Founder and teacher Wendy Windsor-Hashiguchi, TCRG 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 Tennessee Association of Dance.
Assistant Director, Kelly Ritts, CB comes from a background of cheerleading and sports. She was the director of the Dance Ministry at New River Fellowship in Franklin, TN (founded by Michael W. Smith) for 6 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 23 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.
Teaching Assistant Lori Babb moved to Nashville, TN in 2009 to attend Vanderbilt University. She is currently studying International Human and Organizational Development and hopes to move to Ireland to implement her studies. She moved from the San Francisco Bay Area where she participated in Irish dance classes for over 6 years. She also had ballet, jazz, and character training for 4 years. Lori participated in the All Ireland and International Dance Championships in both 2004 and 2005. She has been a champion in several local competitions. Lori was also offered a position on the dance troupe, Rhythm of the Dance, but due to school commitments, she was unable to travel. She took her desire for Irish heritage and culture and lived in Northern Ireland for 6 months with YWAM to offer reconciliation programs between Catholics and Protestants. Lori has danced at numerous festivals, football game halftime shows and other sporting events, danced with 2 Irish bands Goldenbough and Molly's Revenge.and has danced in local churches and charity events. She comes from a long line of Irish and Scottish roots. Lori is pursuing her TCRG with completion in summer of 2010.