About US
THE IRISH STARS PARKER SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE
- OUR MISSION -
Our mission is established for the purpose of exploring the traditional and contemporary world of Irish dance. We offer a positive, fun-loving atmosphere for students who are interested in learning Irish dance for a majority of community performance purposes and to grow through competitive opportunities. We honor morals and values and try to instill that into our dancers in a loving Christian environment We foster learning and growing experiences that build student confidence, self-esteem, character, integrity, perseverence, community awareness and service to others. We set goals and aspire to learn dance and lessons we can apply to our future endeavors.
THE IRISH STARS PARKER SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE
- THE STORY -
Sisters, Dawn and Jacque Parker started Irish dance and trained with local CLRG TCRG's for over seven years, competed competitively at local and regional CLRG competitions, and had been teaching their own classes since 2005.
In 2005, they began teaching Irish dance physical education credit/non-credit courses and began the Moravian Star Irish Dance Club at Moravian College where they had the opportunity to share their love of Irish dance.
The Irish dance club formed a performance group called the Moravian Stars Irish Dance Troupe. The troupe performed around the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County area from 2005-2007. Appearances included Celtic Classic with Greenwich Meantime, Musikfest with the band Brother, and the Allentown St. Patrick's Day parade.
In June 2007, the Irish Stars Parker School of Irish dance was established. The School used different locations around Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Students started competing in regional open platform competitions where they took home awards in solo dancing, freestyle numbers and group performances.
In 2012, the Irish Stars students started competing under the Cumann Rince Naisiunta (CRN) organization, where Irish Stars students have won Regional, National, and World Placements.
The Irish Stars have since performed with Brother at Musikfest, at the Philadelphia Phillies "Irish Heritage Night", Philadelphia 76ers, WFMZ 69 News “Sunrise Morning Show” with Eve, Jaciel, and Matt, RCN’S Community Spotlight, State Theater, Arts Quest, Musikfest, Celtic Classic Highland Games, the Allentown St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Bethlehem Parade of Shamrocks, Allentown 250th Parade of Festival, Green Lane Irish and Scottish Festival, Allentown May Fair, Warren County Renaissance Faire, the Iron Pigs Celtic Night game, Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk hosted by the Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center, Easter Seals, Dream Come True, the Allentown Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Lehigh Valley restaurants, senior citizen centers, schools, and other local and regional venues events.
In January of 2013, the Parker sisters proudly opened their very first studio location which is now located on 427 Main Street, Suite 3, Hellertown, Pa 18055.
In 2013, the Irish Stars teachers choreographed for and students performed in two theatrical productions including the off-broadway production of Finnegan's Farewell at Arts Quest in Bethlehem and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and "Shrek the Musical" by "Sing for America" in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Please see our Performance Page for a current list of Events and Performances we will be showcased at!
From Spring 2008 - March 2020, the Irish Stars ran an after school Irish dance club and dance lessons at St. Theresa School in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. Students performed at school functions, in the Irish Stars Christmas Show, Parades and at Irish Stars St. Patrick's Day Ceili, along with other select outside performances.
The Parker sisters have taught Irish dance at Saucon Valley Elementary School's After School Workshops -6 week program - twice a year.
If you are in need of an Irish dance after school program, please contact Dawn and Jacque Parker for more information.
Today, our school is working on new endeavors for the future. They want to share their love of Irish dance with You. Sign up today!!
DAWN PARKER - OWNER /INSTRUCTOR
Dawn founded the Irish Stars Parker School of Irish Dance in June 2007. At the time, she was the founder and one of the instructors of the Moravian Star Irish Dance Troupe/Club, founded in 2005 at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education and English from Moravian College. Previously she graduated with an Associate Degree in Education from Northampton Community College.
Dawn studied Irish dance with her local IDTANA TCRGs for ten years and taught with them for seven years, where she established skills in performance, creating shows, costumes, choreography and set design. Over her decade of dancing, she performed with and for many events and organizations. She competed in local and regional feiseanna and performed for countless venues during her dancing career.
She was the founder and co-instructor of the Irish Dance Club after school program held at St. Theresa School in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, which was established in 2007.
In 2009, Dawn helped co-establish the North American Irish Dance Federation. In 2013, Dawn co-choreographed the Off Broadway Production of Finnegan's Farewell and Shrek the Musical.
Starting in 2013, Dawn joined the organization Cumann Rince Náisiúnta (CRN). As a member, she trained under CRN adjudicators from Dublin, Ireland, which in turn provides competitive opportunities for Irish Stars students to date.