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| ABOUT MURRAY IRISH DANCE ACADEMY AND ITS DIRECTOR Purpose The Murray Irish Dance Academy was founded by Anne Murray MacRitchie, TCRG, in an effort to bring the fun, fitness and excitement that irish step dancing offers to more children. With convenient locations in Exeter, NH and Portsmouth, NH, Anne hopes that her school will enable children from the seacoast region of New Hampshire to now better access irish dance classes where they may not have been able to before. History Anne started her irish dancing career in Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 7, along with her three sisters. Irish dancing has continued to be a family affair for Anne, with two sisters who are instructors, and five nieces and nephews and her own daughter who are now irish dancers as well. Three of her nephews have placed repeatedly in the top 10 in regional, North American and World Championships…in fact, her nephew Garrett Murray Coleman is currently a two-time World Champion! Anne now lives with her husband Dan and three young children, Clare, Aidan and Eily in Exeter, NH. Under the direction of Theresa Burke, TCRG, ADCRG, Anne was both an open championship level dancer with extensive exhibition and competitive experience as well as an instructor for the Burke School until the mid 1980’s. A two-time Mid-West regional champion, Anne qualified for the World Championships by placing in the top 5 of all 8 Mid-West Regional Championships (Oireachtas) in which she participated and in addition, she placed fifth in North America. She went on to earn her TCRG qualification (certified by the An Coimisiun Le Rince Gaelacha) in Toronto in 1984 and is currently a member of both the Irish Dancing Teachers Association of New England and the Irish Dancing Teachers Association of North America. More Than Dance Anne’s experience with irish dancing as a student was not only one in which she had fun and made lasting friendships, but she also learned many things that she feels has helped her to be successful in her adult pursuits of college, career, and family/parenting. For example, through team and solo dancing in both performances and competitions, students learn skills that will provide them with a good foundation later in life, such as: teamwork; how to be self-disciplined and work hard towards goals; how to stay physically fit; how to be up in front of people and manage the corresponding stress and nerves; and, ultimately, students learn how to win and lose graciously. As a teacher and founder of Murray Irish Dance Academy, Anne now hopes to share her love of irish dancing and culture with her students, one by one. She gives as much personalized attention to her students and their families as possible, to help them achieve the same positive and educational experience from irish dancing that she was fortunate enough to have! And through irish dance, Murray students carry on an important aspect of Irish tradition and culture, thereby gaining a lasting appreciation for the rich heritage of Ireland! |
