Professional Experience:

Workshops and Master classes given throughout North America, Europe and most recently, at Yanling Studios in Beijing, China in January 2011.


RHYTHM DANCE – THE SHOW, Pigeon Forge (Dollywood), Tennessee - Lead Dancer/Choreographer April-May 2001 & 2002.
RHYTHM DANCE – THE SHOW, Branson, Missouri, April-May 1998 & 1999 – Lead Irish Dancer/Choreographer 2000:
      **Performed select pieces from Riverdance with a cast of over 50 dancers and musicians.
      **Completed over 80 sold-out shows in front of a 1,000+ audience over a 5 week period in 1998     

          and completed 175 sold-out shows in 1999/2000.
      **Choreographed select pieces from the show.


RHYTHM DANCE – THE SHOW, Austria, November 1998.
 

Midtown Music Festival, Birmingham, AL, June 1998-Lead Irish Dancer/Choreographer

    **Performed four shows at “City Stages” with a cast of thirty dancers.

    **Choreographed all Irish Dance pieces.

  

Common Ground, Delray Beach, FL, March 1998 – Lead Irish Dancer/Choreographer:

    **Performed in four sold-out shows with a cast of thirty Irish, Tap, & Clog dancers.

    **Choreographed Irish dance pieces and designed all Irish Dance costumes.

    **Taught workshops for tap dancers & cloggers to incorporate Irish dance in routines.

 

National Clogging Convention, Nashville, TN, November 1997 & 1998 – Guest Instructor & Performer:

    **Held hour-long workshops on beginning and intermediate Irish Dancing at the Opryland Hotel.

    **Taught fundamentals of Irish Dancing to over 1,000 clog dancers.

    **Performed in and choreographed the show, “A Tribute to Riverdance” with a cast of over 50

       dancers to conclude the week long convention.

 

National Clogging Convention, Atlanta, GA, 1998 – Guest Instructor & Performer

 

National Clogging Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1999 – Guest Instructor & Performer

 

Karl Drake, TCRG, created the Drake School of Irish Dance in Atlanta, Georgia and South Florida in 1990. Mr. Karl has expanded the Drake School to include Alabama, Tennessee, and Mexico City, Mexico. Mr. Karl has built one of the strongest schools of Irish Dance in the southeast. He has produced many Regional and National champions as well as World Medal holders. 


Achievements:


Trained and coached Catie Foley, currently ranked 8th in the Worlds...  

       ** To read more about Catie, click here... Catie.pdf


Trained and coached Anne Reilly who danced with Riverdance 2007 and 2008


Trained and coached Alex Arguelles who danced with Riverdance, Mexico Tour in 2006.


Took 16-hand team Auditioned and Performed for America’s Got Talent making through to

the second round in February 2009.

 

**Produced Regional & National Dance Champions who competed in the World Irish Dance Championships held in Ireland

   since 1990 to present.

  

**1990-Created the Drake School of Irish Dance in Atlanta, Georgia, and South Florida.  The school has now expanded to also include

   the states of  Alabama, Tennessee and Country of Mexico. 

 

**Received “Exceptional Ability in Performing Arts” immigration status.

 

**Eastern Regional Irish Dance Champion.

 

**Placed 5th in the World Irish Dance Championships in Ireland.

  

Education:

**Irish Dancing Teachers Association – T.C.R.G., Dublin, Ireland, 1990.

**Golden School of Irish Dance, New York, NY, August 1986 – December 1989.

**O’Shea School of Irish Dance, Dublin, Ireland, August 1974 – August 1986.

  

Additional Performances:

“The Chieftains” at Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA

“The Chieftains” at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY

Atlanta Celtic Festival

Festival of Trees at the World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA

Festival of Nations & Cultures, Atlanta, GA

Savannah Irish Festival, Savannah, GA

Tampa Irish Festival, Tampa, FL

Capitol City Ballet, guest appearance

Miami Orange Bowl Parade

1996 Olympic Games

Performed throughout Europe at major folk dance festivals



 Additional Choreography:

“American Wake” at Emory University, Atlanta, GA

“Dancing at Lughnasa” at Pace University, New York, NY