I discovered my passion for Latin dance while living in
Barcelona for two years after finishing my studies at Dublin
Institute of Dance Arts in 2010. The energy, the music, the way
dance brought communities together—I was completely hooked. But
when I came back to Dublin in 2012, I noticed something that
surprised me. There were virtually no social dance events for
adults over 45. That gap kept bothering me.
The thing is, I'd see older learners in traditional classes, and
they'd often seem uncomfortable, like they didn't quite belong.
So I started thinking differently. What if we built spaces
specifically for mature learners? What if we removed the
intimidation factor and focused on joy instead? That question
became my mission.
Over the past 14 years, I've coordinated hundreds of social
dance meetups throughout Dublin, Cork, and Limerick. We've
engaged over 2,000 participants. I've developed beginner-focused
curricula that actually work for people who haven't danced since
their twenties. I've established weekly social events in
Dublin's Temple Bar district that have become genuine community
hubs. And I've learned that adults returning to dance have
unique needs—patience, clear instruction, and most importantly,
permission to have fun without being perfect.
My approach prioritises building confidence first. Technical
skill comes naturally when people feel safe. That's been the
foundation of everything I've created, and it's why so many
participants have told me that dancing with us changed how they
see themselves.