Instructors

team

Meet the passionate instructors behind the Mattierin School of Irish Dance

M

attierin Irish Dance has been family run since its inception in 1993. The Bell family makes up the four lead instructors, three of which are TCRGs with An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha. In addition to the team are talented instructors, Rachel Frend and Olivia Nachtigal who are Mattierin Alumni and champions. Rachel and Olivia bring experience as Mattierin dancers alongside team and leadership skills in assisting and leading classes.

All instructors at Mattierin have completed the Canadian Child Protection Course and cleared a Vulnerable Persons Check through the local police authorities.

Patti Bell
Owner, Lead Instructor

Patti danced in Edmonton for 12 years with the Theresa Riess School of Irish Dance and the Butler Academy of Toronto. Having won numerous awards, including the Western Canadian Regional's, Patti received the Alberta Junior Achievement Awards for Irish Dance, and danced in three consecutive World Championships in Ireland.

Patti has performed with the Irish Rovers and Carlton Showband in concert and on television. She was also chosen as the only Irish dancer to perform with the Alberta cultural group, which toured in Asia.

Merv Bell TCRG
Founder, Lead Instructor, Musician

Merv danced for 17 years with the Butler Academy in Toronto. He danced in several North American Championships and qualified to dance in the World Irish Dance Championships in Ireland. He was proud to be a member of the Senior Figure Choreography team, which won the North American Championship in New York.

Over the past 35 years & counting, Merv has been playing accordion and piano at Irish dance competitions nationally and internationally, including the World Irish Dance Championships, North American Championships, and Australian National Championships.

Interesting fact: Merv played for the TCRG exam in Edmonton '93, while also taking the exam himself, which he pass granting him his certification from the international Irish dance body, An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelach.

Mattierin dancers are privileged to dance to live music by Merv in class and at almost every performance.

Rebecca Bell TCRG, ADCRG
Lead Instructor, Choreographer

Rebecca competed for 18 years before hanging up her shoes to become a dedicated Irish dance teacher. She competed at the World Championship Level and brought home multiple solo and team medals from the North American, All-Ireland, Great Britain, and World Irish Dancing Championships.

In 2003 Rebecca became the youngest Canadian female competitor to earn a World Medal when she medaled in the Girls Under 12 in Killarney, Ireland. In 2009 she brought home a World Medal in the Senior Ladies 8 hand championship. Rebecca had many championship titles throughout her career, notably multiple Western Canadian Championship, 4th place at the North American Nationals, and 6th at the Great Britain Championships.

Rebecca received her TCRG certification with Honouirs from An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelach in 2013 and has been teaching full time at Mattierin and giving workshops internationally.

Jessica Bell TCRG
Lead Instructor, Musician

During her 17 year long competitive career, Jessica competed at the world championship level and brought home multiple solo and team medals from the North American, All-Ireland, Great Britain, and World Irish Dancing Championships. In 2009 she was a part of the Senior Ladies Ceili team that brought home a world medal in the World Championships that year.

Jessica has recently furthered her dance career and is now a professional dancer with Canada’s Ukrainian dance company - Shumka. In addition to dancing, Jessica has been playing piano at local feiseanna, Oireachtas World Qualifiers, and the North American Irish Dance Championships.

In 2013 Jessica landed her TCRG certification from An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelach with honours and continues, through teaching, to share her love of Irish dance with the dancers at Mattierin.

Rachel Frend
Instructor

Bio coming soon

Olivia Nachtigal
Instructor

Olivia Nachtigal has been dancing for the Mattierin school of Irish dance for the past 12 years.

In her competitive year thus far, Olivia has achieved great success such as: i10x Western Canadian Oireachtas champion, 3x North American Irish Dance champion, Great Britain Champion, 2x World Championship podium finisher, and 2x All-Ireland podium finisher.

While she still competes, Olivia has pursued a professional Irish dance career through her casting in the "original, the best", Riverdance as leading lady!

Olivia is extremely excited about passing her experience and knowledge of Irish dance onto kids while watching them find their passion for dance in the studio.

“Mattierin has helped me grow into who I am today and I am so proud to have been a part of their school. The teachers truly care about each and every one of their dancers and all are encouraged to reach their full potential.”