Crystal Glick, T.C.R.G. Teacher & Founder of the School
Crystal was raised in Lancaster County and began Irish Dancing with the Coyle School of Irish Dance when she was 12 years old. Although from a Pennsylvania Dutch background, she quickly became enthralled with the Irish culture and traditions and clung to the little bit of Irish heritage she does have, "Hooley." She was especially attracted to the competitive nature of Irish Dance feisianna (competitions), and practiced intensely to compete on a Regional and National level in Open Championships. Crystal gained valuable experience teaching Irish Dance when she moved to Russia for YWAM (Youth With A Mission), where she helped to organize community outreach programs, often using Irish Dance to get the youth involved in positive directions. When she returned to the U.S. and retired from competing in 2006, it became her goal to bring Irish Dance to her hometown in Lancaster County, where before no official Irish Dance school had existed.
As part of her training to become a dance instructor, she moved to Minnesota and trained with Scoil na d'Tri under the direction of Brenda Buckley (R.I.P.). In 2008 she passed the rigorous exam to become a certified instructor through An Comisiun in Dublin, Ireland, and opened up the Hooley School of Irish Dance.
Crystal has also been a member of the Air National Guard since 2005, and is currently a Staff Sergeant serving as an instructor in Emergency Management. She is a 2010 graduate of Millersville University with a B.A. in English Education. She is currently working toward obtaining an M.B.A. and her A.D.C.R.G. (Irish Dance adjudicator).
As part of her training to become a dance instructor, she moved to Minnesota and trained with Scoil na d'Tri under the direction of Brenda Buckley (R.I.P.). In 2008 she passed the rigorous exam to become a certified instructor through An Comisiun in Dublin, Ireland, and opened up the Hooley School of Irish Dance.
Crystal has also been a member of the Air National Guard since 2005, and is currently a Staff Sergeant serving as an instructor in Emergency Management. She is a 2010 graduate of Millersville University with a B.A. in English Education. She is currently working toward obtaining an M.B.A. and her A.D.C.R.G. (Irish Dance adjudicator).
Angelina Glick Office Administer, Assistant Teacher
Angelina Glick began dancing with the Coyle School when she was 4 years old. When Crystal became a certified instructor in 2008, she picked up dancing under her sister's direction. She moved into the top competitive level of Open Championships in August 2011 and is currently training vigorously for upcoming Regional and National competitions. Angelina assists with teaching classes and plans to take her teacher certification exams once she retires from competing. She especially enjoys working with young children, and heads up our Tir Na Nog program for 3-7 year old students.
Apart from dancing, Angelina enjoys teaching a unique combination of hobbies. She is a martial arts instructor (and hopes to get back into kickboxing fights after she finishes competitive dancing!), a knitting and crocheting instructor at A.C. Moore, and has also worked with children as a home school instructor.
Angelina is a 2009 graduate of Warwick High School.
Apart from dancing, Angelina enjoys teaching a unique combination of hobbies. She is a martial arts instructor (and hopes to get back into kickboxing fights after she finishes competitive dancing!), a knitting and crocheting instructor at A.C. Moore, and has also worked with children as a home school instructor.
Angelina is a 2009 graduate of Warwick High School.
School History
The first "Hooley" Irish dancers started as a group of home school students who met with Crystal at a local church for their lessons in 2001. Class sizes grew quickly, and the Hooley School soon had its own studio. In the beginning, classes were focused only on learning Irish traditions and performing. When Crystal passed her T.C.R.G. in 2008, Hooley students were also allowed to start competing. Although many students are still non-competitive, Crystal does encourage students to eventually try the "feisianna" that initially pulled her into the Irish culture. Hooley annually sends soloists and teams to regional and national competitions. Their recent Dance Drama team placed 3rd at Nationals 2011.
Crystal also encourages her students to be involved in their communities and share the love of Irish Dance. The Hooley School performed at more than 30 local venues in 2011, and also offers a special performance team called Rince na Brio.
Crystal also encourages her students to be involved in their communities and share the love of Irish Dance. The Hooley School performed at more than 30 local venues in 2011, and also offers a special performance team called Rince na Brio.
Hooley School of Irish Dance • (717) 271 - 8611
240 N. 7th Street • Akron, PA 17501
240 N. 7th Street • Akron, PA 17501
