Esther Pujol, TCRG, ADCRG
Owner, Head Teacher
Esther Pujol reached the highest level of competitive Irish dancing while training at one of the top schools in North America. She has competed nationally and has had the pleasure of performing at Carnegie Hall as well as with Grammy-award winners Eileen Ivers and Natalie MacMaster.
She passed her Teacher's Certification Exam through An Coimisiun Le Rince Gaelacha (Dublin, Ireland) in May 2015 and registered dance school that year. She passed her ADCRG in 2026.
Esther is married and has two sons who both do Irish Dancing as well as many other family members. She loves being able to share Irish Dance with the people she cares most about.
Esther believes strongly in the importance of using innovation to help others and has pioneered many new ideas to benefit the dancers as well as the community. She opened up one of the first consignment shops of its kind for her dance families, began a unique boys program at her school, headed the inaugural Celtic Night at the Barnstormers, and started many other inventive programs with the goal of serving others and helping dancers build confidence and self-esteem through being successful at Irish Dancing.
Owner, Head Teacher
Esther Pujol reached the highest level of competitive Irish dancing while training at one of the top schools in North America. She has competed nationally and has had the pleasure of performing at Carnegie Hall as well as with Grammy-award winners Eileen Ivers and Natalie MacMaster.
She passed her Teacher's Certification Exam through An Coimisiun Le Rince Gaelacha (Dublin, Ireland) in May 2015 and registered dance school that year. She passed her ADCRG in 2026.
Esther is married and has two sons who both do Irish Dancing as well as many other family members. She loves being able to share Irish Dance with the people she cares most about.
Esther believes strongly in the importance of using innovation to help others and has pioneered many new ideas to benefit the dancers as well as the community. She opened up one of the first consignment shops of its kind for her dance families, began a unique boys program at her school, headed the inaugural Celtic Night at the Barnstormers, and started many other inventive programs with the goal of serving others and helping dancers build confidence and self-esteem through being successful at Irish Dancing.
Sara Locke, TCRG
Mrs. Sara started her Irish Dancing career at the age of 11, under the direction of Sheila Butler Duffy, ADCRG, and Myra Watters, ADCRG, at the Butler School of Irish Dancing. She competed several times at the Southern Region Oireachtas, the North American Championships, as well as the All-Ireland Championships and World Championships of Irish Dancing! In 2011, Sara finished her Irish dancing career with the McGinley Academy of Irish Dance, under the direction of Eileen McGinley Watson, ADCRG.
In August 2016, Mrs. Sara acquired her TCRG certification and was certified through An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha – CLRG in Dublin, Ireland, as an Irish Dance instructor.
She currently sits on the selection committee for the IDTANA Cyril McNiff Memorial Scholarship Program.
Mrs. Sara is married to her husband, Jon. They were married in Ireland on the Cliffs of Moher and have been traveling back ever since. They have three daughters, Claire, Hailey, & Keira, and a son, Logan, who hopefully will all love Irish Dance and culture like their parents.
Mrs. Sara started her Irish Dancing career at the age of 11, under the direction of Sheila Butler Duffy, ADCRG, and Myra Watters, ADCRG, at the Butler School of Irish Dancing. She competed several times at the Southern Region Oireachtas, the North American Championships, as well as the All-Ireland Championships and World Championships of Irish Dancing! In 2011, Sara finished her Irish dancing career with the McGinley Academy of Irish Dance, under the direction of Eileen McGinley Watson, ADCRG.
In August 2016, Mrs. Sara acquired her TCRG certification and was certified through An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha – CLRG in Dublin, Ireland, as an Irish Dance instructor.
She currently sits on the selection committee for the IDTANA Cyril McNiff Memorial Scholarship Program.
Mrs. Sara is married to her husband, Jon. They were married in Ireland on the Cliffs of Moher and have been traveling back ever since. They have three daughters, Claire, Hailey, & Keira, and a son, Logan, who hopefully will all love Irish Dance and culture like their parents.
Lisa Petri, ADCRG & Karen Petri, ADCRG
Hailing from Long Island NY, sisters Lisa & Karen Petri both enjoyed successful corporate careers in finance before the success of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance afforded them the opportunity to teach Irish Dancing full time and pursue their passion. They were introduced to Irish Dancing in 1974 by their inspiring immigrant parents, Eileen, from Ennybegs, Longford, Ireland, and Carl, from Montefegatesi, Tuscany, Italy.
Under the direction of legendary teachers such as Jerry Mulvihill, Kevin Quinlavan, Kenny Verlin, Moira Quinn, Peter Smith, and Michael & Kathleen Maguire, the girls enjoyed successful competitive careers, winning numerous MARO Championships and Solo World medals. What began as an after school hobby to keep the family involved with part of its cultural heritage blossomed into a lifetime of opportunities, friendships, and memories.
The Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance was founded in 1991 and has become one of the preeminent Irish Dance schools in the world with locations in NY, CT, CA, MD, and Belfast, Ireland.
Hailing from Long Island NY, sisters Lisa & Karen Petri both enjoyed successful corporate careers in finance before the success of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance afforded them the opportunity to teach Irish Dancing full time and pursue their passion. They were introduced to Irish Dancing in 1974 by their inspiring immigrant parents, Eileen, from Ennybegs, Longford, Ireland, and Carl, from Montefegatesi, Tuscany, Italy.
Under the direction of legendary teachers such as Jerry Mulvihill, Kevin Quinlavan, Kenny Verlin, Moira Quinn, Peter Smith, and Michael & Kathleen Maguire, the girls enjoyed successful competitive careers, winning numerous MARO Championships and Solo World medals. What began as an after school hobby to keep the family involved with part of its cultural heritage blossomed into a lifetime of opportunities, friendships, and memories.
The Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance was founded in 1991 and has become one of the preeminent Irish Dance schools in the world with locations in NY, CT, CA, MD, and Belfast, Ireland.
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Christy King
Administrative Assistant, Assistant Teacher, Ceili Band Leader, Summer Camp Counselor Christy King began Irish Dancing at age 6 but didn't begin competing until age 17. She qualified for the Championship level after just 6 months and went on to compete in the Regional Championships. Christy also plays the fiddle, the cello, & the bagpipes, and performs with her family band "The Celtic Martins" all over the East Coast. Christy loves working with children and is excited to be a part of the Paloma School staff.
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