The College of Dance

Our 3rd panelist is Leah O'Connor a College of Dance Alum with an amazing career, we are looking forward to hear her story.
Join us to celebrate our 35th Anniversary, 22nd June 2026, Helix Theatre.

Leah is a professional performer, choreographer and dance teacher based between London and Ireland; Leah trained at The College of dance and went on to Laine Theatre Arts after being awarded a Betty Laine Scholarship. She has worked as a dancer and vocalist across TV, stage and screen, with credits including Netflix’s Dance 100, Disney’s Disenchanted, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice of Ireland, Loose Women, This Morning, The Alan Carr Show, Al Murray’s Christmas Special and The X Factor Iran.

She has performed with artists such as Atomic Kitten, McFly, Jess Glynne, Martin Garrix, East 17, Sinitta and Rebecca Ferguson, and appeared in campaigns for Marks & Spencer, Liverpool ONE, the National Lottery, Vodafone and Sharp.

Leah’s theatre work includes Whiskey in the Jar: The Musical, High School Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines productions and Buddha Bar Marrakech. Her choreography credits include ITV This Morning, The Late Late Show, Twinkle Town, Move It, Flight Before Christmas and Swords Castle Creepy Crawl.

Our next panelist, the fantastic Mary Farrely. We are thrilled she agreed to join us at our 35th Anniversary Celebrations.

A choreographer, theatre maker, facilitator and arts project manager, with over twenty-five years of experience working across professional theatre, educational, and community arts settings. Her background includes facilitating and managing community youth arts projects, with a strong record of delivering programming for children and young people with disabilities. Additionally, she serves as the regional coordinator for the Arts Council Creative Schools programme across Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo, and Donegal, and as a project facilitator for the Dept of Ed Creative Clusters and Creative Connections initiatives.
Since 2000, She worked extensively as a creative practitioner within community and arts in education environments. With a focus on developing creative programming specifically for children and young people, with a particular interest in inclusive arts programmes designed for children with autism and learning disabilities.
In 2020, I was awarded an Arts Council bursary to further my work in sensory and inclusive arts practice, followed by an Arts Council project award in 2022 for developing programming tailored to children with autism and complex needs.

Introducing the first of our amazing Panelists who will join us for our 35th Anniversary Celebration. Bringing back some of out noted Alum's to hear their story.
Helix Theatre, DCU on 22nd June 2026.

Liz Roche is Artistic Director and Choreographer with Luail, Ireland’s new national and all-island dance company. She led Liz Roche Company/Rex Levitates from 1999 to 2023, creating an extensive body of dance work commissioned and presented internationally by organisations including the Baryshnikov Arts Centre, Judson Church and Irish Arts Centre in New York, Dublin Dance Festival, the National Ballet of China, Cork Opera House, Powerhouse Brisbane, Scottish Dance Theatre, and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
Recipient of the Peter Darrell and Bonnie Bird Awards for choreography in the UK, Liz was elected to Aosdána in 2020 in recognition of her contribution to the arts in Ireland, Liz has also worked extensively in opera and theatre with companies including Irish National Opera, Rossini Opera Festival, Wexford Festival Opera, Opernhaus Zurich, The Abbey, Gate Theatre, Lyric Belfast and Landmark Productions. As a dancer, she worked with choreographers and companies, including Rosemary Butcher, John Jasperse Company, Jodi Melnick, Christine Gaigg, Cois Ceim, DTI, imdt and Les Carnets Bagouet.

We are delighted & excited to confirm Evan O'Hanlon as MC for your 35th Anniversary event. As an alum, we can think of no better person to help host this event.
Join us in the Helix Theatre on 22nd June to celebrate the College of Dance

Evan is honoured to be MC for the college of dance 35th Anniversary celebrations. With extensive experience across multiple areas of the performing arts industry, Evan continues to embrace every opportunity to explore and contribute to the many facets of the business. Alongside his performing career, he is the founder of E98 Studios, a successful portrait photography and videography studio based in Waterford.

Credits
Television & Film:
The Album (Short Film), Disenchanted(Disney+) , Epic Pilot Episode (Disney+), Mr. Malcolm's List (Universal Pictures) , Britain's Got Talent: The Champions at Wembley Arena, Brit Awards Pink at The O2 Arena (Dancer) , Centenary (RTÉ / Bord Gáis), and Moone Boy SKY 1 HD.

Theatre:
Alice in Wonderland (UAE Tour), Madhatters Circus (UK Tour), and The Wave (European Tour).

Pantomime:
Evan’s pantomime career began at just nine years old with the Olympia Theatre Pantomime, where he performed as a dancer for seven consecutive years. He later joined University Concert Hall, appearing for over eight years as Ensemble, Cover and Dance Captain across five consecutive productions, before progressing into leading roles in Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty and Mother Goose.

Most recently, Evan has expanded into a creative role as choreographer while also performing the title role of “Jack” in Jack and the Beanstalk at SETU Arena.

Internationally, Evan has toured in leading pantomime roles including Treasure Island aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai, Cinderella in Abu Dhabi, and Dubai Showtime at the Jumeirah Theatre, a four-week production featuring five different pantomimes.

Evan is also the presenter and public face of Elite South East.

Training:
The College of Dance, CPA Studios, and Bird College.