Performance Experience

Dara was the first Irish girl to attend English National Ballet School in London.

She graduated into English National Ballet Company and danced in many of the great classical ballets including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, Paquita, Square Dance, Graduation Ball, Les Sylphides and La Bayadere.  The company regularly toured abroad and met with Princess Diana the company’s patron.

Dara also danced with Scottish Ballet Glasgow and performed principal roles with European Ballet London (fairy godmother in Cinderella), Ballet Ireland Dublin (Odette/Odile in Swan Lake) and The Wexford Festival Opera (Si J’etais Roi).

Dara has had professional ballet training in St Petersburg at the home of The Kirov Ballet and at Steps Studio on Broadway in New York City.

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Teaching Experience

Since Dara’s performance career she has undertaken teaching exams with The Imperial Society of Teacher’s of Dancing (ISTD) and The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London.

She has taught company class with Matthew Bourne’s UK company New Adventures, when they toured to Dublin with their production of Sleeping Beauty in 2015.

She has worked with the Education Units of English National Ballet Company and European Ballet Company, both in London.

Dara has taught ballet and choreographed for shows at The Leinster School of Dance, Kilkenny Academy of Dance, Bray School of Dance, The Wexford School of Ballet and Centre Stage School of Dance in Waterford.

Dara teaches private classes for students at vocational level and for those who wish to supplement their weekly group classes.

Other Qualifications / Information

Diploma in Holistic Health (ITEC) covering detailed anatomy and physiology (2006).

Level 1 Dance Teacher & Practitioner Training Certificate from Lisa Howell, Australian Dance Physiotherapist (2014).

Certificate in Marie Walton Mahon’s Progressing Ballet Technique Programme (2016).

Dara is Garda Vetted, holds a valid First Aid Certificate and attends regular CPD (continuous professional development) dance courses.