The Academy Director is Lauren McGrath Dutton, TCRG, who is an accredited Irish Dance Teacher with An Coimisiun (the Irish Dance Commission), in Dublin, Ireland.

The Academy has produced several regional and national championship dancers, as well as excellent performers. Since opening in January 2004, McGrath Academy students have danced at places such as the New Zealand Embassy, the Reston Chorale Foundations of Freedom Concert, the Landmark Theatre in Richmond, and in the Manassas Saint Patrick's Day Parade. The dancers have enjoyed performing with choice Irish bands such as Joe DeZarn and the Flaming Shillelaghs, Sior-og, and The Chieftains during their Kennedy Center concert. In addition, the students have performed for cultural and charitable organizations, among them The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Habitat for Humanity, the Knights of Columbus, and local nursing homes.

Lauren McGrath Dutton, TCRG and World Championship Irish Dancer, opened the McGrath Academy of Irish Dance in January 2004. Located in Northern Virginia and Maryland, the McGrath Academy is dedicated to teaching and promoting the culture rich form of traditional Irish dance throughout our community. As an active member of the world organization governing Irish Dance, 'An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha' of Dublin, Ireland, our students compete and perform traditional sets and ceili's and both solo and figure dance choreographies.

Lauren McGrath Dutton began Irish Step-Dancing at the age of two under the instruction of her mother, Jeanne McGrath Pearson. Lauren danced competitively as a solo and figure (group) dancer winning hundreds of trophies and medals, ultimately progressing to the Open Championship competition category. Her most recent achievements include qualifying for and dancing in the World Irish Dance Championships in 2003. Lauren has studied Irish Dance with Reagan Wicke, Pauline Malone, Jacky Kennedy, Liam Harney, and of course, Jeanne McGrath Pearson.

Lauren earned a bachelors and masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She then relocated to Northern Virginia to begin her engineering career and ultimately open the McGrath Academy of Irish Dance.

updated July 2, 2008