The Teachers

Terri Heckman T.C.R.G. Owner/Director - O’Connor Irish Dancers Terri comes from a family that has a fairly rich Irish Dance history. Terri's Mother and her 5 sisters danced for the Cunniffe School in Athlone Co. Westmeath, Ireland back in the 1940's and 1950's. Terri was a highly successful and respected dancer during her competitive years. Ever since Terri founded O’Connor Irish Dancers in September 2003, it has become a very accomplished dance school. Currently there are 120 families enrolled in Terri’s programs.

Previous to 2003, Terri taught for the highly successful Tony Comerford School of Irish Dance, where she taught (for 4 years) beginner to World and North American Championship qualifiers/placers, and the same time she was helping pioneer Irish Dance on continental Europe.

Terri has given workshops in Germany, Austria, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, USA, and currently has added O’Connor Irish Dancers, Mexico to her pioneering efforts. Terri taught for several years at Celtfest (Celtic performing arts workshops on Vancouver Island), and regularly holds and gives specialized workshops within her classes. During the 4 years Terri traveled to Europe giving workshops, she held the first ever feis competition in Vienna, Austria, that is still being held annually to this day.

The love of the dance form has driven Terri from an early age, and she feels that not only is it her responsibility to pass on what she has learned to the younger generations and groom dancers to be successful, but also to pioneer in areas were qualified Irish Dance teachers aren’t as accessible. This opens new doors for Irish Dance in general, Terri as a teacher, and also provides her current students opportunities to experience other cultures through dance exchange programs and workshops.

Terri states that Irish Dancing provides and has provided many, the opportunity to learn numerous life lessons, values, and skills that cross over into all aspects of life. The formula for success remains the same, not matter what the endeavour.

Courtney O'Brien Assistant Instructor Courtney has been dancing and competing since she was 9. She has competed nationally and qualified for worlds many times. Currently, she is training for the North American Championships in Nashville, Tennesse and also studying Business Administration at Simon Fraser University.

Carolyn Robinson Assistant Instructor Carolyn has placed in the top three at Canadian and International Championships. She is currently in her 4th year of university at UBC and is studying geography to obtain her degrees in both Education and Geomorphology.