Abbey Pride, TCRG

Abbey, a born Texan, grew up in Georgia. She began dancing at age 6 and became 1 of only 4 champion dancers in the region (Irish Dance was not yet available to the Southern Region). Because classes were few and far between she began coordinating weekly lessons, and choreographing and scheduling shows at age 13. At the time it was hard for Abbey to accept not having weekly instruction. However, it taught her how to break steps down and make the necessary corrections needed in the teachers absence. Competitions posed an even more difficult challenge. For years there was only one feis a year within driving distance, 12 to 15 hours driving distance! Never the less, Abbey was determined to make it as a world champion competitor regardless of her disadvantages.

In 1996 after qualifing at the Eastern Region Oireachtas in New York, she became the first girl from the South to qualify and compete at the World Championships in Dublin, Ireland. After reaching her goal of the “Worlds”, Abbey then turned her focus on teaching. While most her dancing friends continued competing or performing in shows, Abbey moved to Savannah, Georgia and not only began college, but she opened the Glor na h’Eireann (Pride of Ireland) Academy of Irish Dance. Ever determined, she became the first certified Instructor from the South and youngest TCRG (19) in the World. From the time Abbey last took the World stage in Ireland she has consistently had her own dancers qualifing for regional, national, and World Championships.

Abbey left her career at the Lab as a Histologist in 2005 for the opportunity to give her dancers all the benefits of being a full time Irish dance instructor. Her philosophy has always been that hard work and dedication can get you anywhere regardless of what is available to you. Her driven work techniques and infectious love of Irish Dance, its music, and her students, motivates her dancers to achieve their own personal goals! She is not yet 30 and has over 23 years of Irish dance experience. She is the youngest TCRG with dancers competing at a regional, national, and World Championship levels.

August (2006) was Abey's10th anniversary of having her own school!