Our Instructors
Sheila Shovlin, TCRG
Sheila@ShovlinAcademy.com
Sheila is a certified instructor of stepdancing, as sanctioned by An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha, The Irish Dancing Commission,
based in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. She is former champion dancer who began dancing at the age of 4. She has won numerous awards
at the highest levels of competition and has distinguished herself nationally and internationally during her fourteen-year
competitive career, including the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, World Championships of Irish Dance, held annually in Ireland.
Elizabeth Shovlin Grinko, TMRF
Liz@ShovlinAcademy.com
Liz is a certified céilÍ dance instructor, as sanctioned by An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha,
The Irish Dancing Commission, based in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Also a former step dancer, Liz spent
nine years as a teacher's assistant and performance moderator for the Burke Irish Centre Dancers in Pittsburgh.
In addition to teaching with the Shovlin Academy, Liz is currently a céilÍ and set-dancing instructor
for the Pittsburgh CéilÍ Club.
Peter Shovlin, Jr., TCRG
Peter is a certified instructor of stepdancing, also sanctioned by An Coimisiun. A former champion Irish stepdancer,
Peter competed for ten years. He is also a former professional ballet dancer, having worked as a student-apprentice
with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre under the direction of Ms. Patricia Wilde, and as a company member of Ballet Metropolitan,
Columbus, Ohio, and the Irish National Ballet Company, Cork City, Ireland. In 1990, he founded the Pittsburgh CéilÍ Club,
a membership organization that continues to promote traditional Irish céilÍ and set dancing in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Patricia Shovlin
Patsy Shovlin is also a former student of the Burke School of Irish Dance, having competed in open prizewinner competitions
for ten years, where she won various medals & trophies in both Solo and Team competitions, including Figure Dancing and Choreography.
Ms. Shovlin is also a past Chairperson of the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh Feis, which she held for over five years, with
extensive experience in planning and working with the North American Feis Commission (NAFC). She is among the first women
to have ever held the position of 'Chairperson' in the world of competitive Irish dance.
John Shovlin
John is a former champion dancer who began dancing and competing at the age of 5. He has won numerous awards at the highest
levels of competition during his eighteen-year competitive career, including being the first Pittsburgh native to compete in
the Regional/National US Championships, as well the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, World Championships of Irish Dance, held
annually in Ireland. John is also a past president of the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh and a player for the Pittsburgh
Celtics Gaelic football team.
We are pleased to have the following Teacher Assistants working on our staff:
Ms. Maura McGregor
Ms. Angelica Paletta
and Ms. Anastasia Paletta in Pittsburgh.
Ms. Jordan Long in Johnstown
