Our Story
The Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing was founded in 2016 by TCRG Lauren Carroll-Bolger. Lauren and all instructors at the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing seeks to connect their students in North America with the cultural heritage and traditions Lauren experienced in Ireland while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Irish Music and Dance from the University of Limerick. Our instructors bring their lifelong passion for dancing to all students and use early childhood education to inform their teaching practices.
Instructors
Lauren Carroll-Bolger, TCRG & Founder
CEO & Head of School
Lauren is a registered TCRG with the international Irish dance organization, An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha.
As well as competitive dancing, Lauren works in artistic, contemporary, and performance styles of Irish dance and was champion-level dancer.
Lauren has trained multiple champion dancers and Irish Dance instructors. She is honored to help her dancers become artists, create lifelong dance friends, and share their joy of dancing with others. She is immensely proud of the supportive community at our school.
In her free time, she can be found exploring the PNW with her husband and daughter, and cuddling her cat, Balanchine.
Anna Grussling, Missoula
Director of Missoula
Anna began Irish dancing at the age of 9. She developed a passion for Irish dancing and continued on as a student and TA until graduating from high school in 2015. Upon graduating high school Anna became an instructor for a local dance group in Montana.
Anna continued to teach Irish Dancing throughout college and graduated from the University of Montana in 2019 with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. Anna currently teaches Special Education at Bonner Elementary and works as a music and violin instructor with Grow Music Missoula.
Anna strives to make learning fun, while also creating an atmosphere that facilitates learning and reaching goals. When she is not dancing, she enjoys knitting, hiking and working on her restored VW Bus with her husband.
Lael Wentland
Múinteoir - Instructor
Lael Wentland has been dancing in Washington since before grade school, originally with Scoil Rince Slieveloughane (SRS) (now Haley Prendergast). Lael loves the performative and technique aspects of Irish dance as well as focusing on training to prevent injury. She brings experience competing as a champion-level dancer as well as performing at a multitude of venues, including Benaroya Hall. During the day Lael works on biomedical devices, utilizing her PhD in Bioengineering. In her free time, she loves cycling and snuggling up with a good book.
Katie Resch, Missoula
Múinteoir - Instructor
I've been Irish dancing in Missoula since 2008, and participated in my first St. Patrick’s Day festivities in 2009. As I continued my dancing journey, I discovered the deep joy of teaching through my experience as a TA. I've been officially instructing and passing on my love of Irish dance since 2016, and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Art in 2020.
What I enjoy most about Irish Dance is the high-energy atmosphere, and inventing intricate choreography inspired by Irish tradition and other forms of dance. I'm passionate about creating a joyful environment where dancers can have fun, and grow in their strength, community, confidence, and skill.
I love tea-time, art projects, and trying new things!
Our Dancers
Our school aims to foster community, friendship, teamwork, confidence, and discipline through the teaching of traditional, artistic, and competitive styles of Irish dancing.
Students of the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing will develop a robust technical foundation alongside artistic movements.