Emma Burke

ADCRG

Emma was born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in Atlanta. She attended St. Pius X Catholic High School, the University of Georgia, and Mercer University School of Law.

Emma is the current Vice Regional Director for the North American Irish Dance Teachers Association- Southern Region. Emma is also an internationally certified Irish dance adjudicator (ADCRG), which allows her to judge Irish dance competitions world wide! Emma is a former litigation attorney and former law partner in the area of Commercial Litigation and Construction Law. She is a classically trained flautist, and in keeping with her Irish roots, she loves to break out her tin whistle on occasion.

Emma began Irish dancing in Atlanta at the age of 10 with Georgia's very first Irish dance school. She continued Irish dancing under the instruction of June Butler, owner of the world-renowned Butler Academy of Irish Dance.

During her dancing career, Emma competed all over the world, winning titles throughout. Emma is a four time Southern Region Champion, consistently placed top 5 in the North American Nationals, and competed in the World Championships of Irish dance many times, earning her a coveted World Medal.

Outside of dance, Emma and her husband, Pat, live in Buckhead with their beautiful daughter, Rosemarie, and red-headed son Patrick, who joined the Little Tots class this year! Emma’s passion for Irish dance grows deeper every day, as does her commitment to cultivating that same drive and passion in the hearts of her students, regardless of age or experience.

Erin Connolly

ADCRG

Erin was born in Toronto, Canada and started Irish dancing at the age of 5 with the renowned Butler Academy of Irish Dance. Her parents, from County Roscommon in Ireland, instilled in her the love for Irish dance at a very young age. Erin's first dance teacher was Mae Butler, who was one of the founding members of IDTANA, The North American Irish Dancing Teachers Association. She continued dancing under the direction of Mae's daughter June Butler for the majority of her competitive career and later danced with Rose Fearon when the school became "The Butler Fearon School of Canada" (Now known as Butler-Fearon-O'Connor).

Erin's competitive titles include four-time Southern Region champion, placing several times in the top 10 at the North American Irish Dance Championships, as well as recalling at the All-Ireland and World Championships of Irish dance.

Her accomplishments led to performances with the Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies's, the Wolf Tones, and Eileen Iverson. Erin also joined "The Trinity Irish Dance Company" and performed in various cities throughout North America. At the age of 20 Erin was asked to join the touring cast of "Riverdance - The Show". In 2008 Erin graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta with Highest Honors and went on to complete her Master of Architecture at the University of Illinois in Chicago in 2011.

She currently works at an Architecture firm in Atlanta while also spreading her love and talent of Irish dancing to her students. She has three young children Declan,  Riordan & Margaret, who she hopes will one day join the Burke Connolly dance family!

Christine Oresky

ADCRG

Christine started dancing at the age of 4 taking tap and ballet classes.  After seeing a cousin show off her Irish dancing skills at a family event, she began Irish dance lessons in the Washington DC area at the age of 13.  She competed regionally both as a soloist and on teams, and began assisting with classes at the age of 16.  She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she served in a leadership role in the Notre Dame Irish Dance Team, which performed at basketball games, football pep rallies, and other events around campus.

After returning to the Washington DC area in 2009, she began teaching classes for Aoibhneas an Rince, and passed her TCRG exam in January 2013.  In 2014, she became co-director of newly formed Southern Academy of Irish Dance - Virginia, a merger between Nashville, TN-based Southern Academy and Aoibhneas an Rince.  In her time at SAID-VA, she has trained successful dancers and teams to compete regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Christine recently relocated to the Atlanta area with her fiance Drew and pug, Biscuit, and works in commercial real estate in Buckhead.  She is excited to join the team at Burke Connolly and looks forward to sharing her passion for Irish dance with all students.

Natalie Findling

TCRG

Natalie was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. Natalie began Irish dancing in Atlanta at the age of 6 with the Mulligan School of Irish Dance in Marietta, GA. She continued Irish dancing in Detroit, MI at the O'Hare School of Irish Dance. From there she trained under the instruction of June Butler, owner of the word-renowned Butler Academy of Irish Dance. 

Throughout her career, Natalie competed at the regional, national and world level, qualifying for the World Championships of Irish Dance seven times and placing as high as 25th at the North American Irish Dance Championships. Natalie's titles also include Southern Region champion, 2004. 

Natalie currently resides in Atlanta and works as an advertising professional. She hopes to share the "bug" of Irish dance and help all students reach and push the boundaries of their potential. 

Molly Gareau

Teaching Assistant

After living mostly overseas for most of her childhood, Molly returned State side to the Washington DC area at age 11.  That same year she began Irish dancing with the O'Neill James School of Irish Dance in Falls Church, VA.  She quickly advanced to the level of Open Championship, and won the Southern Regional Oireachtas in 1999.  Molly also competed at the North American Irish Dance Championships twice, and was a 3 time World Championship qualifier. She continued to dance through college in Cincinnati with her Irish Band, Julia's Feathers, where they performed at local pubs, various cultural events, and Celtic festivals.

Molly graduated from Xavier University in 2002 with a BA in Music Performance (flute) and a BA in International Affairs.  Today Molly lives in Marietta, GA and works at several area high schools with their band programs, while also keeping up a private flute studio at home and playing with the  Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys time with her family, including husband Brian, and her five daughters.  Molly spends a lot of her free time working with her youngest daughter who was born with hydrocephalus, and always looks forward to the time she is able to spend at the Burke Connolly studio. She enjoys helping with classes and watching the students and her own daughters enjoy their love of Irish dancing. 

Danielle Peters

Teaching Assistant

Danielle was born and raised in Pompano Beach, FL and began Irish dancing at the age of 8 with the Harling Academy of Irish Dance. Under the direction of Maureen Harling-Welty, she advanced to Open Championship and successfully competed at the regional and national level in both solo and ceili competition, also having the opportunity to perform with the Chieftains, Eileen Iverson, and Danu.  

She continued to dance through college while she attended the University of Florida, at the Hogan School of Irish Dance under the instruction of Allison Hogan, placing in the top ten at the Southern Region Oireachtas.

She then attended Emory University for graduate school in Atlanta, GA, where she received her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree in 2017. While in school, she began dancing for Burke Connolly, recalling and placing at the North American Irish Dance Championships. 

She currently works as a physical therapist at an orthopedic physical therapy clinic in Atlanta and is thankful for the amazing opportunity to spread her love for Irish Dance with the students of Atlanta Irish Dance.