Cathleen Dower shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Cathleen , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
For me that would be taking horse back riding lessons again. Prior, to getting involved with Irish dancing, I was very immersed in the world of horses and horse back riding. Sadly, as time progressed, for various reasons I couldn’t do both and I always told myself that as an Adult, I would return to it and about two years ago I did and it has brought me so much joy!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Cathleen Dower and I own the Fitzgerald School of Irish Dance based in Old Bridge, NJ. The school is named in honor of my Mother Maryellen Fitzgerald Dower who took me to countless dance classes and competitions.
We offer classes in traditional Irish dance for ages three years old all the way up through to Adults. What’s great about the Fitzgerald School is that we are a smaller dance school, so class sizes tend to be smaller and therefore students receive much more individualized attention and training allowing them to progress and advance much quicker! We also have lots of opportunities for students to perform and compete throughout the year in and around the tri-state area.
Currently, I am working on growing our Adult class or Reel Robics class which I would describe as aerobics meets Irish dancing, where we combine arm movements alongside traditional Irish dance movements for a full total body workout! Currently, I am the only certified Reel Robics instructor in New Jersey.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
That would be the first time I ever traveled to Europe at 26, to fly to Ireland for two weeks for my brother’s wedding. It was such a wonderful trip, that will stay with me forever as it was also 6 months before my Mother passed from Ovarian cancer.
Looking back on that trip is so bittersweet and it’s truly what inspired me to come back to New Jersey and start teaching Irish Dance which I did that September at a local dance studio. That trip ignited something deep inside me and I began to realize that life is way too short not to follow your dreams.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering whether that’s through a perceived failure or through actual loss and grief, taught me that no one is coming to save me, I have to show up for myself every single day. I have to be the one to believe in myself first and what I envision for my school, before others do.
It also taught me how much I can actually handle and it made me realize that I actually am quite resilient and resourceful.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that family matters most to me as well as my dance family and community. I try to give back to the local community as much as I can through dance performances at local senior centers, local libraries and multi-cultural events.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d stop working so much and actually take some time off to travel more!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fitzgeraldsirishdance.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/fitz_school_of_irish_dance
- Facebook: Fitzgerald School of Irish Dance
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