Atlanta Irish Dance

THE CO-FOUNDERS

Emma Burke, ADCRG
Emma Burke was born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in Atlanta. She attended St. Pius X Catholic High School, the University of Georgia, and Mercer University School of Law. 
Emma is the current Vice Regional Director for the North American Irish Dance Teachers Association- Southern Region. Emma is also an internationally certified Irish dance adjudicator (ADCRG), which allows her to judge Irish dance competitions world wide! Emma is a former litigation attorney and former law partner in the area of Commercial Litigation and Construction Law. She is a classically trained flautist, and in keeping with her Irish roots, she loves to break out her tin whistle on occasion. 

Emma began Irish dancing in Atlanta at the age of 10 with Georgia's very first Irish dance school. She continued Irish dancing under the instruction of June Butler, owner of the world-renowned Butler Academy of Irish Dance. During her dancing career, Emma competed all over the world, winning titles throughout. Emma is a four time Southern Region Champion, consistently placed top 5 in the North American Nationals, and competed in the World Championships of Irish dance many times, earning her a coveted World Medal. 

Emma and her co-founder, Erin Connolly, first opened Atlanta Irish Dance in May 2011. Since then, Atlanta Irish dance has grown to be the largest IRish dance school in Georgia, and one of the most prestigious Irish dance schools in North America. Emma and Erin have successfully led their dance teams to the top, and they are currently ranked first in the Region, First in North America, and 3rd in the World. 

Outside of dance, Emma and her husband, Pat, live in Buckhead with their beautiful daughter, Rosemarie who is a top-ranked Irish dancer, and red-headed son Patrick, who joined the Little Tots Irish dance class this year! Emma’s passion for Irish dance grows deeper every day, as does her commitment to cultivating that same drive and passion in the hearts of her students, regardless of age or experience. 

Erin Connolly, ADCRG 
Erin was born in Toronto, Canada and started Irish dancing at the age of 5 with the renowned Butler Academy of Irish Dance. Her parents, from County Roscommon in Ireland, instilled in her the love for Irish dance at a very young age. Erin's first dance teacher was Mae Butler, who was one of the founding members of IDTANA, The North American Irish Dancing Teachers Association. She continued dancing under the direction of Mae's daughter June Butler for the majority of her competitive career and later danced with Rose Fearon when the school became "The Butler Fearon School of Canada" (Now known as Butler-Fearon-O'Connor).

Erin's competitive titles include four-time Southern Region champion, placing several times in the top 10 at the North American Irish Dance Championships, as well as recalling at the All-Ireland and World Championships of Irish dance. Her accomplishments led to performances with the Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies's, the Wolf Tones, and Eileen Iverson. Erin also joined "The Trinity Irish Dance Company" and performed in various cities throughout North America. At the age of 20 Erin was asked to join the touring cast of "Riverdance - The Show". In 2008 Erin graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta with Highest Honors and went on to complete her Master of Architecture at the University of Illinois in Chicago in 2011. 

She currently works at an Architecture firm in Atlanta while also spreading her love and talent of Irish dancing to her students. She has three children Declan, Riordan & Margaret, who all dance in the Atlanta Irish Dance family! 

Learn More

Website: AtlantaIrishDance.com
Instagram: @AtlantaIrishDance
Facebook: @AtlantaIrishDance