Kelly-Oster School of Irish Dance

About Us

Kerry Kelly-Oster A.D.C.R.G.

Kerry Kelly Oster was introduced to Irish Dancing at the age of 5. Along with her five younger brothers & sisters, the Kelly Family traveled around the world competing & performing. Traveling up and down the east coast, the Kelly Family quickly became a household name in the world of Irish Dancing. Competing at all levels, awards were plentiful. In Kerry’s competition years she won various titles including Best Over Seas at the Ireland Championships.

After marrying and starting a family of her own, Kerry opened the doors of the Kelly Oster School of Irish Dance in 1982. As a current member of An Coimisiun in Ireland, Kerry is a certified teacher (TCRG) & adjudicator (ADCRG) of Irish Dancing. Over the years her school has earned a solid reputation winning titles in both solos & teams across North America & the world. Carrying on the family tradition, Kerry’s 3 daughters hold championship titles in North America, England, Scotland & Ireland. Over the years KKO Dancers have performed at Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall & the White House!

The Kelly-Oster School of Irish Dance

The school is extremely proud of all of their dancers and is honored to hold titles such as: Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion boys under 8, Mix Ceili Under 11, Dance Drama; New England Regional Champion Girls Under 9; North American Championships Mix Ceili Under 11, Dance Drama; All-Ireland & World Solo Champions.

Kerry’s oldest daughter Karyn recently received her T.C.R.G. Karyn is after returning home from University studies in Ireland and has joined her mother in carrying on the family tradition. With 2 teachers the school has been able to expand to new locations and offers more involvement for dancers such as Show Troupe and Figure Choreography.

Karyn Oster T.C.R.G.

Before Karyn was old enough to dance she would sing at shows to give her older aunts & uncles a break to change their shoes. It wasn't long before she joined the rest of her family in those performances. Karyn won her first North American Title at the age of 4 with the Spencer School Dance Drama. She won her first regional & national solo titles at the age of 8 and never looked back. When Cathy Spencer decided to close the doors to her school Karyn joined the Kelly-Oster School under the instruction of her mother. From there she continued on to win Regional, National, All-Ireland & World Championship titles.
Many of her greatest performances include 10 years with the Frank Patterson St. Patrick’s Day Show at Radio City Music Hall & Carnegie Hall, Senator and Governor functions, and acceptance to ‘Riverdance the Show’ in 1997.

Karyn decided to pursue her education at the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.

She continued to compete & perform with musical entertainers such as Cherish the Ladies. In 2000 Karyn headed to Galway, Ireland for study abroad and fell in love with the Irish culture. She stayed for 3 years & continued her dancing education with the Hession School. Upon her return to the USA, Karyn received her T.C.R.G. certification and reunited with the Kelly-Oster School as a teacher.

We are honored to welcome her back into our school as a teacher & look forward to many eventful years ahead!

Siobhan O'Connor - Trippodo T.C.R.G.

Another dancer from the Cathy Spencer School who has achieved the title of Irish Dance Teacher. Siobhan began classes with Cathy in Mt. Vernon at a young age. Now with 4 daughters of her own, she carries on the Irish tradition in her family. After moving upstate to Carmel, Siobhan enrolled her two oldest daughters in the Kelly-Oster School. As she realized how much she missed the dancing she prepared to take her TCRG exam and passed in 1995. Siobhan enjoys the creative parts of competition dancing and does a tremendous amount of work with the KKO Drama teams.

Siobhan also helps out with a lot of the KKO Fundraising in the

school, including Feis Na Blian Nua, Show Troupe & our annual Philanthropic. Last year, Siobhan organized our team "Jiggin 4 a Cure" for the American Cancer Association's Relay For Life. The KKO team raised over $4,000 for the cause.

Meghan Oster T.C.R.G.

Another daughter of Kerry's who has rejoined the school as a

teacher is the youngest of the three daughters, Meghan Oster.

Dancing from the young age of 3, Meghan has grown up

following in the footsteps of her older sisters. She has achieved

many accomplishments of her own, such as the youngest Irish

Dancing soloist at Radio City Music Hall, Regional, National &

World championship placements, along with many more

achievements. Now a Senior at Fordham University, she is

preparing to take her certification test for the TCRG in the fall.

After Meghan graduates she plans to remain as a part time

teacher in the school. Starting in 2006, Meghan will be teaching

solo Beginner, Advanced Beginner & Novice 1 classes in Carmel.

Sheila Kelly - Cronk

Our newest teacher, Sheila Kelly, is Kerry's youngest sister. After moving back from boston, settling down & raising her family back home here in NY, sheila is now teaching at our Garrison location. Sheila originally dancers for Cathy Spencer and moved with the rest of her dance class the the Kevin Broselor School when Cathy retired. A past time Regional, National & World Champion, her additional skills are an asset to the growing membership. Hoping to attain her T.C.R.G. certification in the next year, we welcome sheila to the Kelly-Oster School.