RNC-WORDS

Our purpose is to provide a positive, fun learning atmosphere for all of our students.

Our dancers are friends, both in and out of the classroom.

We strive to instill a sense of belonging, school spirit and confidence in each and every Rince na Chroi student.

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Our Story

Rince na Chroi (pronounced Rink-a na Cree), Gaelic for “dance of the heart,” was founded by Katie Stephens-Spangler in February 2003 after 15 years of Irish dancing and teaching experience in Milwaukee, Chicago, and St. Paul.

Since opening our doors, Rince na Chroi has grown from about 15 dancers to over 200. We have performed all over the Twin Cities and the Midwest at events such as the Irish Fair of Minnesota, the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival, Grand Old Day, Milwaukee Irish Fest, and many more.

Recently, our dancers have performed an average of 100 times each year, in venues such as the Minnesota Zoo and the Landmark Center and with talented musicians such as the Two Tap Trio, the Wild Colonial Bhoys, We Banjo 3 and Gaelic Storm.

Rince na Chroi encourages open communication between dancers, parents and our teaching staff. Our purpose is to provide a positive, fun learning atmosphere for all of our students. Our dancers are friends, both in and out of the classroom.

We strive to instill a sense of belonging, school spirit and confidence in each and every Rince na Chroi student.

Katie Stephens-Spangler, In Memoriam: Founder

Katie Stephens-Spangler

In Memoriam: Founder

Katie founded Rince na Chroi in 2003. She entered heaven on January 26, 2023 surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her loving husband, her children, who were the lights of her life, parents, sister, numerous family, friends, and especially her Rince na Chroi family.

Katie Stephens-Spangler entered heaven on January 26, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her loving husband, her children, who were the lights of her life, parents, sister, numerous family, friends, and especially her Rince na Chroi family.

Katie was inspiring, courageous, compassionate, and selfless. In everything she accomplished, she made the world a better place.

As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, family member, and friend, Katie was incomparable. If you were fortunate enough to be in her orbit, you always knew that you were loved and supported. She made the everyday special and the special days extraordinary.

As the founder and owner of the Rince na Chroi School of Irish Dance, she inspired her students and teachers, not only in the art of Irish dance, but in the meaning of family and community.

Katie left a legacy. Everyone who had the pleasure of having Katie in their lives was better because of it. Katie will always be in our hearts and she will continue to provide us with a direction that is genuine, kind and true.

Katie Stephens Spangler 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. Katie moved to St. Paul that year, and continued to perform for the next several years.

Katie taught for four years with the St. Paul Irish Dancers 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 open Rince na Chroi in February of 2003. Under Katie’s direction over the last two decades, Rince na Chroi has grown tremendously.

Katie served on the Board of Directors for the Irish Music and Dance Association from 2005-2006. She served on the Board of Directors for the Irish Fair of Minnesota from 2010-2017, including holding the position of Board Secretary and Marketing Committee Chair.

The St. Paul St. Pat’s Association named Katie their “Distinguished Irish Woman” of the year in 2022.

Read More about Katie

What People Say About Us

Rince na Chroi has always been a highly professional, highly fun and highly positive organization to work with. You can feel the energy in every dancer, every musician, every parent and every moment during the performance.

The level of dedication and talent is remarkable to me every time I get to be a part of it and witness them in action. I have had the honor to play bodhran with this group for over 10 years, during which time they came to affectionately call me “The Bemidji Thunder.” That is just one small example of the fun-loving and thoughtful nature that this group has engendered.

Being able to play off the rhythms the dancers are producing is a very powerful experience. No video or audio recording can quite do it justice- you must experience it firsthand. For a percussion player there is no greater joy than to be a part of such a professional lock-tight rhythm-based performance. Rince na Chroi is the real deal!

Eric Carlson, Two Tap Trio Dance Band

Being a part of Rince na Chroi means the world to our family. The teaching staff are truly remarkable role models for our daughter, Olivia.

They are extremely talented, poised, genuinely kind, and attentive, especially to the young ones! They are fantastic at what they do.

This can be traced directly to the Senior Instructors and the owner, Katie Stephens-Spangler. We love being a part of the Rince na Family and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Tim and Suzanne Monahan, proud dance parents

It’s always great when we can get Rince na Chroi at an IFM event. We know it’s going to be a high quality performance that the audience will enjoy!

Michael Gibbons, Irish Fair of Minnesota

Rince na Chroi is by far the most organized, family-centered dance school that our family has experienced.

The communication with parents is top-notch: we always know exactly what to expect in terms of class schedules, payments, rehearsals, and deadlines. Moreover, Katie and her wonderful teaching staff went out of their way to accommodate our daughter who began Irish dancing as a teenager.

This year at Rince na Chroi has been a thoroughly positive experience for dancer and parents alike. Organization, communication, compassion, alongside the joy of movement–Dance of the Heart, indeed!

Elise Werger, dance mom

My 8 year old has been dancing with Rince na Chroi for just over a year and loves it! The instructors are great at connecting and making it fun and, as a parent, I really appreciate the inclusivity (all are welcome in Irish dance!), communication and very low stress, low pressure environment.

We love this big, crazy family and hope to be a part of it for a long time!

Melissa Wanta Jents, dance parent

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Our Instructors

Our teachers are the heart of Rince na Chroi. Their dedication and connection with our dancers is part of what makes our school feel like a family and a second home. We take the time to get to know each dancer personally and teach life skills like confidence, teamwork, and professionalism through dance.

Meet Our Teaching Staff
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More Testimonials

Best Irish Dance School in the Twin Cities and beyond!!! Rince na Chroi is a family based school with an amazing Director and Teaching Staff!!❤️☘

Every dancer is treated with the highest amount of love, respect and guidance My two boys have been dancing with Rince na Chroi for 8 and 10 years and they LOVE it!!!

Kimberly Ann Bergthold, dance parent

My daughter has been at Rince for 3 years and I can't think of a better experience! The staff are all friendly, supportive and responsive. The commitment is reasonable, it's affordable and it's a blast to watch.

I knew nothing about Irish dancing before my daughter asked me to do it. If you're looking to start or continue you won't regret coming to Rince na Chroi!

Jarrod Yamanaka, dance parent

Rince na Chroi and Katie helped shaped me into the adult I am today. I learned team work, attention to detail, and full blown commitment. As an alumni of Rince na Chroi, I was thrilled to sign my niece up for classes. Since she started dancing, I have heard nothing but positive feedback from her and her mom (my sister).
 
From body positivity to community engagement, Rince na Chroi is a true community pillar that cannot be beat. They are organized, communicative, and precise. There is nothing like being in the audience filled with Rince na Chroi families cheering on their dancers, the energy reverberates and fills the space. We cannot thank Katie and Siobhan enough.
 
Emily Vaughan, dancer
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