Meet Your Irish Dance Teacher

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Sophia Schoch-Wyzgowski, TCRG, started dancing at age 12. Her first teacher was Heather McElligott Sparks, TCRG, who was the first to set the flame to her passion for Irish dance. When Heather moved to Pennsylvania, she started dancing under two-time World Champion and lead Riverdancer Michael Patrick Gallagher, ADCRG. She then transferred to the Celtic Dance Academy, where she taught and trained under Sarah Allison Houghtelin, TCRG. Sarah and Sophia remain friends to this day. In 2011, Sarah and Riverdancer Darren Maguire, ADCRG, decided to merge schools under the Maguire Academy of Irish Dance. Sophia taught and trained under them until 2012. In 2012, she moved to Michigan with her husband. She danced with the Goggin-Carroll School of Irish Dance until injury forced her into early retirement from competition.

Sophia brings with her years of experience in Irish dance, competitively and professionally. As a former Champion and Ceili team dancer, she has traveled the nation collecting numerous awards. She performed and co-directed, alongside Director and choreographer Sarah Allison Houghtelin, for her original production of An Irish Nutcracker in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2013, Sarah retired from teaching. Sophia acquired the show and put on its first Michigan production in 2015. In November of 2012, Sophia received her TCRG with the World Irish Dance Association (WIDA), having successfully passed the exams with distinction. She has completed the 12 grade exams with An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) and is preparing to sit for her TCRG exam after the birth of her twins.

Sophia has a deep passion for this culturally rich form of dance and music. She has a drive for competition and a love for the performing arts. She desires to inspire her dancers and fill them with the same passion, giving them the courage and tools to achieve their greatest ambitions. She takes great pride in her role as an Irish dance instructor. Through her teacher training program, she hopes her students will carry on Ireland’s history and culture through Irish dance and music.