WHO'S WHO IN TRINITY IRISH DANCE COMPANY?
MARK HOWARD (Founding Artistic Director/Choreographer), an Emmy Award-winning choregrapher has, for three and a half decades, been transcending craft to produce art that simultaneously represents the past while looking to the future. Born in Yorkshire, England and raised in Chicago’s Rogers Park, Howard began dancing at eight, teaching at 17, launched the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance at age 20, and coached the first American team to win gold at the World Championships of Irish Dance by 25. Howard would go on to redefine what was possible for American teams, becoming the first to win gold in all team categories. In 1990, the non-profit Trinity Irish Dance Company was formed to celebrate and further Howard pioneering his distinct movement genre, ‘progressive Irish dance’. In the late '80s and early '90s, Howard was a regular guest on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson and has worked extensively in TV and film with a wealth of celebrities from Tom Hanks and Conan O’Brien to Jimmy Fallon and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. His work has brought numerous grants and awards, from choreographer’s fellowships with the National Endowment for the Arts to his recent induction into the 2023 Irish American Hall of Fame. This year, he was named one of the Top 100 Irish Americans by Irish America Magazine for the fourth time.
CHELSESA HOY (Associate Artistic Director/Choreographer/ Dancer)'s diverse skill set and affinity for connecting with her community made her uniquely equipped for a career in the performing arts. Over the past decade, she has become a major player in the performing arts world. Hoy’s work as a choreographer and dancer has been celebrated by audiences and critics worldwide - from New York City’s Joyce Theater to Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre to Tokyo’s Orchard Hall. A Denver native, Hoy joined the Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) in Chicago in 2014 and was named TIDC’s Associate Artistic Director in 2018. As a formidable performer, choreographer, Associate Artistic Director, and organizational leader, Hoy has been at the heart of shaping and evolving this important cultural organization throughout the past decade. She recently celebrated the world premiere of The Sash, her third co-choreographed work with Howard, following An Sorcas (2018) and Taking the Mick (2024). This year, she was named to the “40 under 40” by the Irish Echo. A powerful activist and artist, Hoy is proud to join Howard as they spearhead the future of this cultural art form. the band
BRENOSHEA (Guitar, vocals, and composer) is a singer-songwriter originally from Killarney, Ireland who moved to the United States in the late '90s. Since then, he has become a veteran of New York City’s songwriter scene and has released five albums that have garnered praise from critics and press around the world. TIDC’s lead singer for over 25 years, with or without a guitar in hand, O’Shea excels at drawing people in. His latest album Midatlantic Ghost, a beautiful acoustic record with songs of leaving and of love, is available on iTunes. Visit www.brendanosheamusic.com for more info.
CHRIS DEVLIN (Guest Artist) is a Chicago-based musician who began playing guitar at eight years old. He has since grown as a multi-instrumentalist and is a professional analog recording engineer and producer. Devlin has been a collaborator with varied musical acts across the country and was a key member of the band Rookie, which saw nationwide success as a touring rock band. Devlin took his first trip to Japan with the company in 2016, and is incredibly honored to share his talents with TIDC on international stages.
JAKE JAMES (Fiddle and Bódhran), is a two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, bodhrán player, and dancer from New York City. He has been called “one of the finest and most accomplished young musicians around,” and his 2018 album Firewood was deemed an “outstanding debut solo recording” (The Irish Echo). Since then, he has released In Reel Time with fellow NYC flute player Brenda Dowling and become a member of The Consequences who released their debut album When You Weren’t Looking in summer 2023. Jake has performed at various venues including the Irish Arts Center, BB King's, Gracie Mansion, and Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he has a Masters in Composition from the Aaron Copland School of Music. Visit jakedjames.com for Jake’s performance schedule and more info.
STEVEN RUTLEDGE (Percussionist) is a Portland-born, Chicagobased freelance musician and music instructor with a strong passion for playing and teaching music. Growing up in Portland, Steven studied at the University of Oregon and received a BA in Drum Set and Percussion Performance from Columbia College Chicago. While there, he spent three years studying privately with Chicagobased musician Tom Hipskind, who is currently one of the most soughtafter drummers in the Midwest. He joined the TIDC band in 2018 for his first tour of Japan and will be entering his 8th touring season with the company.
TOBY ELLIOT (Percussionist) is a Chicago-based freelance drummer, percussionist, and teacher known for his versatility across a wide range of musical styles. Equally at home in jazz clubs, concert halls, theaters, and rock venues, Toby performs everything from straightahead jazz and classical orchestral repertoire to rock, pop, and experimental music. He currently studies at the DePaul University School of Music. This is Toby's first appearance with TIDC.
guest artists
MICHELLE DORRANCE (Choreographer) is "one of the most imaginative tap choreographers working today” (The New Yorker), at once a composer and a choreographer, she is known for deeply musical, highly physical, and emotionally compelling work that lives at the intersection of innovation, tradition, and risk. Mentored by Gene Medler (North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble), she was fortunate to study under many of the last master hoofers. Commissions include Martha Graham Dance Company, Vail Dance Festival, American Ballet Theatre, and New York City Center. Theater and film work includes James Lapine’s Flying Over Sunset, and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! A 2018 Doris Duke Artist, 2017 Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow, and 2015 MacArthur Fellow, Dorrance is humbled to have been acknowledged and supported by United States Artists, The Joyce Theater, Sadler’s Wells, the Alpert Awards, Jacob’s Pillow, Princess Grace Foundation-USA, The Field, American Tap Dance Foundation, the Bessie Awards, and the Olivier Awards. Dorrance is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dorrance Dance, holds a
Bachelor of Arts from New York University and an honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of North Carolina.
STEPHANIE MARTINEZ (Choreographer), a Chicago-based choreographer, takes audiences on dynamic journeys driven by the kinetic energy of her awardwinning works spanning 15+ years. Her creations have been commissioned by top companies including Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Hispánico, with theater credits at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and American Repertory Theatre. Martinez’s bold, contemporary voice pushes the boundaries of ballet, crafting over 70 works for professional and collegiate programs nationwide. Recognized for her contributions as a female artist of color, she has received numerous grants and acclaim, with the Chicago Tribune hailing her as a “chameleon” of choreography. Martinez is the founder and artistic director of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, established in July 2020.
SANDY SILVA (Choreographer) is an award-winning performer, choreographer, composer, teacher, producer, and internationally-acclaimed percussive dance artist. She draws from global percussive practices infusing movement with themes, vocal integration, theater, and impeccable musicality. The result is a singular and powerful form of performance storytelling forged through movement and sound.
PAUL MARSHALL (Filmmaker), is an award winning photographer and videographer from the North of Ireland. He graduated MFA Fine Art with distinction from the Belfast School of Art and operates a one-man suite of technical production services in photo, video, 3D, 360, and VR. Paul also now teaches video to photographers part time at the school of art. At heart, Paul sums up his role simply as ‘storyteller.’ Paul has a long history with Trinity Irish Dance Company spanning over 20 years as percussionist, photographer, and videographer, and is a former member of Different Drums of Ireland. Having grown up during The Troubles, Paul brings a wealth of lived experience and a singular perspective to this work.
KEVIN SHARKEY (Composer) was born in the early 70s in Derry, Northern Ireland. Growing up during ‘The Troubles,’ Sharkey found himself too close to a bomb blast. While recovering from the injuries that resulted, Sharkey discovered a deep passion for music and a love of diverse cultures. He began playing drums in 1986, and has been playing professionally since 1990, with an eclectic mix of bands, recording projects, tours, and workshops. Sharkey’s original soundtrack Alternative 12th was the inspiration for Trinity Irish Dance Company’s most recent work, The Sash
CLEEK SCHREY (Guest Musician) is a fiddler, improviser, and composer from Virginia, now based in NYC. Recent engagements include the Beckett in London Festival with Gare St. Lazare, a solo appearance at the Kilkenny Arts Festival, and Roulette Intermedium with David Behrman in a concert curated by Meredith Monk. He has studied composition with Behrman, Paul Caputo, Bunita Marcus, and Ronald Kuivila. The journal Sound Post has noted that Cleek “possesses a rare combination of traits: deep respect for traditional music and the people who make it, and an unbounded curiosity about new directions for sound.” He is currently pursuing a Masters in Music Composition at Wesleyan University.
TAYLOR YOCUM (Guest Dancer) began her dance career in Spokane, Washington studying ballet at Spokane Ballet Studio under the direction of Sara Donnelly. She graduated in December of 2021 with a BFA from SUNY Purchase College. Taylor is a company member and co-rehearsal assistant of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, and serves as a choreographic assistant to Stephanie Martinez. She has previously performed with South Chicago Dance Theatre and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Taylor has choreographed for Danceworks Chicago and Thodos Dance Chicago’s
New Dances, COMMON Conservatory and Trifecta Dance Festival and she was the Associate Movement Director alongside Stephanie Martinez for A.R.T’s world premiere of Kate Hamill’s The Odyssey. guest artists
HALEY BURDETTE (Production Manager & Lighting Director) is a New York based lighting designer and programmer. This is her fourth season with TIDC! Haley has worked on and off Broadway, regionally, and toured throughout the US and abroad. Select credits include design for Yin Yue Dance Company’s Ripple, both the 2021 world premiere at 92St Y and the 2022 and 2024 European tours; and programming for DanceAfrica 2022, 2023, and 2024 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (LD: Al Crawford). Haley holds a BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
ALEXANDRA STROUSE (Stage Manager) is a New York City-based dance stage manager, performer, choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator. Alexandra’s stage management experience includes her work as Production Stage Manager for HopeBoykinDance and Trinity Irish Dance Company. Alexandra’s recent work also includes her role as Production Intern for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Production Assistant Stage Manager for Ailey II. Alexandra graduated Magna Cum Laude from Elon University, earning her BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and BA in Strategic Communications.
HENRY MAYR (Sound Engineer) is a New York based freelance sound engineer and designer specializing in percussive dance. He has worked with companies such as Dorrance Dance, Music from the Sole, Trinity Irish Dance Company, and Luke Hickey, and numerous productions at Lincoln Center, Little Island, Chelsea Factory, and Jacob's Pillow.