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Kelly SchoolThe Kelly School of Traditional Irish dance was founded by Joan Kelly in 1970. Mrs. Kelly has taught Irish dance not only to her daughters, but to over two thousand children in the South Bay area. The school today is one of the premier Irish Dance Schools in California and has classes in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Redondo and Torrance. The Kelly school has a family atmosphere and encourages friendship, as well as competition. Students who retire from the Kelly School possess confidence, stage presence and good sportsmanship as well as a knowledge of an ancient Celtic tradition.
Irish dance did not always flourish in Southern California. The Kelly school was one of only five schools in the all of Southern California. Feisianna (Irish dance competition) was also scarce; dancers would have to travel to San Francisco to compete. Mr. & Mrs. Kelly were part of an organization that held one of only two competitions in Southern California. In the early years of the Kelly school, Mrs. Kelly taught dancing at Holy Trinity, St. Margaret Mary’s, St. Marks, American Martyrs, St. John Fisher, St. Lawrence, & St. Anthony’s. Mrs. Kelly was awarded Irish woman of the year in 1990 for her tremendous ability to educate Irish culture in America. The Kelly school has danced at thousands of functions and have been instrumental in the flourishing interest of Irish dance in Southern California. The Kelly School has performed with, the Chieftains, Natalie McMaster, 1984 Olympic Games, and the Catholic Conference, just to name a few. The school is currently under the direction of Claire Kelly Maxwell, Joan Kelly and Carol Kelly Pirsztuk. The students of the school ranging in ages from four to young adults. The girls and boys compete throughout the United States and the World and perform at events year round. |
INSTRUCTORS
Claire Kelly Maxwell, A.D.C.R.G.
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Claire started dancing under the direction of Bernadette Bonnie and the Tara School at the age of five and then later moved to the Kelly School of Irish Dance, under the direction of her mother, Joan Kelly. Claire competed at the championship level across the Nation and at the World Championship. After graduation from Loyola Marymount University, Claire established a successful career in the oil management business. However, the call of Irish Dancing kept drawing her back and in 2003, Claire left the corporate world to focus on the management of the Kelly School of Irish Dance. As a certified Teacher and Adjudicator (T.C.R.G. & A.D.C.R.G), Claire has developed the Kelly School as one of the premier Irish Dance Schools in the Los Angles area, producing many championship level dancers. Claire's dedication and ability to teach each and every child as an individual is truly a gift. Claire motto is that every child has the ability to learn to dance and she takes pride and joy in ensuring that every dancers dream of dancing becomes a reality.
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Joan Kelly, T.C.R.G.
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Joan was born in Dublin Ireland in the late 20's where she became an accomplished dancer. Joan's family played an integral part in the growth and the development of Irish dancing dating back to the mid 19th century. Joan's Aunt Kitty Murtha, was the director of a well know Irish Dance school in Dublin Ireland, where many champions were developed. After immigrating to the United States, Joan wanted to continued her family tradition and she did so by establishing the Kelly School of Traditional Irish Dance in 1970. The Kelly School has taught over 2,000+ students in the last 45 years and has produced many championship level dancers who have competed and medaled at the World Championship level. Joan instilled her love of Irish Dancing in her twin daughters, Claire and Carol, and with them the tradition of the family continues to thrive under their tutelage.
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Carol Kelly Pirsztuk, A.D.C.R.G.
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Carol also started her dancing career at the age of five and she went on to compete Nationally and on the Worlds stage. After receiving a degree in both Finance and Economics from Loyola Marymount University, Carol received her Irish Dancing Teacher and Adjudicator credentials (T.C.R.G. & A.D.C.R.G.), and pursued a career in sales and operations where she excelled and became the Vice President of Sales Planning, Communications and Analytics for Sony Pictures, and is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the El Segundo Education Foundation. Though her career is rewarding, Carol finds her true happiness by embracing her Irish heritage and coaching the students of the Kelly School in the art of Irish Dance and watching them attain their goals.
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