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Assistant Director, Kelly Ritts comes from a background of cheerleading and sports. She has been director of the Dance Ministry at New River Fellowship in Franklin, TN (founded by Michael W. Smith) for the last 5 years, and has been learning Irish dance under Wendy since 2003, in addition to performing her role as Assistant Director. She is also very active in the adult Irish dance community competing and performing including a medalist at the Southern Regional Championships in the Adult 4 Hand Reel competition, and encourages adults of any age or experience to learn Irish dance. Professionally trained and experienced in business management, accounting, and graphics design for over 20 years, she handles the business needs for the school including the redesigning of the school’s website and also assists Wendy with teaching. Her great-grandmother, Katherine (Katie) Boylan, was an Irish immigrant from Dublin who settled in New York State. |
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Founder and teacher Wendy Windsor-Hashiguchi has been dancing nearly all her life in styles ranging from ballet and tap to Bulgarian and Turkish. Wendy competed in Scottish Highland dancing for nearly eight years achieving championship level. She has taught Irish step, ceili and set dancing for 12 years and has learned with former world champion dancers such as Colin Dunne, Michael Smith, Bill Maple, Eileen Martin, Deirdre Goulding, Donny Golden (Riverdance star Jean Butler’s Instructor), Eimear Ni Mhaoileadigh, and Kevin Broesler as well as excellent traditional dancers of the sean nos or “old style” step dancing such as Patrick O’Dea. She is a fully certified TCRG (Teasgicoir Choimisiuin Le Rinci Gaelacha-which is Irish for Gaelic Commission Dancing Teacher). Wendy encourages all students of Scott-Ellis School to play instruments as a way to complement dance education. Wendy herself plays with a local Irish band called the Jump Gypsies contributing hammered dulcimer, button accordion, bowed psaltery, and bones. Her own music and dance experience has included performances at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center with the Nashville Symphony, Ryman Auditorium with the Chieftains, Disneyworld, Summer Lights, and venues in Canada and Wales. Wendy is a charter member and current vice-chair of the Frankie Kennedy Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, the Irish music and dance organization with over 400 branches worldwide. She is also a member of the Folk Alliance of Music and Dance and the Tennessee Association of Dance. |
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Franko Hashiguchi is a well-respected bodhran (Irish frame drum) player and teaches music at the school (and the occasional Appalachian flatfooting class!). Other instruments include whistle, mandolin, guitar, recorder, and saxophone. He has performed at numerous venues including the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Café, and regularly plays with the Jump Gypsies and The Secret Commonwealth. He leads the Irish music session at Dan McGuinness Pub in Nashville on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month from 2:30-5:00 pm. |
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Wendy Windsor-Hashiguchi, TCRG Instructor/Founder/Director |
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Kelly Ritts, C.B. Assistant Director/Asst. Instructor |
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Franko Hashiguchi, Irish Music and Instrument Instructor |
