THE INSTRUCTORS
Barbara Goggin-Wade, T.C.R.G.
As a retired championship level dancer of 17 years and principal
instructor of the Oakville and Windsor locations, Barb oversees all
competitive dance classes from pre-school to Championship. Barb is
internationally certified and has been dancing since the age of four.
Barb began assisting with her teacher (Yvonne Kelly of the O'Ceallaigh
School) and has been teaching for over twenty years.
Barb has designed each of her school costumes over the years and she
continues to use her creative talents by assisting in designing dance
costumes and helping to select the best colours, fits and designs.
Barb's passion for team dancing has helped to build a strong reputation
for this school with traditional ceili dances and figure choreographies.
Barb has trained soloists and teams for Regional, North American and
World Championship competitions and takes pride in all achievements by
the dancers, whether they are Regional titles or personal bests.
Ryan Carroll, T.C.R.G., A.D.C.R.G.
Ryan obtained his teaching certification (T.C.R.G.) in 2001 during a
break from touring with Riverdance - The Show, where he was both a
troupe dancer and understudy to the male lead since 1996. Ryan
started teaching with the Goggin School in 1995, creating a dance for
competitors headed for the World Championships. That one weekend
workshop grew to a partnership to form one of Canada's largest Irish
dance schools, which is now known as Goggin-Carroll.
Ryan is based in Oakville and works with dancers from advanced beginner
through to Championship. He has a colourful competitive history
which includes seven World medals, two North American titles and ten
Regional titles; all earned as a student of the Butler Academy.
Ryan earned his adjudicator credentials (A.D.C.R.G.) in 2003 and is very
visible across North America. He made his overseas judging debut
judging Ireland's North-West Championships in Derry, Northern Ireland in
2004 and recently adjudicated the North American Championships, the
largest Irish dancing competition in the world.
Janet Tosh
Janet works primarily with beginner and second year students at the
Oakville location, introducing them to the basics of Irish dance which
include: timing, foot placement, balance and fun. Janet also works
with intermediate and champion dancers and she is the principal
instructor of the Adult program (Adult classes are held on Wednesday
evenings). Janet has been teaching with the school since 1991.
Janet conducts private lessons on occasion, focusing on technique and
endurance. As an avid runner, Janet stresses the cardiovascular
requirements of dance and she brings a plethora of stretches and other
related exercises to class.
Sara Johnston
Sara retired from competitive dance in 2003 after four consecutive 'top
three' finishes at the Eastern Canadian regional championships.
She was also a few points away from making the final round at the World
championships in her final year.
Success at Irish dance did not come easily for Sara but her focus and
determination made her conquer one of the most difficult barriers -
timing. As such, Sara has a tremendous amount of patience and
encouragement for dancers working to become the best they can be,
regardless of their age or level.
Sara plays an important role in the development of the dancers at the
Windsor location and she has helped to produce regional champions in
both solo and team events. Sara also teaches the Adult classes and
a unique 'parent and tot' class.
Kristina Skrien
Kristina began Irish dance at age ten and quickly fell in love with the
challenge, technique and the competitiveness of the sport. She
grew up in Oakville and later moved to Windsor to study Kinesiology.
She too had several 'top three' finishes at a regional level and made
the final round at all of the major championships she entered in her
last few years of competing. Her crowing glory was returning from
a two-year absence (due to health reasons) and trained carefully and
thoroughly to achieve a 12th place medal at the 2005 Worlds.
Kristina was the School's first Senior ladies medallist.
Kristina works with most levels of dance at the Windsor location and
often uses her sports psychology techniques to approach training,
motivational and confidence issues within the classes.
Senior Dancers
Many of the classes have senior
dancers assist the primary instructors for several reasons. Extra
teachers in the room helps to keep classes more productive; the younger
dancers can be inspired by working with the School's known champions and
those champion dancers improve their own technique by reinforcing the
basic elements on others.
Classes always have at least one adult present.
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