Sarah Clarke is widely known in Irish Dancing Circles as the graceful and beautiful Saoirse who performed alongside Michael Flatley in both his “Feet of Flames” tour and in “Lord of the Dance”.  Now, having left her show days behind her, she has successfully gained her TCRG and has established the Sarah Clarke Academy of Irish Dance.
Her Irish Dancing Class was set up almost 2 and a half years ago and having been involved in Irish Dancing for 23 years Sarah certainly has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to impart to her students.
The Sarah Clarke Academy of Irish Dance is situated in Paris and Sarah realises the challenge of teaching Irish Dancing in mainland Europe where competitive Irish Dancing is fairly new.  She always knew that she would teach, even while touring with the show:
“It was always my ambition to pass on what I had learned to others and to be able to produce good dancers with my know how and experience”.
She admits that Irish Dancing has had a huge effect on her life, telling us, “Irish Dancing has had a huge influence in my life….both professionally and before that as a very enjoyable past time.”  She recognises that “It is something which is now in built in me.  I can’t imagine a day going by without dancing, be it teaching, performing or choreographing steps”.
So how does being an Irish Dancing teacher compare with being a Principal dancer in one of the World’s renowned shows?
For Sarah it’s all relative.  She says, “In some ways to teach is more satisfying as you get to see the real fruit of your labour when your dancers do well”.  Like most Irish Dancing teachers, Sarah thinks, “That the personal satisfaction to know that you single handedly are helping dancers to achieve their goals in Irish Dance is a very rewarding experience.”  She does admit, though, that “There is no feeling more amazing than dancing the Principal role in front of thousands of people with Michael Flatley and being so well appreciated.”  Well no one could argue with that.
Teaching Irish Dancing in Paris is a whole new experience for Sarah and she really enjoys this challenge:
“Teaching in Mainland Europe is quite different to the Irish Dance Scene in the UK or Ireland.  As an organisation the RTME is still very young so it has taken a while for teachers and schools to develop Feis mentality and attitude”.  But Sarah loves teaching in such a young region and in a place when her fame blossomed with “Lord of the Dance” Troupe 1.  She points out the differences as being opportunities rather than obstacles and she loves the fact that she gets to work with adults and children.
Sarah loves the relaxed atmosphere at the European Feiseanna and the sense of community that is almost tangible whereby everyone supports each others dancers.  She is also fiercely proud of the “The huge numbers in the lower grades where the basic standard of dancing is very high.”

Indeed the atmosphere of support is part of the ethos of Sarah’s own Irish Dancing school.  She tells us:
“At the Sarah Clarke Academy, we focus very much on being a team and I teach my dancers to have the mentality that they are going to strive to be the best they can be but not to the detriment or cost of others feelings and abilities.”  Training Irish Dancers in all areas of Irish Dance is highly important to Sarah.
Like all Irish Dancing teachers, Sarah still struggles to balance her teaching career with her other personal and professional responsibilities.  She does admit, “It is difficult to find time for everything because teaching Irish Dancing requires so many extra hours of work outside of class time.  You really have to try hard and devote time to other things and people in your life.”
Sarah looks back on her time with “Lord of the Dance” and “Feet of Flames” with great fondness and gratitude.  She realises that she and the teachers in Mainland Europe are largely indebted to the success of the shows.  “Without the success of the shows in Europe, the awareness and desire to learn Irish Dancing would not be present here.  The energy and feeling that the shows give to people is what inspires them to learn and provides us with an opportunity to open Irish Dancing Classes on the continent.”  She is needless to say delighted that the European Dancers are now “Getting the Feis Bug”!
Sarah and her school have gone from strength to strength since she first opened its doors.  She has overcome the language barrier; even learning a bit of the lingo herself and her class in Paris is flourishing.
Sarah has high hopes for the future and based on her past accomplishments, she should have no problems in achieving the goals she has set.  She sets her sights high.
“It would be my dream to have dancers on stage in a World Irish Dancing Championship result”
With the dedication and talent of young Irish Dancing Teachers like Sarah in mainland Europe, we are certain that it won’t be too long before Sarah’s dream is realised.  Her school is one to watch.
For more information about Sarah and her school please click on the link below.