The Teachers

Mary

Mary G. Clarkson, Director and principal instructor of the Clarkson School of Irish Dance, has extensive experience in dance and dance education. From the age of five through age sixteen, Ms. Clarkson attended tap, ballet, jazz, and acrobatic classes with Jays Dance Studio. While in high school at Incarnate Word Academy, Ms. Clarkson also studied dance technique under the renowned Dolores Wein of Lalla Bauman Dance Studio. Early on, Ms. Clarkson had a strong interest in traditional Irish dance, but Irish dance classes were not readily available in the St. Louis area at that time. Formal Irish dance lessons did not become part of Ms. Clarkson's dance experience until she was twelve years old. Ms. Clarkson studied Irish dance with both the Hazelton Academy of Irish Dance and the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance. While part of Trinity Academy, Ms. Clarkson was a senior dance captain and taught all levels of classes on a regular basis on behalf of her Chicago-based instructor, Mark Howard. After retiring from competitive Irish dance and from taking formal instruction, Ms. Clarkson was often sought for individual classes, workshops, and performances.

Ms. Clarkson received a dual degree in deaf/elementary education from Fontbonne University and has taught grammar school since graduating in 1984. While teaching in grammar school full-time and after opening her own dance school in 1989, Ms. Clarkson also pursued her TCRG (Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rincí Gaelacha), her Irish dance teachers certification from An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha in Dublin, Ireland. Upon passing her TCRG exam in October, 1990, Ms. Clarkson became the first St. Louis Irish dancer to gain full accreditation and licensing from the Irish Dance commission in Ireland. In December, 2002, Ms. Clarkson opened her first studio. With increasing enrollment and the aim to provide her students with the best quality dance conditions, Ms. Clarkson opened a new and improved studio in November, 2005.

Ms. Clarkson is extremely proud of all of her students. They perform and compete throughout the country. Two of her former students of whom she is particularly proud are Katie Kinney Stegeman, now a TCRG, and Mary Jo Clark, now a TCRG and who toured as an Irish dance troupe member with Riverdance. Ms. Clarkson is very proud of her dancers' accomplishments at the World Championships with medalists Alicia Andersen, Mary Jo Clark, Julia Crump, Kaitlin McAlexander and Colleen McGlynn, Great Britain Championships medalists Alicia Andersen, Hope Bretscher, Jillian Conrad, Katie Higgins, Helen Hillis, Alex Kegler, Kaitlin McAlexander, Colleen McGlynn, Abbi Sieve, Jacob Sieve, and Jenna Wiehl, and All Ireland Championships medalists Alicia Andersen, Mary Jo Clark, Jillian Conrad, Leah Gantz, Katie Higgins, Colleen McGlynn, Patrick Smith and Jenna Wiehl.

Katie

Katie Kinney Stegeman, Instructor with the Clarkson School of Irish Dance, has extensive dance experience as both a student and instructor. Ms. Stegeman began her dance career at the age of four with ballet and tap classes. At nine, she added jazz and at twelve, pointe. Katie studied ballet, pointe, tap and jazz until graduating from Ursuline Academy in 2001. Ms. Stegeman began Irish dance classes with the Clarkson School of Irish Dance when she was eleven. She progressed successfully through local competitions and was chosen to represent the Clarkson School of Irish Dance in the MidAmerican Oireachtas, the North American National Championships, and the All Ireland Championships. Ms. Stegeman brought home regional and national awards.

In the fall of 2001, Ms. Stegeman moved to Chicago to attend Dominican University. While in college, she studied dance with Rince Na Cara (now Norton-Healy) in Elmhurst, Illinois. Ms. Stegeman took her TCRG examination and received her official teaching certification in January, 2004. Following TCRG certification, Ms. Stegeman completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology-Chemistry from Dominican University, and moved back home to St. Louis and the Clarkson School of Irish Dance. Ms. Stegeman has been an instructor with the Clarkson School of Irish Dance since her return to St. Louis.