Dowds Irish Dance Academy:
Find your passion!

What is dowds?

Dowds Irish Dance Academy is one of the most successful Irish dance schools in Mid America. From World qualifiers to beginners, your child will receive the very best instruction using a tried and true Irish teaching method by a world champion and Riverdance lead dancer. From basic methods to advanced lessons, Dowds welcomes all students and will turn a novice into a champion. Whether you’re looking for a competitive experience or to learn important skills like hard work and confidence, Dowds is the place to be! Your child will learn to develop basic dance skills in a positive environment surrounded by friends and classmates. Students are challenged and nurtured to improve at each lesson.  We care about the excellence of instruction and focus on individual students instead of a “one size fits all” teaching strategy. At Dowds, every student matters, and every student is given the opportunity to succeed.

BE PART OF TEAM DOWDS AND THE DOWDS' FAMILY

From day one at our school you will learn that every child is important to us.  Every dancer matters no matter how gifted! Each child receives individualized instruction from a certified Irish dance teacher called a TCRG.  Dance is more than classroom time. It's about making lasting friendships and connecting with other kids through the art of dance.  While a great deal of Irish dance is an individual and not a team effort, all of our students are encouraged to cheer for everyone in Team Dowds!  It's definitely a Team effort!  Learning team building and sportsmanship are life-long skills for success in any endeavor or job. 

Marty Dowds, TCRG

Marty Dowds was born and raised in County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland.   

From the age of 9 Marty took to Irish dance and spent countless hours practicing daily.  Focused and driven to succeed he went on to win multiple competitions including All Irelands, Ulsters, British Nationals, and Worlds (Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne), Irish dance's most prestigious competition.  At 17 Marty was offered a dance position with the internationally acclaimed show, Riverdance.  During his 13 years with Riverdance, Marty got to see the world - China, Germany, France, Britain, Holland, and the United States.  He rose to dance captain and lead dancer performing at such places as Radio City Music Hall.  

In 2010 Marty "retired" from Riverdance and settled in Omaha.  Irishman settles in Omaha and teaches Irish dance!  Marty wanted to share his love of Irish dance and culture with others and thus started Dowds Irish Dance Academy.  

Kate Kaneko, TCRG

Kate is an amazingly accomplished dancer.  She is a two-time Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas Champion, a two-time North American National Champion, and she earned 3rd place at the World Irish dance Championships.  She is the yin to Marty's yang and they are an amazing teaching team together.  We are proud to have her as part of Team Dowds.

Kate grew up in New Jersey and started dancing at the age of 9.  It's almost a fluke that her mom entered her in Irish dance and Kate loved it from the very beginning.  As coincidence would have it, Marty taught some camps at her school in New Jersey when he was on tour with Riverdance.  While in Ireland for Worlds in 2017, Marty talked to his childhood teacher from Derry.   She had taught Kate when she was training for Worlds. She thought Marty and Kate would make a great team.  Marty contacted Kate when he returned to the US.  Such a small world that Marty briefly knew Kate as child and reconnected with her through his childhood teacher.