Katie Stephens Spangler - Director
Katie Stephens began dancing in Milwaukee in 1987 with the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance. She performed and competed all over the world for 11 years with Trinity and also assisted with teaching classes. She had the opportunity to perform in places like Belgium, Nashville and New York, and she finished her competitive career at the Championship level in 1998. In the past two decades, Katie has performed with Natalie MacMaster, Black 47, the Chieftans, Carmel Quinn, the Drovers, Gaelic Storm, Chris Buckley, Five Mile Chase, Tom Dahill and Todd Menton at venues such as the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Navy Pier in Chicago, the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Milwaukee Irish Fest and others.

Katie taught for four years with the St. Paul Irish Dancers in St. Paul, Minnesota while attending the University of St. Thomas. She graduated from UST in May of 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and went on to found Rince na Chroi in February of 2003. Under Katie’s direction over the past six years, Rince na Chroi has grown tremendously.

Katie teaches on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Emily Wolff - Assistant Director
Emily Wolff has been dancing since she was four years old. Emily danced with several local schools, including the Shamrock School of Irish dance, before moving to Rince na Chroi. She has been a teacher at Rince na Chroi since the fall of 2005 and also taught classes at the Dayton’s Bluff Community Recreation Center for about a year. She has competed all over the nation and has performed with musicians such as Gaelic Storm, the Young Dubliners, Eileen Ivers, the Two Tap Trio and the Chieftans. Emily is currently a student at the College of St. Catherine.

Emily teaches classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Emily directs our summer Irish dance camp. She also teaches a number of private lessons.

Stephanie Rosca - Instructor
Stephanie Rosca has been dancing since she was four years old. She started out dancing with the St. Paul Irish Dancers but has been with Rince na Chroi since the beginning. Stephanie has performed with many musicians and bands, including Gaelic Storm, the Young Dubliners, Natalie MacMaster, Eileen Ivers, the Chieftans and more. Stephanie joined the teaching staff in the fall of 2007. She is a student at Normandale Community College.

Stephanie teaches classes on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. She also teaches private lessons.

Katy Gorilla - Instructor
Katy Gorrilla started dancing when she was five years old. After a number of years with the St. Paul Irish Dancers, Katy has been with Rince na Chroi since its founding. Katy has performed with groups such as Gaelic Storm and the Two Tap Trio. She served as a class assistant at Rince na Chroi for many years before joining the teaching staff in the fall of 2007. Katy is a student at the University of Minnesota.

Katy teaches Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday classes along with a number of private lessons.

Class Assistants:
Molly Gorrilla began dancing at the age of three with the St. Paul Irish Dancers. She has been with Rince na Chroi since its founding and is a student at Benilde- St. Margaret’s.

Molly assists with Sunday and Tuesday classes.

Maria Belde began Irish dancing when she was four years old with the St. Paul Irish Dancers. Maria has been with Rince na Chroi since the winter of 2004. She is a student at Cretin-Derham Hall.

Maria assists with classes on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Bif Wesely has been with Rince na Chroi since she first started dancing in 2005. She is currently a high school student at BlueSky Charter School and takes classes at Inver Hills Community College. 

Bif assists with Sunday classes.

Lillie McAdams is the newest addition to the Rince na Chroi teaching staff! Lillie has been dancing with Rince na Chroi since we first enrolled beginner-level students in the fall of 2004. She is a student at the Friends School of Minnesota. 

Lillie assists with Sunday classes.