Sarah-Mai Fitzpatrick, 27 began dancing at the age of 2 at her Mother Josephine’s dance school the Mahon School of Irish Dancing. Having competed and winning numerous titles for 18 years in many competitions nationally and internationally, at 18, Sarah-Mai won the opportunity to dance with Riverdance in Wexford Opera House, as part of competition ran by a local radio station.
Sarah-Mai began her professional career soon after with touring show Ragús, travelling to places such as France, Holland and Japan in her first year. Sarah-Mai, 8 years on has travelled to many countries including the UK, China, Russia, Israel, Luxembourg, Germany, Azerbaijan, Holland, France, Switzerland, Belgium, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Canada with touring companies Rhythm of the Dance, Celtic Legends & Irish Celtic.
Highlights in her career include:
Dancing as part of the Riverdance troupe in Croke Park for the official visit of Pope Francis to Ireland, in their Guinness World Record Longest Line & as part of their 1916 Centenary Celebration ‘Laochra’ ;
Performing the female lead role with Rhythm of the Dance in Russia, also to over 10,000 audience members in the NCPA Beijing, China and in her home town of Wexford’s National Opera House, where she began her professional dance career.
Performing with Rhythm of the Dance in Dolly Parton’s Tennessee Theme Park “Dollywood” with the troupe spending 3 days with Dolly herself, celebrating 30 years since the opening of the theme park and residing there for a month as the Irish representatives in her “Festival of Nations”.
Working for the Damhsa company has also brought great opportunities such as dancing with ‘The Chieftains’ during the visit of the USA’s Vice President Joe Biden, performing in Canada at the Folklorama Festival and performing as part of John Anderson’s ‘The Voice of Ireland Celebration’ in Beijing which included a cast of 16 Damhsa dancers, drummers and singers.
While at home Sarah-Mai can be found teaching at the Mahon School of Irish Dancing and dancing in Damhsa’s famous Belvedere Irish Nights.
