Darren Maguire, ADCRG

Darren Maguire’s championship record is long. Before joining Riverdance in 1996, he had earned first place at many regional and National competitions, including the Great Britains, All England, All Ireland and the Regional Oireachtas; and a second place in the World Championships. Darren was born into a dancing family. His parents, Kathleen and Michael Maguire, founded the highly-regarded Maguire O’Shea Academy of Irish Dance just outside London, England nearly thirty-five years ago. Darren and his five siblings inherited the talent, all having won major dance titles. Most recently, his youngest sister, Ellie, taking first place at the World Championships three times.

Darren has performed on many of the world’s most notable stages, including Radio City Music Hall, The Kremlin and the Great Hall of the People.

As an accredited ADCRG, Darren is certified to adjudicate Irish dance competitions under the rules of the Dublin, Ireland-based Irish Dancing Commission.

He relocated to Tucson, AZ, in the summer of 2006 and founded the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance after hanging up his Riverdance shoes, having danced with the world-renowned show for ten years.

Darren actively teaches classes at all three schools.

Jackie Maguire, TCRG

Jackie was born and raised in Houston, TX but has traveled to Dallas for dance lessons for the past 8 years. Jackie started dancing at the age of 9 and has been Irish dancing since the age of 11. She still competes and has danced at the Worlds, North Americans, All Irelands, and Oireachtas competitions. Jackie holds a Bachelors of Science from The University of Texas School of Dentistry and is a registered Dental Hygienist.

Jackie teaches classes at Maguire Academy of Irish Dance in Houston, TX.

Alexis Plevel, Assistant Dance Instructor

Alexis has been a member of the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance since its inception in June of 2006. Prior to that, Alexis studied with the Bracken School of Irish Dance and Ballet Arts Tucson. She has represented the Western Region at the World Championships and competed at the North American Nationals several times. She enjoys performing has danced professionally with The Chieftains, Danu, Teada and Round the House.

Alexis is a Tucson native and began her dance training at the age of 3. She enjoys teaching and passing on the love for dance.

Alexis teaches classes at Maguire Academy of Irish Dance in Tucson, AZ.

Madison O’Brien, Assistant Dance Instructor

Madison has been with Maguire Academy of Irish Dance since March 2007. During her time at Maguire Academy, she participated in concert band, marching band and color guard while in high school becoming well rounded in the fine arts. She continues her passion for competing and performing Irish Dance, as she starts on her path of studying Nursing at Pima Community College. Madison enjoys teaching and working with all the various ages that make up the Irish dance community. From the Wee Little ones through the Marvelously Mature dancers, they all have a special place in her heart.

Madison teaches classes at Maguire Academy of Irish Dance in Tucson, AZ.

 

Colette-Nicole (Siael) Phillips, Assistant Dance Instructor

Colette is new to Maguire Academy of Irish Dance but began dancing at the “mature” age of 17 at the end of the 20th century, in California. After being inspired by the release of Riverdance, she set a rigorous goal to learn this intricate and show-stopping style of dance in record time. While no one believed she could do it, Colette soared through the competitive levels of Irish dance, earning top placement at the Oireachtas championships; qualifying for the World Championships only 1 year after her first feis. Experienced in several different genres of dance, Colette has traveled the world performing in live and televised shows for Disney, Cirque Du Soleil and The Chieftains, among others. She paused her Irish dance career to dance for 4 years in the NFL as Captain of the San Francisco 49ers GoldRush Cheerleaders. In all her spare time, she maintains a career in the medical field and has served patients as a paramedic, medical instructor and radiological specialist in Cardiology.

Colette’s young daughter has also fallen in love with the culture, music, friendship and challenge that Irish dance provides and now competes alongside her Mum for the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance. Colette is currently preparing for her TCRG certification and takes great pride in helping all dancers, no matter their age or level, achieve their greatest dance goals. Smiles and high fives are plentiful in her classes!

Colette teaches classes at Maguire Academy of Irish Dance in Dallas, TX