New York's groundbreaking educational and performance institution of American Irish Dance.

Founded by Deirdre Lowry in 1998

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Deirdre Lowry

Director of Education/Performance

Deirdre Lowry is the founding (1998 ) Artistic Director of Solas An Lae School of Irish Dance and the Solas An Lae Dance Company.

Recognized today as one of the most prolific and expansive choreographers and educators in Irish Dance.  Her choreography and performances have been showcased at Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, the 92nd street Y, Symphony Space, The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, The Ulster Performing Arts Center and her Company's annual residency performances at The Center for the Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. 

Lowry was educated from an early age by celebrated ID teacher Donald Golden in New York City. Her training part of the An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha of North America in competitive Irish dance. Deirdre has performed with various projects at Radio City Music Hall,  Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC. She studied ballet and contemporary dance theater at Bard College and was awarded competitively throughout her training in regional and national Irish dance competitions. She has toured nationally and internationally with many notable musicians and prestigious musical groups.

Patrick Brown

Performance & Musical Director

Patrick began collaborating with Lowry and the SAL program in 2002, conceiving, scoring all of SAL’s theatrical productions. Raised in Los Angles, CA. in a family steeped in the arts, theatrically and visually. Patrick studied music at UCSC, and as a percussionist/drummer toured nationally and internationally with many notable ensembles.

While continuing a musical carer, Patrick created in 1994 PAB inc. an aesthetic design company in NYC, who’s work was commissioned by a host of clientele that included Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum and Ralph Lauren.  Today, Patrick oversee’s every aspect of SAL, from its productions, musical scores, light design, photography and videography of its rehearsal and performances.

Her recent musical/dance collaborations have included works with the Grammy award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops (2013), the acclaimed scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser (2012/2015) Irish fiddle legend Kevin Burke (2013), singer/songwriter Liam O' Maonlai of The Hot House Flowers (2013) & Ronan O Snodaigh of KILA (2015).  Since 2012 Deirdre has created with her current Company over 90 new repertoire works, and in collaboration with co-Director Patrick Brown eight full theater dance productions: ‘Incandescence’ -’The Celtic Soul of Van Morrison’- ‘A Midwinter's Night Dream’- ‘Soul’-’15’- ‘A Celtic Christmas’- ‘Illume’- ‘Reels’.