ZOE PATTERSON - principal
AISTD MB; BA (HONS) DANCE EDUCATION; DIP PERFORMING ARTS (STREETDANCE TEACHERS)
FYI Dance Club is currently owned, taught and run by Zoe
Patterson. Zoe began dancing ballet and modern at the age of 4, and at age 15 was accepted to third level education where Zoe spent her transition year training in professional dance and dance teaching before returning to secondary school to complete the Leaving certificate. Zoe was then offered a place at Merseyside Dance & Drama Centre (Liverpool) where she trained and successfully completed her dance teaching diploma with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Modern Dance Theatre branch. On returning to Ireland, Zoe began a professional career as a backing dancer, touring Ireland and participating in many high-profile events, such as music videos, support act for Mary J. Blige at the RDS, the Childline Concert at the Point depot, O2 in the Park, the Rose of Tralee festival and Irish Entertainment Awards, Belfast, to name a few. After a couple of years, Zoe found her calling in teaching and in finding a great deal of work in primary and secondary schools, returned to education herself and began a BA (hons) in Dance Education, specialising in dance within the national curriculum, with the Royal Academy of dance, validated by the University of Surrey. It was during this time that Zoe set up her first few classes, operating out of the Wicklow Pilates Studio and under the name ‘Dance Club’. As the school grew, Zoe took it to the next level and expanded from 2 days per week to 4, adding Jazz and Creative Dance classes and became the FYI Dance Club, FYI being the school’s mantra: To always be Fun, to nurture the Young and to always be Inclusive regardless of the students’ age, gender or status. In 2010 a new class ‘Streetdance’ was added to the timetable after Zoe was offered a place on the World’s first ever ACCREDITED Streetdance Teacher’s Course. On completion of the course (and 3 days of intensive examination), Zoe became the first person in Ireland with an accredited Streetdance Teacher’s Diploma, and one of 20 in the world. In 2011, a second Irish person was awarded this qualification: past-FYI pupil Rachel Sheil (super proud) who has completed a BA in Dance and Voice in University of Limerick.
To ensure the FYI Dance Club continues to grow and provide high-quality lessons and choreography, Zoe continues to train herself, going to the UK 2 or 3 times per year to train with professional dancers, competition champions, choreographers and some of the best teachers in the business. Zoe sees her teaching as an on-going development, that there is always something more to learn, and more to teach.
Patterson. Zoe began dancing ballet and modern at the age of 4, and at age 15 was accepted to third level education where Zoe spent her transition year training in professional dance and dance teaching before returning to secondary school to complete the Leaving certificate. Zoe was then offered a place at Merseyside Dance & Drama Centre (Liverpool) where she trained and successfully completed her dance teaching diploma with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Modern Dance Theatre branch. On returning to Ireland, Zoe began a professional career as a backing dancer, touring Ireland and participating in many high-profile events, such as music videos, support act for Mary J. Blige at the RDS, the Childline Concert at the Point depot, O2 in the Park, the Rose of Tralee festival and Irish Entertainment Awards, Belfast, to name a few. After a couple of years, Zoe found her calling in teaching and in finding a great deal of work in primary and secondary schools, returned to education herself and began a BA (hons) in Dance Education, specialising in dance within the national curriculum, with the Royal Academy of dance, validated by the University of Surrey. It was during this time that Zoe set up her first few classes, operating out of the Wicklow Pilates Studio and under the name ‘Dance Club’. As the school grew, Zoe took it to the next level and expanded from 2 days per week to 4, adding Jazz and Creative Dance classes and became the FYI Dance Club, FYI being the school’s mantra: To always be Fun, to nurture the Young and to always be Inclusive regardless of the students’ age, gender or status. In 2010 a new class ‘Streetdance’ was added to the timetable after Zoe was offered a place on the World’s first ever ACCREDITED Streetdance Teacher’s Course. On completion of the course (and 3 days of intensive examination), Zoe became the first person in Ireland with an accredited Streetdance Teacher’s Diploma, and one of 20 in the world. In 2011, a second Irish person was awarded this qualification: past-FYI pupil Rachel Sheil (super proud) who has completed a BA in Dance and Voice in University of Limerick.
To ensure the FYI Dance Club continues to grow and provide high-quality lessons and choreography, Zoe continues to train herself, going to the UK 2 or 3 times per year to train with professional dancers, competition champions, choreographers and some of the best teachers in the business. Zoe sees her teaching as an on-going development, that there is always something more to learn, and more to teach.