ABOUT THE MAYER-TORNO SCHOOL

The Mayer-Torno School serves to encourage, inspire, and motivate students to dance and be the best they can be. Our philosophy is to teach in a friendly and positive way increasing each dancer’s self-confidence. We encourage communication between the students, parents, and teaching staff.

Our ultimate goal is to provide a learning atmosphere that is healthy and fun. We strive to instill a sense of belonging, friendships, school spirit, and confidence in each and every student.  We are proud to pass along our love of Irish dancing to children from all backgrounds; thus, children do not have to be Irish to participate!

A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE WITH SMALL CLASS SIZES

At the Mayer-Torno School of Irish Dance, beginning students are introduced to dances such as the “Jig” and “Reel”, while taught on proper posture, foot placement, timing, and stage presence. A primary concern of the Mayer-Torno teaching staff is to maintain a comfortable class size so that your child(ren) receives the attention he/she deserves in a family-like atmosphere.

Above all, it is important that each student enjoys his/her experience in Irish dancing!

THAT'S NOT ALL

Besides weekly classes, Mayer-Torno students are invited to participate in such fun activities as the St. Patrick’s Day parades, performances, competitions, festivals, and even TV appearances!

HOW IT ALL STARTED

The Mayer School in St. Louis was established in 1995 by Paul Mayer, a certified Irish dance instructor (TCRG) and adjudicator (ADCRG), from Chicago, Illinois. For several years, Paul traveled weekly to his St. Louis school to teach classes where Meghan Torno was a student. During this time, Meghan became an Open Champion dancer and later became a talented instructor and Paul's assistant. After Paul married and started a family in Chicago, he turned his St. Louis school over to Meghan, who had since acquired the TCRG certification. Paul and his two sisters, Mary Mayer McHugh, TCRG and Julie Mayer Ciesla, TCRG continue the Mayer School throughout the states of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.  Meghan now owns and directs the St. Louis location which carries her name, the Mayer-Torno School of Irish Dance.

OUR INSTRUCTORS

Meghan Torno, is the owner/director and principal instructor of the Mayer-Torno School St. Louis. Meghan is a certified teacher of Irish Dance, having received her Irish Dance Accreditation (TCRG) in January, 2006. Meghan is second-generation Irish and grew up in a family surrounded by Irish music and dance. She started Irish dancing at age 3 and quickly moved up the competition ladder, reaching the Championship level in her early teens. Meghan traveled extensively throughout her competitive years, retiring from the competitive world while attending St. Louis University.

Meghan still continued performing, having performed with various well-known groups that include The Chieftains, Boys of the Lough, Frank Patterson, Cherish the Ladies, Eileen Ivers, and Natalie MacMaster.

Meghan is a graduate of St. Louis University, with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology and currently works at St. Luke’s Hospital. In January of 2006, Meghan received her TCRG (Teagascoir Choimisiuin le Rince Gaelacha), the official teaching certification, which accredits her by An Coimisiuin le Rince Gaelacha, in Dublin Ireland, the world’s governing body of Irish dance. Meghan passed the challenging TCRG exam with high honors!

Because of Meghan’s extensive Irish dancing career, which spans over 20 years, and along with the tutelage and training as a teacher from world-renowned instructors, she looks forward to passing on the same standard of excellence, instruction, and compassion she received throughout her years to her students.

Along with being a certified Irish dance teacher, Meghan is also an accomplished Irish musician. She has won numerous awards and recognition playing her Irish Whistle and flute, including winning various first-place awards at the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil, which is the Irish music championships, qualifying her to compete at the World Championships in Ireland.

Erin Weicht, a principal instructor at the Mayer-Torno School, is a former competitive Open Champion Irish dancer who started her Irish dancing career at age 5. Erin has competed both regionally and nationally, and reached the Championship level while in her teens. Erin retired from competitive Irish dancing when she started college, and now shares her Irish dance experience with her students. In addition to her successful Irish dancing career, Erin is employed at St. John’s Mercy Health Center, and is planning to take the TCRG exam to receive full accreditation from the Irish Dance Commission.

Dori Walker, started dance classes at the age of 3 and has ballet, tap, Irish and Scottish Highland dancing to her credit.  In 1989, she became certified as an instructor through the BATD  in Highland.  Throughout her 20 years of Irish dancing, Dori has trained with Maureen McTeggart Hall, Ariel Bennett and Colin Dunne.  Additionally, she has performed with various groups including Gaelic Storm, The Elders, Teada, The Turfman, The Glengarry Bhoys, Enter the Haggis, The Irish Brigade, Sin E Ri-Ra (Las Vegas), Connie Dover and Flannigan's Right Hook, just to name a few.  Dori has taught with Dance Unlimited, Lincoln Irish Dancers, Touch Dancing, Walker School of Celtic Dance and Scottish Highland Dance Company of Omaha before moving to St. Louis, where she now teaches with the Mayer-Torno School.  Dori teaches our Preschool and Adult Classes, along with assisting other classes.  

In addition to her dancing career, Dori is also an accomplished Irish musician, playing the bodhran and singing.  She has been a member of some well-known Irish bands, such as Erin Ceili Band (Omaha), The Lucky Charms (Kansas City) and Flannigan's Right Hook (Kansas City).

Annie Rogers, who started Irish dancing at the age of five, is currently an Open Champion competitive dancer, figure-dance choreographer, and assistant teacher with the Mayer-Torno School. Annie has competed at the regional and national level, and is a student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy. She is planning to obtain her Irish dance teaching certificate (TCRG) when she finishes college.

In addition to these instructors, champion-level students assist teachers to maintain a low student/teacher ratio and provide more quality one-on-one attention to all students. And because our focus is ‘quality, not quantity’, our class sizes allow for focused, individualized instruction by our staff.

At the Mayer-Torno School, we have a wonderful and dedicated teaching staff, whose goal is to provide the highest quality of teaching in both solo and team dancing, to ensure that every student, regardless of their ability, reaches their full potential. Meghan, Erin and the entire teaching staff take particular delight in teaching students their first faltering steps and guiding them through all stages of their development until they gain status as world class contenders.