Noelle Zielenbach began Irish dancing at the age of two in Cranford, New Jersey, under the instruction of her mother, Deirdre Shea. In 1989 after Noelle's younger sister was born, Deirdre decided to open her own dance school, as she was already teaching Noelle's friends and other local kids how to dance. 

 

At this time, Irish dance was still relatively unknown. In 1995, after the explosion of Riverdance, her mother’s school quickly expanded to hundreds of dancers and became highly competitive. As a result, Deirdre then brought on new instructors to help at the school, and Noelle danced under the instruction of John Jennings. 

 

Noelle had many solo and team successes throughout her career, placing in top 5 spots at regionals and qualifying for the World Championships over ten times and receiving a medal in 2008. 

 

In 2010, she passed her Irish Dance Teachers exam and became certified as a T.C.R.G. by the main organization in Ireland. Noelle is also a certified elementary school teacher and has two sons; she lives with her husband and children in Westfield, NJ.

 

Since Deirdre opened the school thirty-five years ago, Shea-Jennings has always been a close-knit environment where Irish dance lessons are attainable and fulfilling for everyone who wants to be involved. Noelle’s dedication and service to the community has kept her mother's traditions and culture alive in Union County. While Noelle has always been committed to promoting an inclusive, welcoming environment at the Shea Jennings Dance School, this purpose was given even more focus after her son received an autism diagnosis, as she felt a lack of community surrounding him. Noelle became even more committed to organizing donations, fundraisers, and performances for vulnerable people and often-forgotten groups. 

 

Together Noelle and Deirdre have volunteered over 25 years to the Union County St. Patrick's Day Parade, and Noelle is currently a committee member for the inaugural Cranford parade. During the St. Patrick’s season, the school gives back to the community by performing, and the school holds a deeply-rooted place in Union County. It is important to mention the parents and students of SJ who put in so much hard work to make all of this possible.

 

After teaching Irish dancing in Union County for over two decades, Noelle has had the privilege of sharing this rich tradition with so many people. It’s not just about showcasing hard work and dedication—it’s about fostering a sense of pride, unity, and belonging that will stay with the dancers for years and future generations. Being honored by the Daughters of Ireland is the pinnacle of years of dedication to Irish Culture.