ABOUT US
With a mission to create a safe community for children and their families, The Golding Academy is a An Coimiusin Le Rince Galeacha registered school (the worlds leading Irish dance organization based in Dublin, IRE) striving to instill excellence and artistic appreciation for the traditional form of Irish Step Dance in the greater New York City area. With a holistic approach to wellbeing, childhood education and development, cultural enrichment, and expression, Caitlin Golding TCRG introduced a new classroom model in September 2016. Beginning each Irish Dance class with a 20 minute Pilates stretch, strength, and conditioning routine, students learn early on how to care for their bodies, improve dance technique, calm their energy and focus their mind before dancing. Emphasizing the student, The Golding Academy prides itself on small class sizes and individualized coaching for different learning styles. We offer a range of programs for children ages 4+ including competitive, performance, and recreational Irish Dance.
The Golding Academy works hard to provide the best resources, tools, and opportunities for our dancers to meet their goals and gain new experiences. We work alongside the esteemed Murray Academy of Irish Dance in New Hampshire, USA and the Harper Academy of Irish Dance in Delaware, USA to create custom choreography for our champions and tailor steps to showcase the unique style of each individual dancer setting them up for success. Aiming to teach proper technique, rhythm, and timing from the start, beginner students start by honing their fine motor skills while learning to follow directions, listen carefully, and explore their creativity within the classroom.
The Golding Academy Irish Dancers have had the honor of competing at the World, National, and Regional Championships bringing home titles and top placements in both solo and team dancing. Encouraging community engagement with cultural significance, our dancers have performed with esteemed Irish Bands, Cherish the Ladies and Gaelic Storm, The Westchester Knicks, Hammerstep Dance Company, Sacred Heart University’s Claddagh Dancers, as well as local organizations including schools, churches, senior living centers, and community galas. Our Golding Academy Parents Committee, produces events, creates experiences, and encourages community engagement through our annual Fun Feis, Celtic Christmas Dinner Dance, Paint Night, and organization of group attendance to professional shows such as Rockin’ Road to Dublin and Trinity Irish Dance Company. Performance, fitness, and mind-body workshops are offered year round to ALL of our dancers. In the past these workshops have included instruction from Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, Celtic Core, Hammerstep, Fit Jig, District Irish Dance Company, and introduction to session style traditional Irish music with New York native Johnny Cuomo. Working alongside expert Irish dance photographer, Silpa Sadhujan of Rince and Repeat, and local dance photographer, Karin Shook, Golding Academy dancers have been featured on the cover of the worlds’ leading Irish dance publication, Irish Dancing Magazine as “celtic warrior women”, inside the magazine for our community initiative “How Dance Makes Me Feel” and in print and digital advertisements for Prime Dress Designs, the leading dressmakers makers for school costuming.
Classes are held in the Golding Academy Studio, Scarsdale and The Dance Gallery, Tuckahoe, New York. Private lessons can be scheduled at both studios and in New York City. Our Golding Academy Studio is a fully equipped Irish dance and Pilates classroom with fitness education tools, props, full length mirrors, machinery including a Pilates reformer and a custom built, sprung and marley covered dance floor.
INSTRUCTORS
Caitlin's unique approach to Irish dance developed through her training with the Broesler School of Irish Dance. She went on to win 5 regional titles, top 3 medals in prestigious North American and Great Britain Championships, and top 10 medals in the World and All Ireland Championships. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Caitlin began dancing globally with Micheal Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Dangerous Games. She recently finished her touring career on Broadway. In between tours, Caitlin aquired her certification in theatrical makeup with Von Lee School of Asethics and moved to New York City to work as a pro artist with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. As an avid practioner of pilates since age 15, Caitlin pursued her Pilates certification with the esteemed teacher training program at, Harmony Pilates and Gyrotonics, in Pittsburgh. With a mission to integrate tradition, modern artistry, and wellness conditioning, Caitlin wishes to promote health and happiness through movement and dance.
CAITLIN Golding-Coleman
TCRG/ OWNER
Charasmatic, Passionate, Creative
Megan’s love of dance began when she was introduced to Ballet at the age of two. She grew up dancing in various styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern. By the age of 14, she was already teaching under her mentor. At 16, Megan found Irish Dance and quickly advanced in competitions to the champion level. During her time as a competitive dancer, Megan won several Regional Oireachtas Championships, 2 North American National Championships, 2 Great Britain Championships, placed 2nd at the All-Ireland Championships and 4th at the World Championships, where she medaled each and every time she competed.
Megan has performed with true legends of the Irish music world to include The Chieftans, The Eileen Ivers Band, Seamus Kennedy and Cherish the Ladies. Her career allowed her to perform at some of America’s greatest venues like Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. Megan has been an accredited TCRG since 2008 and has been actively teaching with The Broesler School of Irish Dance since that time, until opening The Harper Academy of Irish Dance in 2016. During her time teaching with the Broesler School , Megan has taught Oireachtas Champions, North American National Champions, British National Champions, All-Scotland Champions; Minor, Junior & Senior Belt winners and many All-Ireland & World medalists.
Megan Harper-Fuentes TCRG
Workshop Instructor
Ambitious, Detailed, Humorous
GARRETT COLEMAN
GUEST PERFORMANCE COACH
Artistic, Dynamic, Wise
Garrett Coleman, two time World Irish Dance Champion, six time North American Champion, nine time Regional Champion, and co-founder and co-director of HAMMERSTEP, trained with the Burke School of Irish Dance. At 17, Garrett joined the infamous Trinity Irish Dance Company as a lead male dancer and began touring the world with Riverdance. Continually pushing the boundaries of traditional Irish dance, Garrett has expanded his dance repetoire to include hip hop, tap, stepping, capoeria, and martial arts. Graduating Suma Cum Laude in Urban Studies from NYU and the University of Dayton, Garrett offers a well rounded approach to performance coaching for children and adults. He currently is an award winning choreographer and featured dancer with "Paradise Square, The Musical".
CONTACT US
THE GOLDING ACADEMY OF MOVEMENT AND DANCE
IRISH DANCE PILATES PERFORMANCE
Certified and registered with An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha
Students participate in North American Feis Commission (NAFC) Feisanna