School of Irish Dancing
For website Info/Comments email: web@denogla.com
Visits since May 2011
Joanne Connell-Knox, TCRG was born in County Cavan Ireland. She immigrated to the United States along with her parents in 1984.
Joanne began dancing when she was 4 years old at The Ancient Order of Hibernians Club in Hamilton, NJ.
During the early years Joanne enjoyed many local competitions, performances and parades. In 1994 she became a student with the DeNogla School of Irish Dance and this is when her competitive career began to thrive. She travelled across the United States for various Regional and National competitions. In 1999 she went to Ireland to compete in the All-Ireland and World Championships as both a solo and team competitor.
In 2004 she graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Joanne continues to work at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in the Labor and Delivery department.
In 2007 Joanne passed the TCRG (Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha) exam which is a three day test that certifies Irish Dance instructors all over the world. It is very important to Joanne that her dancers find a love for Irish culture through the art of dancing. Our school is very proud to focus on community service and giving back as well as the competitive side of dancing. Our dancer's travel to feis' (competitions) frequently and many of our students have competed at the Mid-Atlantic regional Championship which takes place annually in Philadelphia, PA. We have a community service event on the third Wednesday of every month where the dancers perform at area nursing homes, the NJ School for the Deaf or Yardville Visitation Home. The dancers also hold an annual fundraiser for Saint Jude Children's Hospital to raise money for children with cancer.
Joanne is a past member of the Trenton Saint Patrick's Day Parade committee and is a current member of the Ladies AOH Division 10. She was honored in 2009 by the Friendly Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick as their Irish Lady of the Year.
Joanne has the wonderful support of her husband, Daniel Knox. In 2009 she was blessed with a beautiful daughter Makenna and in 2010 was again blessed with her other beautiful daughter Riley.
