Joy
Enjoy the movement, the music, and the environment
Engagement
Experience high levels of engagement, an important element of well-being
Meaning
Set personal goals and work toward achieving them
at each class
Relationships
Build positive relationships that can last a lifetime
Accomplishment
Master new movements and participate in performances and competitions
ABOUT TAMORA SCHOOL
Our Mission
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The Tamora School of Irish Dance aims to share the love of Irish dance with both Irish and non-Irish alike in a family-oriented environment where each student creates goals for themselves and learns how to achieve those goals through discipline and hard work. Instructors hope to help dancers develop patience, teamwork, communication skills, responsibility, and self-efficacy while establishing lifelong friendships along the way. The goal is that these values apply not only to Irish dance but to all aspects of their lives so that what they learn during their pastime lasts them a lifetime.
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Our Teaching Approach
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We have a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to Irish Dance, teaching our dancers to be strong dancers and people. We are a connected community where dancers create bonds and abilities for life. We tailor our approach to the dancer, whether they attend classes simply for enjoyment, exercise, performances and/or competitions. For those interesting in competing, we have four certified teachers. Dancers may compete in local, national, and international competitions. We have had 6 Western US Region Champions, and our dancers have taken top 5 placements at the North American Irish Dancing Nationals and top 10 and medaled at the World Irish Dancing Championships.​
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INSTRUCTORS
TASHA STRASZEWSKI, PhD, MA, TCRG
Founder & Director, Instructor
Tasha started Irish Dancing at the age of 9. Not initially keen on getting up to perform on a stage, it was not until a year later that she participated in a recital to test it out (with a lot of encouragement from Anne Painter). She went on to compete locally, nationally, and internationally. She won the Western US Region Oireachtas, placed top ten at the North American Irish Dancing Championships, and recalled at the All-Ireland Championships and World Championships. While still competing, she began assisting her former teacher, Michelle Painter Larson, TCRG. She passed her teaching credential examination and opened the Tamora School of Irish Dance in 2013 in her hometown, San Dimas. Teaching holds a special place in her heart. She enjoys sharing her passion and seeing her students achieve their personal goals through rigorous training and hard work, while making sure to remember why they dance. Outside of Irish dance, Tasha has experimented with other forms of dance upon completing a minor in dance as an undergraduate. She has a doctoral degree in applied social psychology from Claremont Graduate University, with a focus on health behavior change and well-being research, and works as a government analyst.
BRIDIE MALLON, TCRG
Studio Manager, Instructor
Bridie Mallon has been dancing since she was 5 years old, becoming an open champion level dancer by the age of 9. She has placed highly at local, regional, national, and international competitions. These accolades include a top 3 placement at the Western US Regional Oireachtas, placements at the North American Irish Dancing Championships and the All-Scotland Championships, and qualifying for the World Championships. After almost 20 years of dancing, she officially retired from her competitive career to pursue her passion for teaching and helping others through Irish Dance. Her way of teaching balances fitness, mental health, artistry, and musicality with rigor and compassion. Bridie began teaching as an assistant at Tamora School of Irish Dance in 2018 and earned her TCRG certification in October 2022. Bridie graduated from the University of California, Irvine in June 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Political Science. She currently works as a Substitute Teacher for BUSD and is a lobbyist program advisor for CAL-Y’s Youth and Government. She hopes to continue her studies and obtain a postgraduate degree in the near future.
KATE SHAUGHNESSY, TCRG
Instructor
Kate began dancing at age 3. She tried nearly every style of dance, then fell in love with Irish Dancing at age 9. Kate has secured top placements at the regional and national levels, and she has qualified and competed at the World Championships several times. She retired from competition to begin her career in show dancing and traveled the United States doing what she loves most. After touring, Kate took her many years of assistant teaching experience, including teaching alongside Tony Comerford, TCRG, ADCRG, and received her TCRG in 2016, when she opened the Cor Cara Irish Dance studio. After joining Tamora School of Irish Dance in 2020 and beginning the next step in her Irish Dance teaching career, Kate hopes that her passion for teaching and Irish Dancing shines through every dancer she teaches.
JULIA STRASZEWSKI, EdD, MEd, TCRG
Instructor
Julia has been dancing since age 4 and Irish Dancing since age 8. She has a passion for teaching, traveling, understanding culture, cycling, and, of course, Irish Dance. Julia traveled around the US and the world with Irish Dance. She retired as top 3 at the Western US Region Oireachtas, 10th at the All-Scotland Championships, 23rd at the North American Irish Dancing Championships, and a 3-time qualifier for the World Championships. Her favorite part about dance is understanding its many facets, playing with the rhythm, and bringing joy to the experience, to those dancing, and those watching others dance. Outside of Irish Dance, Julia has a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelors degree in International Business and Marketing. She currently works as a full-time high school Spanish teacher, teaches adult school part-time, and is a Spanish language coach. Her life's motto is to never stop learning.
CONTACT
Contact us about classes, performances,
and studio rental inquiries
