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Biography
Maggie started Irish dancing at the age of five and took part in Irish dance competitions until she was 16.
Maggie had been teaching Irish dance and was a qualified teacher in Modern, Tap and Jazz when her sister Annette introduced her to Line dancing in Ireland.
Inevitably Maggie was hooked and subsequently started her own Coventry Line dance club in 1995.
Following the success of Dancing Violins, Maggie has continued to choreograph to a broad range of music, styles and levels and has
had many dances published in Linedancer Magazine.
Having toured since 1999, the first event of her own was in 2002 at the Kings Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. This successful event was closely followed by the Maggie G Experience Weekend event at Pontins in Southport in 2003.
These Southport events became internationally known for their dynamic atmosphere and fun, including their Showtimes and "cheap and cheerful" pantomimes!
Maggie has taught many different types of dance for most of her life and she loves choreographing, whether it's for an Irish
show or for Line dance, but it has to be right - "To Be Sure, To Be Sure"! She loves the stage and loves to make people happy.
Her success at bringing great dances to the dance floor has resulted in many awards, both nationally in UK and internationally in Germany, Spain, France and Denmark.
Maggie has been honoured to receive many award nominations in the UK and Europe not only for all categories of line dance levels,
but also for Choreographer, Instructor, Personality and Outstanding Achievement.
In 2001, Maggie won 5 Crystal Boots at the Crystal Boot Awards (CBA) held by Linedancer Magazine, which is still an all-time record. In 2005, she was inducted into the CBA Hall of Fame.
Maggie was also inducted into the Spanish Line Dance Association Halls of Fame for "International Personality of the Year" (2013) and for "International Choreographer" (2017).
One of her successes in promoting line dance came in 2013 when, with some of her Celtica Academy seniors, Maggie was asked to appear dancing her Intermediate dance "In My Heart" in Shane Filan's pop video "Knee Deep In My Heart".
The video has so far had over 3.2 million hits on YouTube!
In addition to her Line dancing achievements, Maggie was honoured to receive a Good Citizen award in 2010, from the Mayor of Coventry, recognising her charity fundraising.
With the help of her Line dance club and her Celtica Dance Academy School of Irish dancing, Maggie has raised over £85,000 in 15 years,
making her one of Coventry's biggest fundraisers. Some of this money was raised by her sponsored Line dance marathons in 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2003
and by her biennial Celtica Academy shows in the Belgrade Theatre.
Her husband John is extremely supportive and her Mum, Dad, sister Annette and husband's family in Ireland play a very big part in her life.
Without this support, Maggie would not be able to do what she does for dancing and to be a good Mum at home.
Her three boys Sean, Gerard and Padraig remain her biggest achievement. Maggie is on the Parent Teacher's Association at their school, St John Vianney Catholic School, and actively supports as much as she can -
she is the school's resident DJ!
Over the years there have been many helpers and supporters. Maggie acknowledges that every award could not have been achieved without them and her many fans
and instructors who have supported her so well over the years.
Achievements & Awards
• CBA Winner 2023: Established Dance of the Year 2022 "Bad Habits", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2021: Dance of the Year "Bad Habits", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2021: Advanced dance of the Year "Blindsided", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2021: Intermediate dance of the Year "Bad Habits", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2020: Dance of the Year "Faithful Soul", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2020: Advanced dance of the Year "All I Need To Know", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2020: Intermediate dance of the Year "Faithful Soul", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2019: Dance of the Year "Faithful Soul", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2019: Intermediate dance of the Year "Faithful Soul"
• CBA Winner 2018: Lifetime Achievement Award "Superheroes"
• CBA Winner 2016: Absolute Beginner dance of the Year "The Galway Gathering", with Gary O'Reilly
• CBA Winner 2014: Intermediate dance of the Year "Fly High"
• CBA Winner 2014: Improver dance of the Year "Raggle Taggle Gypsy O"
• CBA Winner 2013: Beginner dance of the Year "Got My Baby Back"
• CBA Winner 2012: Improver dance of the Year "Rock Paper Scissors"
• CBA Winner 2008: Intermediate dance of the Year "Head Phones"
• CBA Winner 2007: Outstanding Achievement (UK Choreographer)
• CBA Winner 2007: Advanced dance of the Year "Guardian Angel"
• CBA Winner 2006: Outstanding Achievement (UK Instructor)
• CBA Winner 2006: UK Choreographer of the Year
• CBA Winner 2006: Advanced dance of the Year "The Reel Thing"
• CBA Winner 2005: Line Dance Hall of Fame
• CBA Winner 2004: Outstanding Achievement (Personality)
• CBA Winner 2004: Beginner Dance of the Year "Take A Breather"
• CBA Winner 2001-2005: UK Instructor of the Year
• CBA Winner 2001-2004: UK Choreographer of the Year
• CBA Winner 2001: Beginner Dance of the Year "Just A Memory"
• CBA Winner 2001: Dance of the Year "Mony Mony"
• CBA Winner 1999-2004: Female Personality of the Year
• 1998 First published dance "Line Up and Jig"
International Awards
• 2019 Line Dance Association, Linedance Choreography, "Celtic Duo", joint with Gary O'Reilly in International Hall of Fame
• 2018 German Living Line Dance Magazine, Line Dance Star Awards, "International Choreographer"
• 2017 Line Dance Association, "International Choreographer" in Worldwide Hall of Fame
• 2017 German Living Line Dance Magazine, Line Dance Star Awards, "International Instructor"
• 2017 Danish Line Dance Awards, "International Choreographer 2016"
• 2017 Danish Line Dance Awards, Intermediate/Advanced Dance of the Year 2016, "Corazon Diamante"
• 2015 FFCLD, "Best International Dance Teacher of the Year 2014"
• 2014 German Living Line Dance Magazine, Line Dance Star Awards, "International Instructor"
• 2013 Line Dance Association, "International Personality of the Year" in Worldwide Hall of Fame
• 2013 German Living Line Dance Magazine, Line Dance Star Awards, Improver Dance of the Year, "Rock Paper Scissors"
• 2012 German Living Line Dance Magazine, Line Dance Star Awards, Intermediate/Advanced Dance of the Year, "The Flute"
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