Build your confidence. Find your community. Celebrate with each other.
I started dancing in kindergarten with a tap/jazz class at a local school in my neighborhood. When my parents discovered the show Riverdance, and a friend showcased her Irish dance skills at a local talent show, I was hooked! I started taking Irish Dance classes with the Kennelly School of Irish Dance in San Francisco which is where I attended classes for 10 years.
During that time, I quickly advanced from a beginner in local competitions to one of the top level championship dancers in my age group - receiving 4th place at the Regional Championships, 9th place at the National Championships, and qualified to attend the World Championships 7 times, 5 of which I competed in Scotland and Ireland.
Though competition life was exciting, it was also very rigorous and I felt an immense amount of pressure - partly from my teacher, and partly from myself - I wanted to succeed at a high level. Eventually, I came to the decision in the middle of my senior year of high school to step away from competing.
After high school, I attended Whitman College (this is my first connection to Walla Walla) and, during that time, I started an Irish Dance club called RiverRince with my dear friend (and former competitor) Laura. We performed at many school events, and Laura and I taught informal lessons in the Walla Walla community for children and adults. I continued teaching for three years after graduation during which time I met my husband, a local from Walla Walla, Ryan (who you will likely see juggling our kids while I teach). We then moved to England where I went to grad school, and was a part of an Irish dance troupe on campus where I did many performances and competitions.
When we moved to San Francisco after grad school, I exchanged my dance shoes for baby carriers and birkenstocks as my husband and I welcomed our three children into the world. It was only a few years ago as I started my oldest daughter in Irish dance classes that I pondered returning to dance, just for the sake of dancing! It was through this wonderful and healing experience with the Jackie Flynn Irish Dance Academy that I rediscovered my joy for Irish dance, and when we moved back to Walla Walla in the winter of 2026, I knew I wanted to share that with others.
When you’re at the Tackett Irish Dance Academy taking a class with me, I can guarantee you will get a great workout, but it is my greatest wish that you and/or your child feel cared for, find confidence, have fun, and truly enjoy dancing as a way of expressing a part of who you are!
Dance, music, and movement - three parts of life that I believe will fill your soul. So come enjoy the moment with us, watch your child bounce and hop to the music, feel your body keeping time to the beat, and discover the smile on your face. Welcome in!
Confidence
All of our work together will be to help you find confidence in your body through discovering the joy of movement, and confidence in your mind through positive encouragement.
Community
Meet new people in the Walla Walla (and surrounding) area, join the TIDA family for potlucks, cheer each other on at local performances, and find moments for laughter in class!
Celebration
We believe in finding joy in the little things and celebrating each other’s accomplishments big or small. When we can find something to rejoice about, we will!