Liz Shannon
Liz Shannon, originally from Boston, MA USA, has trained as a dancer from the young age of three. She grew up in the American dance competition scene. She has extensive training in Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Tap. She trained in two different studios as a child and then proceeded to attend Wagner College in NYC where she trained as a dancer. After graduating in 2003, Liz moved to Ireland.
Her dream was to set up an American style dance school in Ireland. In 2006, this came true. Broadway Dance now has three locations, Doolin, Kinvara and Miltown Malbay. Over the years, we have taught thousands of children and adults to dance. We have had students continue to train as dancers and pursue careers in the performing arts. We have achieved many accomplishments in areas such as nationwide and local competition. Broadway Dancers have trained in the USA, UK, Europe. They have received distinctions is their dance exams. They have won scholarships in international dance events such as Move It and have performed in Disneyland. Our students also have the options to sit exams, perform many times a year, compete nationally and internationally, train with different artists in Ireland and abroad.
Broadway Dance is not only a place for high standard training, it is a second home for our children, parents and staff. We are passionate, dedicated and hardworking.
Liz is a qualified teacher associated with the IDTA and has her NCEF fitness qualification.
In 2014, Liz was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, which is a rare disease that affects all her voluntary muscles. Through her hard work and passion and with the help of her teachers, friends, family, dancers and parents, Broadway Dance has manage to stay alive and grow to even stronger levels.
In 2012, Liz set up the Twilight Dance Convention and Competition. This is a nationwide convention that is run by an international staff. Robbie Mulrey and our team runs popular conventions in the USA and brings an extremely high standard of dance and teaching to Ireland. Broadway Dance is entering year 15
Emmet Walsh
Emmet did a year of pre-vocational training at Coláste Stiofán Naofa under the the
direction of Jane Kellaghan before being offered a scholarship to study Musical
Theatre at the prestigious Masters Performing Arts College in the UK for 3 years.
He covered multiple dance styles such as Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, I.S.T.D. Modern, Tech Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Pas De Deux, Commercial, Hip Hop along with Singing and Acting classes and workshops.
During the course of his training he got the opportunity to work with Industry Professionals, top London dance agencies and performed in a number of London theatres. He also took part in two in house musical productions Little Shop of Horrors and Cabaret both with leading roles.
Whilst still in training he worked with Dublin Cheerios Panto, Anthems Productions performing in Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty. Upon graduating he made his TV debut on Ireland's Got Talent working with Locked Creative. Emmet has also had the opportunity to work overseas spending 6 months performing in a 5* resort in Greece. This marked his singing debut in a variety of 7 shows. Most recently he completed a touring production of Cinderella playing at the National Opera house Wexford and INEC Killarney.
Alongside performing, Emmet has a passion for teaching and has worked with numerous stage schools, Universities, communities and charities in Ireland. Emmet is delighted and excited to be back working with everyone at Broadway Dance. Sharing his knowledge of Musical Theatre and Dance with all ages and abilities.
Kate
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Kate Gandara began her dance training with her mother, Jill d’Alton, at McAllen Ballet Studio in Texas. In 2000 Ms. Gandara attended Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy where she worked with Clara Cravey, Steve Brule, and Claudio Munoz. In 2001 she traveled to Havana, Cuba where she trained at the Vocational School of Centro Pro Danza under the Ballet Master Laura Alonso (daughter of Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Alicia Alonso).
In 2002 Ms. Gandara attended Orlando Ballet School where she worked with legendary dancer and Artistic Director, Fernando Bujones. Other influential teachers include Randall Newsom (Northern Illinois University), Rolando Pacheco (Certified Teacher – National Ballet School of Cuba), and Peter Stark (Artistic Director – The Rock School). In 2003 she attended Emerson College in Boston where she studied Dance and Theater. That same
year she also was selected to train with Parson’s Dance, under the direction of famed choreographer, David Parsons in New York City. Ms. Gandara has performed numerous classical roles including: Paquita Grand Pas de Deux, Sugar Plum Fairy, La Esmeralda, and Clara in Fernando Bujones’ ‘The Nutcracker’ with Orlando Ballet.
In 2004 Ms. Gandara returned to McAllen, TX where she worked alongside her mother and brother as a dancer, teacher, and coach. Ms. Gandara’s students have been accepted to prestigious schools around the globe including: The Royal Ballet School – Covent Garden,
The Royal Ballet School of Antwerp – Belgium, The Ailey School – N.Y, Académie de Danse Princesse Grace (Monte Carlo), John Cranko Schule - Stuttgart, Germany, Canada’s National Ballet School (Toronto), Kirov Academy (Washington, D.C), Ateneo della Danza (Italy), Paul Taylor Dance Company Intensives, Boston Ballet School, Joffrey Academy of Dance (Chicago), and American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensives. Ms. Gandara has restaged and coached over 40 works choreographed by Richard d'Alton & has also been responsible for coaching works from Carlos dos Santos (The Ailey School), Andy Pellick (New York City Dance Alliance), and many other US Choreographers.
She has taught, coached and worked with Principal Dancers from Houston Ballet, St. Louis Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Ballet de Monterrey, and Bejart Ballet – Lausanne. From 2012 to 2015 she was the Artistic Director of International Ballet of Houston (USA) and took her dancers on tour to Sibiu, Romania (2012) & Cork, Ireland (2014). In 2017 she and her mother co-founded National Dance Academy Ireland - based in Galway and Dublin.
Dancers she has coached have won prizes and scholarships at major competitions including: Youth America Grand Prix (USA, Paris, Italy), Certamen Internacional de Danza (Spain), New York City Dance Alliance (USA), Destination Dance (United Kingdom), CenterStage Dance Competion (Ireland), Twilight Dance Competition (Ireland), and many others.
As a choreographer her works have won prizes at All Dance Portugal and Global Dance Open. She has been a Guest Teacher at Broadway Dance (Ireland), Dance Ireland (Dublin), Ent'Artes Escola de Dança (Portugal), and iRule...Dance (USA). She was a Faculty Member of InDance Escola de Dança - Porto, Portugal from 2018 to 2022. In September 2022 Ms. Gandara started a new position as Classical Ballet Teacher and Coach at Broadway Dance Ireland.
