Our Passion is Celtic Dance
Meet our staff of caring instructors who are here to guide you through your journey in Dance
You can have confidence that your child is learning authentic Irish Dance in a sequential, developmental curriculum by caring teachers.
Harp is Certified by An Coimisiun Le Rince Gaelacha in Dublin, Ireland, and the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance, so we can take your child from beginner to champion!
Are you interested in teaching our amazing students as one of our talented teaching staff?
Click below for more information!
Miranda Rasband, TCRG
My name is Miranda Rasband and I am a teacher and a former Open Champ dancer at Harp Irish Dance Company. I have danced for 14 years and attended many dance competitions from local feiseanna to nationals all over the United States. I recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in International Relations, and I currently live in Draper with my wonderful husband. In my spare time, I can be found reading a good book or working out at the gym. I’m so excited to be a Harp dance teacher!”
Aubree Shelley, TCRG Director
Aubree began Irish Step Dance at the age of 5 with the Deely School of Irish Dance in Northern California. From there she was a part of Utah’s first performance-based Irish dance school, Rinceoiri Don Spraoi, serving as Troupe Dance Captain and Head Teacher. She also co-founded the Power Academy of Irish Dance in 2002 before going on to establish the Harp Irish Dance Company in 2012. She received her Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha (Gaelic: Commission Certified Irish Dance Teacher) in 2009 on the first attempt.
She has danced on scholarship with the Brigham Young University International Folk Dance Ensemble, traveling the US and Europe with that World-famous ensemble. She has choreographed for the World Dance Program and taught Irish Technique Courses for BYU, as well as being a featured Instructor for BYU’s Youth Folk Dance Summer Camp.
Aubree graduated from BYU with a degree in Music Education, with a minor in World Dance. She has over 23 years Irish Dance teaching experience, and over 29 years experience in the Irish Dance world. Aubree lives in American Fork with her husband, Bryce, and has five little dancers of her own.
Sarah Jenson, TCRG
Sarah Jenson started Irish dancing at Butler Fearon O’Connor in 2004. Throughout her career in Irish dancing she trained at Claddagh Utah, Webber Academy of Irish Dance, Acadamh Rince, and the Shelley School of Irish Dance competing on both the regional and national levels. Sarah taught for several years at Acadamh Rince as well as providing choreography for championship set dances, dance dramas placing at the Western Region Oireachtas, and many a show piece. Sarah began her path to becoming a TCRG in early 2021 and passed on her first try in Atlanta in September of 2023. Sarah has her bachelors degree in Experience Design and Management from BYU. Sarah has a passion for the sport and art of Irish dance and loves sharing that love and passion with her students and seeing their skills grow!
Annalise Iverson Payson Director
Christeny Monzello, Elite Coach
When Christeny was 7 years old her parents took her to see Riverdance and that settled it – Irish
dancing was her new love. She started Irish dancing at 8 years old. She placed 10 th at the Oireachtas as a
Prelim and subsequently became an Open Champion at 14. She is a two-time World Qualifier and she
danced at the World Championships in London and then again in Montreal. In California, Christeny had
the opportunity to teach the beginner class and is excited to teach again here in Utah. She is currently
working on her grade exams with the goal of someday earning her TCRG.
Sandy Purser
My name’s Miss Sandy. I first fell in love with Irish dancing as a teenager in England when I was given a video of Lord of the Dance. I bought some tap shoes and a teach yourself Irish dance video and thought I was on my way! Unfortunately I almost immediately rolled my ankle, and then time passed and I forgot I’d ever had aspirations to learn to dance…until my hubby and I happened upon a lone Irish dancer at a Scottish festival in 2019, coincidentally right at the time Harp was reintroducing their Adult Irish dance program…
I started to learn Irish dancing as an adult here at Harp in 2019. I’ve danced in Harp’s Performing Team and in various local, regional and national feiseanna (Irish dance competitions). I feel proud of all that I’ve accomplished so far as an adult and privileged to be a role model for our budding dancers as they take their first steps in sharing in these adventures.
As a teacher I really love helping dancers not only learn their steps, but also to have a healthy mindset as they practice and progress. To me the most important part of dancing is to find the joy along the way – after all, we keep dancing because we love it, and I never want our dancers to lose that love.
Megan Fotheringham
Megan grew up in Utah county and began Irish dance at 11 years old. She started at An Dragan Ceilteach, a non-competitive school, before joining Harp Irish Dance Company around 2013. She has gotten experience teaching all ages in Irish dance over the years and loves being a part of the dance community in Utah.
Megan went to Westminster college where she earned a degree in history and now teaches 8th grade. In her free time she enjoys mountain biking, running, and traveling.
Kayla Wong Highland Dance Co-teacher
Leila Wong Highland Dance Co-Teacher
Class Assistants
Sofia McEwan, Assistant
Megan Fotheringham, Assistant
Sandy Purser, Assistant
Carys Thompson, Dance Captain Hibernian Arts Repertory Performers
Reid Simmons, Assistant
Ann Dressman, Assistant
