Siobhan Butler

Siobhan Butler is an acclaimed performer, teacher, and creator specializing in the realms of percussive dance. She has been featured on many platforms including the Nationally televised stations TG4 and RTE in Ireland and the prestigious Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. She has performed and collaborated internationally with many of the leading traditional artists including but not limited to The Yanks, Kevin Burke, Cherish the Ladies, Nic Gareiss, Tony Demarco, Kieran Jordan, Patrick Ourceau with Tony McManus, and Sandy Silva, as well as a European tour with the renowned Irish dance show, Rhythm of the Dance.

With over 15 years of dance experience, Siobhan’s style is a well-balanced mix of musicality, elegance, and felicity. She is continually inspired by percussive dance traditions from around the world including Ireland, Appalachia, Quebec, Cape Breton, and Andalusia among others which ultimately manifests into a completely unique perspective.

Siobhan was born in Cambridgeshire, England to American parents stationed there in the Air Force. After discovering she had a great love for Irish music, Siobhan began Irish step dancing at age 8 under the tutelage of Jeanie O’Connor, T.C.R.G. in San Diego, CA. Siobhan quickly moved up in the ranks, competing in her first National Championships just two years later. After a successful career in competitive Irish Step dancing, Siobhan turned her gaze to the old style of Irish dance: Sean-Nós. As a student of dance, Siobhan has studied extensively with many of the great dancers in their respected traditions. After 10 years training as a competitive Irish step dancer, Siobhan received the Lissa Florman Memorial Scholarship at Green Street Studios and Boston Percussive Dance in Cambridge, MA in 2010. During her time at BPD, Siobhan was able to apprentice under the award winning Irish dancer, Kieran Jordan. Also at BPD, Siobhan studied a variety of percussive dance traditions, all under the guidance of extraordinary dancers such as Lauren O’Donnell, Leonor Leal, Antonio Arrebola, and Omayra Amaya for Flamenco; Julia Boynton for Tap; Jennifer Schoonover for Cape Breton Step dancing; and Nic Gareiss for Appalachian Flatfooting and Improvisation.

Siobhan’s expertise in Irish dance traditions has led her to extend her knowledge to others through workshops, demonstrations, and panel discussions. She has taught master classes all over the United States at Boston College, Villanova University, Milwaukee Irish Fest and CelticFest Mississippi to name a few. In 2013, Siobhan was invited to participate in a panel discussion led by Mick Moloney at NYU’s Glucksman Ireland House as part of the first annual New York Trad Fest. Siobhan continues to perform, teach, and study while also currently pursuing a degree in Ethnochoreology and Dance Archiving at Goddard College.