Introducing #TeamIDM

Chelsea is also an actress and a model.  She enjoys going on auditions for commercials, movies, and advertising print. In her spare time, she enjoys photography and drawing.

Ethan

Social Media Intern/Reporter - Ethan Frank is a high school student who dances for the Watters School in Southern Region, USA. This world class dancer lives and breathes Irish Dance. "Irish Dancing Magazine has been such an important part of my life since I was a child, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Social Media Team!” Ethan has "blown it away" when it comes to his role at IDM with his enthusiasm for the magazine and the art of Irish Dance. Check out IDM's Youtube channel for upcoming interviews by Ethan at www.youtube.com/irishdancingmagazine.

Social Media Intern - Isabelle Kellezi is 17 years old and has been Irish Dancing since she was nine. Isabelle dances at the Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance in New York. She has competed in solos and ceili teams at six Mid-Atlantic regional Championships, two National, two Worlds, along with the All Scotlands and All Irelands. Isabelle recently put her production skills to use by working on the Inside Irish Dancing series showcased on IDM's YouTube channel www.youtube.com/irishdancingmagazine.

Isabelle is all about implementing technology to assist dancers with tracking competition results. She works closely with UFeis in developing and improving the online tools to provide dancers with a way to track their progress simply by using their phones. Isabelle also makes herself available to dancers who need assistance with using the UFeis website and her favorite thing to do is to coordinate FaceTime group chats with subscribers to discuss creative ways to share the benefits of using UFeis. You may have seen her work on the UFeis/IDM takeover with fellow IDM intern Maggie Webber. Isabelle is also her current Senior Class President!

Isabelle believes staying connected through social media keeps dancers informed about available resources and keeps Irish Dance fun and trendy.  

Sr. Social Media Specialist - Kari Barile is from Seattle, Washington, and dances with the Penk O'Donnell School of Irish Dance in Vancouver, Canada. Kari attends Western Washington University, studying Psychology and Neuroscience. She also works with volunteer programs to promote mental health and wellness in the community. 

In addition to being a World medal holder, Kari has attended programs like Studio2Stage and Riverdance Summer School, and is an ambassador for Target Training Dance. 

Kari was recently featured in IDM, sharing her journey to train with her dance teacher Deirdre Penk O'Donnell during lockdown. As an American dancer training in Canada, Kari brings a unique perspective to IDM. She is currently preparing for the Western US Oireachtas in January and is excited to get back on the competition scene. Fun Fact: Kari has been an intern with IDM since 2017!

Social Media Intern - Katie McGann is a preliminary championship dancer at Rochester Academy of Irish Dance in Rochester, NY. Despite starting Irish Dance at the late age eleven, McGann quickly developed a love and passion for the sport. She found that her dedication to Irish Dance has shaped her into the strong, confident, motivated woman she is today. Katie shares, "anything is possible if you just believe in yourself." She is a contributor to the book The Feis Survival Guide and leads public relations efforts for a Model UN group at her high school.  She has a passion for Irish Dance and production and is excited to put that to use in her new role as a social media intern for the magazine. As a dancer who began a bit later than most, Katie brings special insight to dancers working their way up the ranks.  

Junior Reporter - Lizzie Shacklett is a championship level dancer and a master crafter! Lizzie first began Irish Dance in Singapore at the age of eight. In the summer of 2017, she joined the McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance in the USA. She quickly moved up the ranks, placing 8th at the 2019 North American Nationals.

Her most memorable moment was placing 16th at All Scots and being an All Scotland Medalist in 2019. She qualified for the 2020 Worlds and placed in the top 6 at the 2020 NAFC Minor Belt competition. Lizzie was disappointed to miss her first Worlds due to Covid-19, but she remains positive and stays busy training at the McDade Cara School along with supplemental training at Podium Strength & Performance. 

Lizzie is a regular face on IDM's social media and enjoys reporting on events she attends as well as sharing DIY craft projects for dancers. Check out IDM's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/irishdancingmagazine to see some of her incredible videos, including a recent popular video about dancing at a feis during the pandemic. Lizzie also recently modeled some of Irish Dancing Magazine's new apparel found at www.bonfire.com/store/idmshop. These make wonderful gifts for Irish Dancers, teachers, and parents so be sure to check out the new shop HERE!   

She loves everything about Irish Dance and cannot wait to be back competing and socializing with her friends! Lizzie’s favorite quote is “Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded.”

Social Media Intern - McKayla Boyd is a high school student who trains at the Doherty Perti School in New York. She has been dancing from the age of three and is a champion dancer who is a two-time World Medal Holder. She understands the dedication needed to succeed in Irish Dance and hopes to share her #feislife with IDM's fans. One of her favorite places Irish Dance has taken her was London for the World Championships. McKayla has Irish Dancing roots, sharing her love of Irish Dance with her mother LuAnne O'Rourke-Boyd, ADCRG.   

Watch for McKayla on the feis circuit as she takes over IDM's Instagram @irishdancingmagazine to report all the excitement of the feis scene. McKayla is a long-time fan of the magazine and is excited to share her Irish Dance journey with the world!  

           Maggie

Sr. Social Media Specialist - Maggie Webber is a champion dancer with the Mulvihill-Lynch School in the Mid-Atlantic Region, USA. She began dancing at the age of three, and quickly showed extraordinary talent and love for the art of Irish Dance. Maggie is the reigning North American National Champion and has placed in the Top 5 at the World Irish Dance Championships four consecutive years. 

Maggie is a spokesperson for Kilogear apparel. She also enjoys student teaching for Mulvihill-Lynch and playing field hockey for her school’s Varsity team. Maggie brings her love of Irish Dance to the children of Mulvihill-Lynch along with her mom, Debbie Lynch Webber ADCRG.

As one of IDM's long-term interns, Maggie has made numerous contributions to the magazine with her incredible work ethic and talent. Maggie brings a breath of knowledge to fans of Irish Dancing Magazine. Not only has Maggie appeared on Irish Dancing Magazine's print cover (September 2018), she is also on the cover of Irish Dancing Magazine's new online resource Winning at the Feis which debuted this month.

Maggie holds the unique distinction of being one of a handful of dancers who have appeared on more than one IDM cover; a well-earned achievement!

Maggie wears multiple hats in her role as a Sr. Social Media Specialist for the magazine. In addition to creating original content for @irishdancingmagazine's Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, she also covers events for the magazine. Her incredible "can do" attitude will take her far in life!

          Maya

Sr. Social Media Specialist - Maya Alvarez Coyne is an all-style dancer and actress. Her career has spanned TV, film, dance, and live performances. Maya is a high school senior attending Orange County School of the Arts, where she attends the Commercial Dance Conservatory. She trains with the Butler Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dance in Southern California and Toronto, Canada, under the tutorage of Directors Kate O’Connor and Rose Fearon. Maya started dancing at the age of two and a half and booked her first SAG National advertisement with Target at the age of seven. 

Her dance training began with Christy Curtis Buss; she is also classically trained in ballet with Lauren Richter of the Richter Ballet Academy. Maya has received numerous awards and scholarships and was featured on Irish Dancing Magazine as the cover star in July of 2018.

Maya has performed with the Riverdance Company in Dublin (2018-2019); Eireann A Taste of Ireland show in New York (2020); Concert4Cancer – Marie Keating Foundation, aired on PBS in Dublin (2019); Justin Bieber's Purpose World Tour (2016); WE Day hip-hop dancer with performers Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, televised on ABC (2016 and 2017); and Industry Dance Awards jazz and hip-hop dancer with Liz Imperio and Dave Scott (2015 and 2016).

Maya is a revered dancer on the competitive circuit and is reigning 2020 All Ireland Champion as well as a multi-time World medal holder who has placed as high 4th at the World Championship level. Maya has won numerous regional Oireachtas titles as well as North American Nationals titles.  As one of the most well rounded and cross trained dancers on Irish Dancing Magazine's social media team, Maya brings a vast amount of knowledge and enthusiasm to her role.

Maya's love for the arts is something she is very passionate about, and she has volunteered thousands of community service hours for charities that support the arts. Serving as Miss Canyon Hills’ Outstanding Teen 2020/2021, as part of the Miss America organization Maya continues to work with charities virtually using her talents. Maya hopes to pursue her TCRG and education in dance/business to one day work with nonprofits to continue her support of the arts.

Social Media Intern - Meghan Farrell is a high school senior who is a champion dancer. In addition to Irish Dance, Meghan is a talented player on her high school's women's hockey team. Meghan has been Irish Dancing for 11 years and loves it!  She trains with the Kavanagh Porter Warren Academy in Maryland, USA. As a dancer who is juggling two intensive sports, hockey and dance, Meghan brings a unique perspective to dancers who are in the same situation as her; juggling difficult academic schedules along with other intense activities.

Meghan states she has been an avid reader and follower of Irish Dancing Magazine's social media since 2012 which is nearly her entire dance career! 2021 marks her second year as part of IDM's social team and Meghan's contributions have been numerous. She focuses on Facebook, Instagram and also answers many direct messages sent to the IDM account. Most recently, she has been testing out and promoting IDMs masks and new apparel shop at www.bonfire.com/store/idmshop. "It has been an amazing experience and I am looking forward to the future for IDM."

Social Media Intern - Sierra Lucas dances for the Shelley School of Irish Dance in Utah, USA. She is 18 years old and starting her freshman year at Brigham Young University. “I currently compete in open championships, and I absolutely LOVE working with the beginners at my studio. I'm so thrilled to be a new intern with the Irish Dancing Magazine social media team!” 

As a college student, Sierra has hit the ground running doing feis takeovers in the Western USA region along with covering the first feis IDM covered post lockdown. She is our "Motivation Monday" specialist along with Kari Barile and hopes to create more awareness of the importance of the mental performance side of dance training.

"At one point during my dance career, I had feis after feis where I worked as hard as I could to prepare myself physically for the stage, and when I walked on, my mind blocked all that preparation and kept me from achieving the results I had dreamed for," explained Sierra. Within her role at IDM, Sierra hopes to help dancers overcome fears associated with competition, so that dancers can showcase their best dancing on the competitive stage.

Fashion Expert -Thea Medland is a second-year university student who is currently studying Media, Information & Technoculture at Western University in Canada. Originally from Vancouver, BC, she danced with the Watt School there for many years before retiring from competition in 2019. 

Thea has always loved keeping up with Irish Dance fashion trends and designing her own costumes, and when she was 14, she launched her own business on Instagram @irishdancedressdesigns for her proprietary costume designs. She has designed costumes that have been produced by the largest names in the costume design industry. Social media and Irish Dance have always been huge parts of Thea’s life, so she is so excited to be a part of IDM's editorial team.  

Most recently, Thea wrote an interesting feature for the Dec'20/Jan '21 issue of Irish Dancing Magazine covering the 2021 Fashion Trends. Order a copy here Thea is currently writing a follow-up article for the Jan/Feb '21 issue on additional fashion news and trends. 

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Irish Dancing Magazine is the only print magazine covering the world of Irish Dancing and the Irish culture. The magazine is a family read and appropriate for all ages. Order the magazine now for Christmas 2020 - BEST GIFT for an Irish Dancer.  Check out our shop page here!