Our Teachers
Our teachers are TCRG qualified and registered with An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha (International Irish Dancing Commission). They are also members of the Traditional Irish Dancing Association of NZ (TIDA of NZ), giving their students access to all NZ Irish Dancing events and opportunities.
Shannon Dilger, ADCRG
Shannon danced for the O’Neill School of Irish Dance from age four to twenty-four, enjoying success both nationally and overseas. She also spent a gap year dancing for the Costello School of Irish Dance in Limerick, Ireland. Shannon is a qualified TCRG (Irish dance teacher) and ADCRG (Irish dance adjudicator) with An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha.
While Shannon’s main focus was competition, her passions are choreography and performance. She attended the Riverdance Masterclass in Dublin 2013, where she spent a week learning from and dancing with dancers from Riverdance; in 2015 she was fortunate to tour China for eight weeks as a lead dancer in the show “Flames of the Dance”; and in 2019 Shannon toured New Zealand with “Rhythms of Ireland”.
Shannon is also currently studying towards a Postgraduate Certificate in the Optimisation of Health for Performance in Irish Dancing at the University of Limerick.
Shannon’s competitive career highlights include:
Winning the New Zealand National Championships many times
Placing 25th at the World Championships in solos in Philadelphia, 2009
Placing 23rd at the World Championships in a girls ceili team in Philadelphia, 2009
Placing 22nd at the All Ireland Championships in Killarney, 2011
Placing 13th at the North American National Championships in Anaheim, 2013
Placing 4th at the Australian International Oireachtas in the Gold Coast, 2014
Winning the prestigious Ulster Cup in 2012, 2014, and 2015
Being awarded the Rodney Walshe Tuition and Travel Scholarships
Like many Irish dancers, Shannon has managed to juggle studying and other commitments alongside her competitive dance training and other hobbies. She has graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Education, and has also worked as a Teacher Aide at a Primary school for several years.
Shannon believes involvement in Irish dance is a fantastic way for children to create lifelong friendships and learn to work as a team while developing their coordination, athleticism, rhythm and choreography abilities. Shannon’s vision for Southern Cross Irish Dance is to create an inclusive environment where all students feel welcome and supported as they learn new skills and work to achieve their personal and team goals in dance.
Argene Flack, TCRG
(Née Montgomery-honger)
Argene danced for the O’Neill School of Irish Dance from the age of eight to twenty two. Argene’s passion for all things Irish is apparent, with her not only having been a competitive dancer, but also an accomplished Irish musician. No stranger to the stage, Argene performs and teaches tin whistle and bodhran (Irish drum), and has performed in a number of Christchurch-based bands ranging from Emeralds & Greenstone (Celtic-Maori folk fusion), Ceollu (Irish music duo with a twist) and Catharsis (traditional Irish band).
When the opportunity to spend a gap year living in Ireland arose in 2005, Argene leapt at the chance to be closer to the Irish culture she had surrounded herself with back here in NZ. During her time there and in preparation for competing at the World Irish Dancing Championships that year, Argene attended dance classes with Fegan Academy of Irish Dance.
Argene’s Irish dance and music career highlights include:
Placing 58th at the World Championships in solos in Ennis, 2005
Releasing a debut album with Emeralds & Greenstone, 2008
Emeralds & Greenstone’s album being nominated for Best Folk Music Album, 2009
Releasing an instructional DVD on how to play the bodhran, 2009
Releasing an EP with Whistle & Strum & Then Some, 2014
Argene has graduated from University of Canterbury in 2012 with a Masters of Science in Psychology, focussing on parental stress relating to having a premature baby. She now works as HR & Safety Manager at Christchurch-based painting and decorating company Flawless Finishes.
Since qualifying as an Irish Dancing teacher in 2007, Argene has thoroughly enjoyed teaching classes for preschoolers, school-aged children and adults. Now, having 2 boys of her own, she’s loved having Leo (7 years old) and Benny (4 years old) join the school-aged and preschool classes.
Argene has always enjoyed working with children and loves nothing more than to see kids grow and develop themselves through dance. She believes Irish Dancing provides a fun and friendly opportunity for children of all ages to challenge themselves and master new things. Her vision for Southern Cross Irish Dance is that children gain confidence in themselves, develop a passion for Irish culture and an ability to perform and share that passion for others to enjoy.
Shannon rarely turns down an opportunity to perform - you may have seen her busking in Re:Start Mall or Cathedral Square!
Her vision for Southern Cross Irish Dance is that children gain confidence in themselves, develop a passion for Irish culture and an ability to perform and share that passion for others to enjoy.