​Sheryl Watkins TCRG – Principal Teacher
Sheryl has had a long involvement in Irish dancing . Having started classes at the age of eight, Sheryl has enjoyed a successful and enjoyable competitive Irish dancing career both as a dancer and as a teacher. A five-time Queensland Solo Championship Runner-Up and Queensland Irish Association & Mid Year Feis Title winner, Sheryl has won many State team dancing titles and is an Australian Team Champion. She was also ranked in the Top 4 nationally for solos. In 1986, she was a recall finalist in the World Irish Dancing Championships, which were held in Limerick in Ireland, finishing in the Top 20.

Sheryl was also invited to perform with the internationally-acclaimed Irish group “The Chieftains” during their Brisbane tour in 1987 and took the stage at QPAC with the famous musicians. In 1989, “The Chieftains” invited her to join their Australian tour but the arrival of a baby daughter only weeks before the tour meant Sheryl was unable to accept the offer.

After retiring from competitive dance, Sheryl set her sights on teaching and was appointed Principal Teacher at the Queensland Irish Association, where she schooled almost 70 students from children to adults. Under her instruction, the QIA Dancers collected many solo and team dancing titles including an Australian Team Championship title in 1991.

After two years at the QIA, Sheryl established her own dance school – the WATKINS ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE – with classes operating in Ipswich and Brisbane’s western suburbs. Since its inception in 1992, the WATKINS ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE has produced many solo and team champions and its dancers have been placed in the Top 10 in the world.

Sheryl Watkins is a qualified Irish dance teacher, having passed the comprehensive TCRG (Teachers) Exam. Registered with the An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha (Irish Dancing Commission) in Dublin and the Australian Irish Dancing Association (AIDA) in Queensland and AIDA Inc nationally.

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​Teacher

   
Catherine Miller TCRG – Teacher
Catherine started her Irish dancing career learning the elegant art form of Festival Dancing in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 2006, Catherine and her family moved to Brisbane and began dancing with the Watkins Academy, where she competed at local, State, National and International levels across solos and teams for many years.
Her solo competitive dance career highlights include winning the prestigious Queensland Senior Ladies Championship Title; Top 4 at the Australian National Championships and, in Teams, she was part of a team that won the coveted Senior Mixed 4-Hand OC National Title plus many State Team titles and Top 5 National team placings.
Catherine was a valued member of the Watkins Academy's renowned performance troupe - Jig Central - performing regularly at the Woodford Folk Festival and with the Queensland Pops Orchestra. And she was also a cast member of A Taste of Ireland Company's "A Celtic Christmas" shows.
Catherine gained her TCRG qualification in 2022 and is registered with CLRG, AIDA Queensland and AIDA Inc nationally.