Jessica Peoples, Founder & Director Zona Dance Company, BA (Hons), RAD, RTS
Dance Artist | Educator | Creative Schools Associate
Jessica Peoples is a passionate dance artist, educator, and movement specialist with over 20 years of experience working with students of all ages and levels. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Jessica began ballet training at the age of three and went on to explore contemporary dance, choreography, and Pilates throughout her teens and early college years. Her early love for dance as a form of expression evolved into a lifelong commitment to movement education.
Jessica received her professional dance training at Scottsdale College and the renowned University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she studied ballet, contemporary, and jazz under acclaimed mentors including LaVaughn Robinson, Wayne St. Denis, Andrew Pap, and Ruth Andrien. Her performance career has included festivals, interdisciplinary collaborations, and work with professional contemporary dance companies such as The Moving Co. and Instinct Dancecorps, where she earned a Professional Certificate in Dance through MIAET.
As a qualified educator, Jessica holds a BA in Dance Performance, a Postgraduate Certificate in Dance Education, and is a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RTS). She is also certified in Rambert Grades, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), Pilates instruction, and Advanced Yoga (500hr). In addition, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Nutrition and Food Science, bringing a well-rounded approach to body awareness and holistic training.
In 2011, Jessica founded Zona Dance Company with the vision of creating a structured yet nurturing environment where children and young people can learn, grow, and thrive through dance. Her teaching encompasses ballet, contemporary, jazz/hip-hop, musical theatre, and bespoke work such as wedding dances. She teaches both in private studios and schools across Ireland and has helped shape curriculum-based dance education for the Leaving Certificate PE and Junior Certificate short course in Dance.
Jessica is also a dedicated Creative Schools Associate with the Arts Council of Ireland, leading cross-disciplinary projects both as a Creative Schools liaison and as an artist in primary and post-primary schools since 2019.
Many of her students have continued their dance training at prestigious institutions including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, College of Dance Dublin, Joffrey Ballet New York, Central School of Ballet London, Institute of Arts Barcelona, and University of Limerick, among others.
Above all, Jessica believes in dance as a tool for self-expression, discipline, and joy—and is committed to making high-quality dance education accessible, inspiring, and inclusive.
Linda Bennett, ISTD, ABD
Linda is originally from London, where she trained at the prestigious Laban Dance Centre at Goldsmiths College, London (1983). She has had an extensive professional career both as a dancer and a dance instructor at the famous Pineapple Dance Studios, London. Linda has worked with some of the most well-known choreographers of our time on various projects, such as Arlene Phillips (West End choreographer), Bruno Tonioli (Strictly Come Dancing judge), and Dame Peggy Spencer. Linda is a qualified teacher with ISTD qualifications in Modern Theatre and Freestyle. She also holds British Theatre awards in Modern Dance. Linda is a certified teacher with Acrobatic Arts (2017), a certified adjudicator (2020), and a certified Rambert Grades Contemporary Dance Instructor (2023). She is also ABD certified in Modern Theatre (2019) and a certified FitSteps Instructor in Ballroom and Latin (2021). Additionally, Linda is a qualified fitness instructor and holds a diploma in Yoga (2020).
Her professional career includes the West End productions of Oh What A Lovely War and Chess The Musical. She performed in TV productions in Japan and as a backing dancer with touring bands. Linda was the former choreographer for the Finesse Gymnastics Display Team, representing Ireland between 2012-2018. During that time, the team won many awards, including the Gym For Life Gold Medal in Scotland (2015) and the Donegal Sports Star Award for Best International Team (2015).
Diarmaid O’Meara, BA (Hons), MA
Diarmaid is from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary and trained at the College of Dance, Dublin and Central School of Ballet, London. After his return from the UK he has danced with Ballet Ireland for several seasons and has also performed with English National Ballet, Royal Opera, Sadlers Wells Theatre, Wide Open Opera and Ballet Theatre UK.
He has extensive professional experience working with world renowned choreographers such as: Morgann Runacre-Temple, Matthew Hart, Mikaela Polley, Kate Flatt, Lucy Burge, Liz Roche, Hubert Essakow, Jessica Kennedy, Ludovic Ondiviela and Susie Crow. Diarmaid is an experienced teacher of ballet technique and repertoire and has taught at College of Dance (Dublin), Trinity Laban, Laine Theatre Arts, Bird College, Dance Ireland and Sylvia Young Theatre School. Diarmaid is a recipient of Bank of Ireland’s Millennium Scholars bursary, Dance Ireland’s Mentorship Residency bursary and Arts Council Ireland’s Travel and Training fund. He has most recently completed his Primary Education training Masters Degree and will be teaching the children of Inishowen in Primary School in the years to come.
Caitlin Clancy, BA (Hons), RAD, RTS
Caitlin began her dance journey in South Africa, where she trained, competed, and performed in Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz, Show Dance, Contemporary, and Rhythmic Gymnastics. From a young age, she discovered a deep love for expressive movement, developing a lifelong passion for dance and embodiment.
She started classical ballet at the age of three, training under The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus and consistently achieving Distinction in her graded and vocational examinations. At 17, Caitlin was invited to attend the prestigious summer ballet program at the American Academy of Ballet in New York, under the direction of Mignon Furman. There, she trained with world-renowned teachers including Olga Kostritzky (Senior Ballet Master, School of American Ballet and Black Swan), Kevin Durwael (Director, Royal Ballet of Antwerp), and Christopher Alloways-Ramsey (Director, Orlando Ballet). This experience deepened her commitment to ballet and inspired her to pursue her RAD teaching qualification.
Alongside ballet, Caitlin trained in SADTA Modern Dance and performed Show Dance at both national and international levels. Between the ages of 11 and 16, she represented South Africa around the world, earning a gold medal with her team at a World Championship competition. Caitlin also competed provincially and nationally in Rhythmic Gymnastics, progressing through eight competitive levels.
Her love of movement naturally led her to yoga. She is a 300-hour certified yoga instructor in Vinyasa, Restorative, Hatha, and Kids Yoga, with additional 100-hour certifications in Kids and Tweens Mindfulness, Acro/Partner Yoga, and Yin Yoga. Caitlin has also supported and lectured in teacher trainings with Hotpod Yoga in South Africa.
In 2020, Caitlin moved to Ireland and joined the teaching faculty at ZoNa Dance Company. With nearly a decade of experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her work with students of all ages and abilities. Her classes are infused with positive energy, playfulness, and compassion. Whether teaching dance or yoga, Caitlin fosters a nurturing environment where each individual is encouraged to grow, explore, and express themselves with confidence
Georga Keys, BA (Hons), Athletic Therapy
Georgia attended her first ballet class at 2 years old and hasn’t stopped since. She was introduced to other styles such as hip hop, contemporary and jazz from a young age and has taken part in various competitions (spectrum dance events ), festivals (Noise 2017, 2018, 2019), parades (Dublin St. Patrick’s Day, Derry Halloween parade, Letterkenny St. Patricks) and performances including Zona Dance’s productions of “Alice in Wonderland”, “Dance for all Seasons”, “The Moon Princess” , “Dance is Art” and “The Lion King “. She has completed ballet exams with ISTD and Royal Academy of Dance which has given her the qualification of RAD Level 3 Certificate in Vocational Graded Examination in Dance. She began assisting with dance classes at Zona at the age of 15 and her passion for teaching and developing her own choreography grew, she is now one of our lead teachers and a celebrated choreographer in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance styles.
Georgia has completed her Athletic Therapy and training in Dublin City University and alongside her studies has continued to dance competitively representing her University with the DCU Dance Society in Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz. Her hopes for the future are to incorporate her love of dance into her clinical practice.