers receiving tips and tricks from other celebrity choreographers.

"It was surreal to watch them teach classes, and to be a part of it," Shauna said. "It was an amazing experience, and I think it will make me a better teacher.

"Now I get to bring all of these new methods and tricks back to my students, and as well as that, I get to show them that there is a future in dance. You can make a career out of it."

Classes at the Leinster School of Dance will be starting again from September.