Biography
Atlanta Irish Dance by Burke Connolly is The Premiere Irish Dance Academy in Georgia and one of the top Irish Dance Companies in North America, with their teams and dancers ranked 1st Nationally & Regionally.
Emma Burke, ADCRG
Co-Director of Atlanta Irish Dance
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 worldwide. 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 in the 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 son Patrick. 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
Co-Director of Atlanta Irish Dance
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 a 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 the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America.
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, 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 the Highest Honors and went on to complete her Master of Architecture at the University of Illinois in Chicago in 2011. She worked at an Architecture firm in Atlanta for many years before focusing solely on Irish Dance.
Erin has three children, Declan, Riordan & Margaret, all three of whom dance and compete with the Atlanta Irish Dance family! Erin is passionate about Irish dance and enjoys spreading her love and talent for Irish dancing to her students.