Director Heather McElligott Sparks, T.C.R.G., started dancing at the age of 18 and within a year became a champion dancer with the Maoileidigh School. In the next 2 years she reached the highest dancing level of Open Champion, and competed at the Regional and National level. Throughout her dancing career Heather has had the opportunity to perform with the Chieftains, Wolfe Tones, and Irish Rovers, which she loved. She has also performed on various TV shows, for international dignitaries, festivals, parades, weddings, and many other exciting opportunities. She also began assistant teaching under the tutelage of Doireann Maoileidigh-Hoy. Upon retiring from the competitive arena Heather decided to take her certification exams to become a qualified Irish Dance instructor with the An Comisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. She established the McElligott School of Irish Dance in 1994 in Phoenix, Arizona. During that time many of her dancers reached Champion status and danced numerous times at the World Championships. In 2004 Heather moved with her family: husband Erik and their 2 daughters Keara and Ashlyn, to Stroudsburg, PA, where she reopened her school in 2005.
Heather is devoted to passing on her deep love of this beautiful form of dance to each and every dancer in the McElligott School. Heather uses her expertise and gentle encouragement to help each and every dancer reach their personal best. Whether a dancer is learning for fun or trying to reach World Champion status, Heather is devoted to helping them reach their goals. Each dancer’s complete personal growth both in and out of the studio is important to her. Teaching teamwork, dedication to a goal, and overall physical health is her paramount goal for all the dancers. Most of all she loves to share her “Love of the Dance”.