Dancers

Elyse founded MIDC in 2014 and has been the Artistic Director and Choreographer ever since! She started dancing with Cashel Dennehy at 5, competing at both the National and International level as a soloist and team dancer. She began her professional career after college with Michael Londra’s show Celtic Fire. Elyse has performed in 7 countries with multiple companies including Gaelforce Dance, Women of Ireland, Disney’s Raglan Road, The American Company of Irish Dance and has done multiple tours as the principle dancer, dance captain and choreographer for Rhythm in the Night.

In 2014 she obtained her TCRG and has taught workshops all over the USA, Zambia, Italy and the Dominican Republic. Currently she works full time as a computer sales rep, teaches for the McMenamin Irish dance Academy, and performs with two other local companies: the Showstopper Dancers & Femme Feroce.

Mary is the Assistant Direct of the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company. She has been an Irish dancer since 1998, reaching Open Championship level and competing both nationally and internationally. She has taught at the McMenamin Irish Dance Academy since 2011, and in 2017, she earned her TCRG certification from CLRG. During the day, Mary is an associate attorney at the Otjen Law Firm, practicing in the areas of medical malpractice defense and worker’s compensation defense.

When not dancing or practicing law, Mary is hanging out with her husband Jobe, cooking, crafting, or watching Hallmark Christmas movies. She is an avid churchgoer, cat-lover, and organizational pro. Her favorite parts about MIDC are planning/coordinating events for MIDC members and seeing Founder/Director Elyse’s vision come to life on stage.

Hannah is thrilled to be a member of the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company. Having danced with Glencastle Irish Dancers for 13 years, she is pleased she can continue dancing with MIDC. Hannah has competed at the Mid America Oireachtas as a soloist and as part of a team.

She is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater with a degree in Graphic Design. Hannah is currently a Visual Merchant with Legendary Whitetails and has created her own line of apparel with her sister Olivia called boh & company. The line specializes in Irish Dance athleisure.

She is also the designer of MIDC’s logo and responsible for the majority of MIDC's marketing material and clothing designs!

Amelia graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2016 with her Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Political Science minor. She is currently working as an Architectural Designer in Shorewood, but dance has always been one of her passions.

Amelia started her dance career as a competitive Irish dancer with Cashel Dennehy reaching Preliminary Championship level before retiring from competition. In high school she branched out to learn different styles of dance including jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. While in college she continued to take jazz and hip hop classes and continues currently still enjoys fitting in hip hop classes whenever possible. She had the privilege of helping choreograph a piece for her Hip Hop I & II small group finals. In 2014 Amelia was one of the first members to join the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company, and performs with them currently.

Amanda hails from Cleveland, Ohio, and has been a member of MIDC since June of 2017. She started her dance career 20 years ago at the Murphy Irish Arts Center, and she danced at the Mid American regional, North American national, and world championships.

Amanda attended the Ohio State University, where she was a member of the Ohio State Irish Dance Team. She graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and immediately started her career in the Leadership Development Program at Rockwell Automation. She currently works at their HQ in Milwaukee supporting Intelligent Motor Control.

She loves her dog, Ivy, her soon-to-be-husband, Joseph, and she loves Milwaukee as her new home!

Jess danced with Cashel Dennehy in her words "I honestly don't know when I started and stopped. Probably stopped around 2004...yikes". She joined MIDC in 2016, loves getting to dance and perform again, and learn new things!

Currently she works as a Project Manager at Rinka Chung Architecture, and is taking exams to become a licensed architect (1 to go!). Jess has her Master's degree from UWM and owns a business importing & selling German Christmas ornaments as well as works as adjunct faculty at MIAD.

Outside of work, Jess enjoys baking, biking (in the summer!!), going to concerts, traveling, and spending time with her husband Eric, and their cats!

Kay has been with MIDC since January 2017! She was a competitive dancer for 15 years, but had to retire her dance shoes when she went away for college. In place of dancing, Kay continued her competitive horseback riding within the IHSA on a team for Ripon College, her Alma Mater. Upon graduating and moving back to the Milwaukee area for work, Kay was invited by a long time dance friend to try out MIDC!

"I don't know what I'd do on a Wednesday night without these lovely ladies. I love being able to dance and perform again, and MIDC makes it such a fun experience - whether its a late night practice or an exciting performance - there are always laughs and good times to be had."

Outside of MIDC, Kay spends time hiking and exploring new and old places, learning and practicing the art of playing the Ukulele (both Soprano and Baritone versions), as well as planning her upcoming wedding!

After her best friend in 4th grade taught her the beginner jig Cassie knew she had to take Irish Dance classes. She began Irish dancing at age 9 at Cashel Dennehy School of Irish Dance. While Cassie competed often, she loved Irish Dance for the fun of dancing, music, and making new friends. Until Cassie joined MIDC 3 years ago, she had taken 10 years off from dancing.

"I am happy to be a part of a group that has such a love for Irish dance and culture."

Cassie is currently an ESL teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools working primarily with Newcomer refugee children. She enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading lots of books. Spending time with family is very important to Cassie. She loves her job, her city, and her dance friends!

Riley has been Irish dancing since the age of 5, performing and competing with the Trinity Irish Dancers and Glencastle Irish Dancers. She recently moved back to the Milwaukee area and joined MIDC to return back to the culture and spirit of Irish dance.

When she’s not dancing, she works as a Physical Therapist in the greater Milwaukee area, earning her doctoral degree from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Riley also enjoys playing Irish fiddle and spending as much time as possible in the great outdoors!

Starting at the age of five, Lucy danced competitively for the Cashel Dennehy School of Irish dance for 12 years and competed in multiple Regional, National, and World Championships. Lucy began dancing with MIDC because she wanted to continue her dancing career in a different way than competing.

"I love the dancing and performances that MIDC has to offer!"

Lucy is a student at St. Norbert College studying to be a high school history teacher.

Genevieve first started dancing for Trinity at three and a half and has loved dancing ever since. She has extended her passion for dance into ballet, jazz, hip hop, ballroom and other contemporary styles of dance!

A recent graduate from UW Madison, she’s taking a year off in order to work before she goes to nursing school. It was exciting for her to move back to Milwaukee and join MIDC and she has enjoyed every minute of it!

While attending one if the largest Irish festivals in the world, Milwaukee's very own Irish Fest, Kristen watched young girls like herself perform Irish dancing in a big stage. Two weeks later, she began her own dance journey. Kristen spent 10 years with Cashel Dennehy. While she tended to shy away from completions, her love for her culture and her outgoing nature encouraged her love to be on stage.

She chose to step away from Irish dance in high school to pursue her study of violin and working with her high school's theater department.

Kristen was always willing to perform for friends and family when asked. It made her realize each time how much she missed Irish Dance. She joined MIDC in January of 2016. She enjoys her role in MIDC as not only a company member but as the Fundraising and Event Coordinator.

Outside of MIDC, Kristen is the Beverage Department manager at Potawatomi Hotel and Casino overseeing a staff of 120 team members on the property's gaming floor, Bar 360, Northern Lights Theater and Solstice High rollers lounge. She take a very active roll in her family, being the oldest of 8 children and aunt to 2 adorable nephews!

Growing up watching Riverdance on repeat at home, she had her dream set and at the age of five, Celeste started her dancing career with Cashel Dennehy. She very quickly found herself on many solo and team trips to Oireachtas and Nationals. After many years with Cashel, Celeste moved to Kinsella Academy where she spent another couple years dancing until her life moved her around the country.

After two very serious dancing injuries, Celeste's competitive career was over and dancing was put on hold. While rehabilitating, Celeste was able to use her experience teaching dance and tutoring young dancers in their careers. While living in South Korea, Celeste was the ambassador for the Cambodian National Dance Team and traveled with them on tour before returning back to the states.

After moving back to Wisconsin, Celeste discovered MIDC and without hesitation had to be a part of it. Being a part of a full on performance company with so many ladies who have become some of her closest friends, and dancing again after she never thought she would be able to, has been life changing. She wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Celeste also takes a very active role in the company! She sole handedly coordinated all of Irish fest for the members (including multiple performances and volunteer work)!

Outside of dance, Celeste is constantly on the move. By day she works with Shorewest Realtors Closing Department and by night (and on the weekends), finds herself a photographer, lettering artist, crisis counselor and Kendra Scott associate.

Jamy started dancing when she was 6 years old at the Heritage Academy of Irish dance in Green Bay! (GO PACK GO!!) She moved to Milwaukee after high school to follow her next path in life. Even though Milwaukee is a very beautiful city, Jamy felt like there was a part of her missing, then...

"On one Halloween night I ran into this girl named Shannon. She bestowed upon me the honor to dance with this amazing group of girls known as, the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company."

Jamy is a small business owner of the Etsy shop, Children of the Garden. She make lotions, lip balms, and flower crowns. This is only just the beginning... You can find Jamy on Etsy @ ChildrenoftheGarden !

"I love life! People and nature amazing me! I have this burning desire within me to see the world! My boyfriend and I are currently converting a van into a living space so we can continue on the path of adventure; rock climbing beautiful mountains, hiking in deep valleys, yoga in the forests, dancing at festivals, and singing around camp fires are some of the many adventures yet to come<3"

Sarah started dancing at the age of 6 and continued for the next ten years with the Cashel Dennehy School of Irish Dance. She competed at Oireachtas & Nationals as both a soloist and team dancer and went onto Worlds with her team before retiring as an Open Championship dancer. Sarah joined MIDC in July 2017 and is so excited have Irish Dance be a part of her life again after so many years!

"I didn't realize how much I missed dancing and performing."

Sarah is a Social Worker for Wraparound Milwaukee, a program bringing mental health services to teens in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare system and is passionate about working with and advocating for kids.

Outside of work she loves to travel and explore new cities and countries, cooking, listening to music and going to concerts, hiking, practicing yoga and spending time with family, friends, and her doggie, Scrappy!

Erin has been Irish dancing since age 5, and joined MIDC in May of 2017. She competed in solos, teams, and choreography around the world when she was growing up. Once Erin went to college, she joined the Ripon College Dance Team, in order to keep her passion for dancing alive. Erin also competes in pageants, where she gets to show off her Irish dancing skills during the talent portion of the competition. Currently, Erin is Miss West Allis 2017 through the Miss America Organization.

When Erin isn't dancing, she is a full-time graduate student at the UW-Milwaukee in the Administrative Leadership program, with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration. In addition, Erin works as an Orientation Graduate Assistant where she assists in planning and running the New and Transfer Student Orientations throughout the year. Once she graduates, Erin would like to do development work for a college fundraising money for the institution.

“I love being a part of MIDC, and I look forward to attending class every Wednesday night to see the other amazing women in our group. I enjoy being able to continue to perform and make people smile, as performing was always my favorite part!”

Tanya started dancing at the age of 3, and since then has created a strong background in competitive Irish dancing. Throughout the years, Tanya has earned multiple podium placements at the Mid-American Oireachtas, multiple top-ten placements at the North American Championships, 22nd at the All-Scotland Championships, and recalled in the top 30 at the World Championships of Irish Dance. In recent years, she has shifted her focus from competition to performance.

Tanya has had wonderful opportunities that allowed her to tour throughout France, Ireland, Italy, North America, and Spain. In addition to having a competitive and performance background, Tanya recently had the opportunity to be production manager for a national touring company. Currently, Tanya has a lot of fun performing with MIDC, and occasionally dancing with a local Irish band, Paddygrass. In addition, Tanya is studying to take the TCRG examinations and is currently teaching at a non-competitive dance school in Hartford, WI. Outside of Irish dance, Tanya enjoys playing the violin, traveling, and exploring new forms of dance.

Chloe started dancing when she was 4 years old. Her family was apart of one of the first Irish dance schools in Milwaukee called Kennedy and her cousin is owner of Kinsella Academy of Irish dance. With her families support she found her love for dance.

Chloe started her dancing career with Trinity Academy of Irish dance. During her time there she moved herself up to Perliminary Champion status and traveled all over the country feising. Once her cousin opened up their dance school Kinsella Academy of Irish dance in 2004, she soon found herself inspired to join. Chloe ended her dancing career at McMenamin School of Irish dance.

In addition to Irish dance, Chloe also went to a performing arts school. She was able to major in dance and music, expanding her knowledge of both subjects. She gained skills in modern, tap, ballet, African, hip hop and swing. Chloe is also experienced in theater. She did French theater in college and musical theater in high school. Last but not least, Chloe is currently going to get her certification in Yoga and continues to be open minded about other forms of dance.

"MIDC is the new evolution of Irish dance."

Christy started dancing later, at age 16, with the Trinity Irish Dance Company for 5 years and spent 1 year with the McTaggert Irish Dance Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was thrilled learn about the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company and joined in December 2015 as way to stay active in Irish Dance and focus on performances. She is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a degree in Animal Science. Christy is currently working for the State of Wisconsin at the Department of Health Services.

When Christy is not dancing you can find her at the barn! She owns two horses, Mercedes and Webster, and competes on the American Quarter Horse Association circuit in the Midwest and nationally. She specializes in Amateur Equitation, Horsemanship, Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, and Pleasure Driving classes. She was a finalist at the 2015 AQHA Novice Championships – East show in Virginia in both Novice Amateur Equitation and Ranch Riding.