Regan Academy of Irish Dance

Katie Regan Donovan, T.C R.G.

Katie Regan-Donovan started Irish dancing at the age of five under the direction of Ann Richens, a native of Dublin, Ireland, and has been dancing for 28 years. She has been deeply involved in Irish Dancing over the intervening years as a student, competitor, performer and now teacher. Katie has competed at both national and world levels. Katie is five-time Midwest Champion, placed second at the National Championships, and 7th in The Worlds Championship held in Galway, Ireland. Katie received the Overseas award in Galway, given to the dancer with the highest score in the competition from overseas.

In 1997, Katie went to London, England as one of the originating dancers in the Lagan Troupe of Riverdance the Show. Over the next 6 years she toured with the Lagan and Lee Troupes throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. She was fortunate enough to perform with the show in her home town of Columbus, Ohio four times. Katie looks upon her years with Riverdance as a rewarding experience having associated with the best dancers and musicians in the world.

Upon leaving Riverdance, Katie completed her An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelaca accreditation requirements and received her Irish Dance teaching credentials, T.C.R.G. in January of 2004. She opened The Regan Academy of Irish Dance in September of 2004 which has grown to close to 100 students.
Katie keeps in contact with her friends from Riverdance and answers the occasional call to return and perform when needed with the North American Flying Squad. Katie is happily married and has two children, Liam and Emma.

Nicole Rankin-Lindsay

Like Katie, Nicole started Irish dance at the age of five under the direction of Ann Richens and John Timm. She has been dancing for over 22 years and has been teaching for over 10. Nicole was one of the most accredited dancers in her school, winning her first Mid-West championship

when she was only 12 years old. She then went onto become an eight-time Midwest champion, five-time National champion, placed third at the Great Britain’s, second at the All-Ireland’s, and many Overseas awards. Nicole had the privilege of competing in the World Championships held in Ireland and Scotland eight times, placing in all but one and twice finished second in the World.

In 1999, Nicole joined Riverdance the Show as a member of their flying squad. This was a special group of dancers who would fly out to different cities when their time allowed. This was the ideal situation for Nicole because it allowed her to still compete and go to school. Over the years she flew out to cities all over the U.S. and Canada, joining Katie on almost all of the trips.

Now, Nicole is happily married with two children of her own, Mallory and James. She is studying to take her T.C.R.G. while continuing to train young dancers at the school in hope that one day, they too can reach the heights that she has achieved.

History of the School

The Regan Academy of Irish Dance was founded in September of 2004 by Katie Regan-Donovan. It began with only twenty-five beginner students dancing out of the Shamrock Club and a dance studio called Triple Force. Throughout the years, the school grew larger and larger with her students performing at numerous events around Ohio including the Dublin Irish Festival. Katie has also trained her students to compete in Irish dance competitions all around the Midwest. Here, they have excelled at a rapid pace in which some dancers, after only four years, are approaching the preliminary/championship level.

In December of 2007, the school consolidated into one studio located in Hilliard, Ohio. With the rapid growth of the school and the amount of time needed, the studio is only rented out to the Academy which has enabled Katie to offer more classes.

Katie Regan-Donovan introduced a new teacher and partner to her school in March of 2008. Nicole Rankin-Lindsay had been teaching with another local Irish dance school for over 10 years and made the decision to join the Regan Academy to live out her dream of teaching with Katie. The two grew up together dancing for the Richens/Timm Academy, and had always said that they would open their own school together. That time has come and the dynamic duo is taking the school to new heights with almost one hundred students and hopefully many more to come.