Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathleen Dower.

Hi Cathleen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I started dancing at the age of five and like most American girls I took classes in ballet, tap, and jazz, but it wasn’t until I saw Riverdance on Broadway a few years later that a fire was lit inside me. From the moment the curtains closed I knew I wanted to learn this style of dance which originated in Ireland and where my family originally hailed from. Luckily for me and as fate would have it, my Grandmother found my former Irish dance teacher who had immigrated from Ireland herself and was now teaching at the local Irish American social club in my neighborhood.

My dance teacher, the late Fedelmia Davis instilled in me an even greater love and passion for Irish dance, along with discipline, drive, and determination. From there, I knew I wanted to keep dancing and give back to the community in all the ways Irish dance had given me a sense of community, belonging, and friendship. Therefore, I was so grateful when the opportunity arose to teach Irish dance at a local dance studio in September 2012. Which I gladly signed up for and taught there for a few years until the owners decided to retire.

It was at this time in 2017, when I had built a significant following that I decided to strike out on my own and start my own Irish dance school, The Fitzgerald School of Irish Dance. The Fitzgerald School is named in honor of my Mother Maryellen Fitzgerald Dower, who took me to countless classes and dance competitions over the years and instilled in me her work ethic along with a love for my Irish heritage.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It hasn’t been a smooth road at all to be honest, there were certainly struggles and challenges along the way. When I had first started teaching Irish dance my Mother had been recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of Ovarian cancer and the diagnosis was not a good one. To me dancing is what saved me in so many ways, it saved me when my whole world was crumbling and falling apart around me and would never again be the same when my Mother passed in December 2013 a few weeks before Christmas.

I was very close to my Mother and losing her at 26 years old deeply affected me. Navigating such a monumental loss at such a young age was not an easy process and neither is being an entrepreneur, it is not for the faint of heart, but I am so grateful for all the people along the way who stood by me and believed in me and supported me and who still do to this day.

Another challenge along the way was when the Global Pandemic happened in March of 2020, forcing us to cancel all parades, performances, and in person classes. Thank God for Zoom, however our school did lose a significant number of students at that time, and it took quite a while to build it back up to pre pandemic levels. I’m just grateful that my business survived the pandemic and that my school continues to grow!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Fitzgerald School of Irish Dance ?

The Fitzgerald School of Irish Dance is based in Old Bridge, New Jersey and we teach classes in traditional Irish dance ages 3 up through adult. We offer classes for both the competitive and recreational dancer. Our dance school is a proud member of CRDM USA which offers our dancers a chance to compete not only in the Tri-State area but also around the U.S and even in Ireland.

What sets my dance school apart from others and one of the biggest benefits of joining a smaller dance school like ours is the personalized attention each dancer receives. With smaller class sizes, students get more one-on-one instruction, allowing them to progress at their own pace and refine their technique with direct feedback. Beyond the dance floor, we foster a close-knit, supportive environment where dancers and families truly get to know one another.

Our school feels more like a family, where every student is valued, encouraged, and given the opportunity to grow in confidence and skill. This sense of community creates a positive and motivating atmosphere, making learning both fun and rewarding.

This strong sense of community and personal growth is what I am most proud of. Watching my students flourish both in their skills and in their confidence while building lasting friendships is truly what makes our school special.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?

Growing up personality wise I was very shy and very reserved except when I was around my close friends and family. As far as interests go, I was very athletic and played a lot of sports such as soccer and rode horses. In High School, I ran long distance track and played Field Hockey, along with taking several classes a week in Irish dance all over New Jersey and competing in competitions all over the tri-state area. I have two older brothers who were both athletes and I always felt I needed to keep up with them.

As I went on to college, I came out of my shell more and I kept on dancing and even started the Stockton Irish Dance Club when I attended Stockton University. However, I did not play at the collegiate level as I wanted to focus more on academia. I never lost the love for running though and I went on to run several half marathons including the Rutgers Half Marathon and Jersey Shore Half Marathon. I even completed a full marathon, the Philadelphia Marathon in 2012.

As far as personal interests go, I am an avid reader, I love History, and I love to travel. I hope to do more traveling soon.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fitzgeraldsirishdance.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Fitz_School_Of_Irish_Dance