Fitzpatrick Academy Reaching New Heights!

April 29, 2016 - PRLog -- In a span of a couple years, the Fitzpatrick Academy has produced incredibly dedicated and talented dancers who are not only eligible to compete at a Regional, National, and International basis, but have already ranked highly at these levels. Although the school has a strict focus on competition, they also cater to non-competitive dancers who enjoy learning the basics and traditions of Irish dance. Since its emergence, the Fitzpatrick Academy has seen a steady increase in wins and successes in Major championship competitions, as well as in local ones.  They have now expanded and have added more classes as well as a Middle Village location. The Fitzpatrick Academy, a fairly new school, has produced seasoned dancers who have earned continued success each year at this championship by steadily and progressively climbing in the rankings among their competitors. The academy has trained dancers ranging of those who make the final cut to world qualifiers. They are having a winning feis season this year!

The Fitzpatrick Academy of Irish Dancing was founded by Kelly Fitzpatrick, TCRG (certified teacher under Irish Dancing governing body, An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, in Dublin, Ireland), in the Spring of 2010.  After coming from a long line of Irish dancing relatives (including 1994 World Champion, Kerry Hutchinson),  Kelly began dancing at the age of 3 and has trained under some of the best Irish Dancing teachers in the United States. As a two-time regional champion, she was not only fortunate enough to travel around the world to compete, but has maintained high rankings on a national and international level throughout her dancing career. She went on to win medals in both solo and ceili dancing at the highest level of competition, the All Ireland and World Championships.
Kelly has also had the privilege of performing at many prestigious events and stages. The foremost include performances at City Hall (for then-Mayor Giuliani), Ellis Island, the Joyce Theater (off Broadway),  Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Carnegie Hall for the late Irish tenor, Frank Patterson, with Celtic fiddler and clogger, Natalie MacMaster, and for the world renowned Irish fiddler, Eileen Ivers (founding member of Cherish the Ladies and original fiddler for Riverdance, The Show.)
Along with her many accomplishments in Irish Dance, Kelly has a B.A. in Communications (with a minor in Business) from Adelphi University. In 2009, she graduated cum laude and is a member of the National Communication Society.

In addition, Eileen Fitzpatrick, sister of Kelly Fitzpatrick (Director of the Fitzpatrick Academy of Irish Dance, Whitestone, Queens) is the owner, designer and production manager of Fitzpatrick Designs, an up and coming Irish dance costume design company. Fitzpatrick Designs was established in 2011, when Fitzpatrick Academy dancers began climbing in the competitive rankings and were in need customized class and solo costumes. A former Irish Dance champion, herself, Eileen began designing costumes when she was 14 years old. Her designs were then, brought to life by top costume makers in Ireland. Always keeping up with current trends, she designed for dancers from several established dance schools in New York and New Jersey. Eileen went on to graduate from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology where she developed the skills to produce her own designs. Predominantly creating costumes for Fitzpatrick Academy dancers, Eileen is beginning to branch out; expanding her clients from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region. When not working diligently on designing and production, Eileen works as a full-time Associate Technical Designer for Lauren Knits at Ralph Lauren in New York City.