Dwyer-Whelan Irish Dancers

IN a teaching career spanning almost 50 years Maureen Whelan has produced thousands of Irish dancers – hundreds of whom have become champions.

 Her students, both girls and boys, have gone on to win State and national titles and some have enjoyed success in New Zealand, the US and Ireland itself.

 To mark the 50th anniversary of the dancing studio which her sister Joan started in 1955, Maureen wants to get together with as many former students as possible for a celebration.

 Maureen, who now lives in Kogarah Bay, showed great promise and went on to win State and national titles as well as the City of Sydney and Railway eisteddfods.

She joined her sister in 1957, taking over the studio in 1961 when Joan returned full-time to her first love of music. Joan later studied at the Julliard School of Music in New York and also became a fellow of Trinity College, Dublin.

Maureen first taught Irish dance at Catholic schools in Kogarah, Hurstville and Kingsgrove areas as well as taking private students.

“Apart from physical culture there wasn’t much organised sport or other activities for the kids, and they thought Irish dancing was pretty special.”

She now teaches in Surry Hills and in South Sydney, as well as Forest Lodge.

In the 1990s her daughter Bernadette, herself a national and NSW champion, joined her as a teacher and the name of the studio changed to the Dwyer-Whelan Academy of Irish Dance.

Among former students of the academy are several who have since started their own Irish dancing schools. These include Jan Walton, Elizabeth Lewis, Donna Cannon and Geraldine French.

Maureen said the biggest impact on Irish dancing was Riverdance and shows like Lord of the Dance that followed in the 1990s.

“Riverdance impacted on the whole world and brought Irish dance to a huge audience,” she said.

“Where once upon a time only those who were Irish or of Irish descent were aware of dancing, now we have all sorts of nationalities – including people of Portugese, Italian, Indo-nesian and Chinese descent in the studio.

Maureen said the spike in the popularity of Irish dancing also contributed to a growing industry in dancing dresses, shoes, wigs and accessories.

Maureen said things have changed a lot since she competed all those years ago. Today the dancers compete in large auditoriums and halls.

They can phone Maureen on 9587 6512 or Bernadette on 0409 915 323.

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