Sarah Ingley

Sarah’s life work has been merging dance, education, and her love for people.

She Irish danced at major events like Southern Region Oireachtas and Celtic Fest Mississippi, where she also taught the children’s dance class. She professionally performed three full-production national tours across the US, including Las Vegas, with Nashville’s Christmas With The Celts, as broadcast nationwide on PBS. She choreographed and performed with Gaelic Storm (the band in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Titanic) on the band’s 2022 and also 2023 Florida tours. Last year, she choreographed six mainstage theatre shows, performed by Academy dancers, at Busch Gardens Tampa. In 2003 she danced for former United States President Jimmy Carter at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains, GA, as contracted entertainment at an official Carter Center event. Sarah and/or her students frequently share the stage next to Irish superstars like Cherish the Ladies, David Geaney, Tyler Schwartz, The High Kings, Donny Golden, Cara Butler, Lunasa, and Hanneke Cassel. Sarah’s students opened three times for world-renowned Riverdance as the pre-show educational entertainment. They were post-show entertainers for a production of Celtic Nights on its US tour in 2014.

Sarah graduated highest honors from University of Florida’s Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. She is a five-time guest lecturer for her alma mater, presenting routinely for University of Florida Performing Arts. Sarah is an ardent education enthusiast. She brings in master teachers - most recently England’s Chris Naish, founder/director of social-media stars Fusion Fighters. Previous workshop teachers include World Champions, Riverdance principals, and Lord of the Dance cast members. Dancers from Disney’s Raglan Road have also guest taught. Sarah herself performed at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, as part of a 2015 New Year’s Eve special TV broadcast across the North, South, and Central Americas.

Outside of her dance career, Sarah is the library circulation supervisor at Santa Fe College, where she also serves on the Student Conduct Board, Career Service Council, and as an Achieve Mentor. Prior to this, she was a public-library teen specialist. A former K-5 charter-school teacher; she holds a full background check. For 13 years she was head dance writer for The Gainesville Sun; she is former copy editor of Dancer Magazine, a national full glossy publication. She was one of only 25 women nationwide chosen to be brand ambassador for Activyst, a Los Angeles-based clothing company funding improved social progress for underserved minor girls worldwide.

Sarah is the proud parent of a CLRG World Championships and NYC-based professional dancer in his own right. Sarah treasures her hometown and is honored to operate our Academy, where she is grateful for each dancer here. In May 2024, Guide to Greater Gainesville will honor Sarah with their annual Fierce Award, which recognizes local women leaders.