Instructors

Sara Rhodes Zimmerman, TCRG

Instructor, Owner

Sara is a local Hampton Roads native and began her dancing career at the age of ten.  She progressed through the ranks of a 13 year competitive career and was a 5- time World Qualifier, 2013 World Recaller; 9- Time National Qualifier, 2- time medal holder placing 6th in the North American National Championship. In 2011, she placed 6th place in the Southern Region Championship for five consecutive years. 

   You may have seen Sara perform as the lead and troupe dancer for 11 seasons (2010-2022) with Busch Gardens, Celtic Fyre, Ranked #1 Best Theme Park Show by USA Today! Sara’s biggest dancing achievement was performing with the renowned Michael Flatley’s International and Broadway tour, Lord of the Dance in 2015. She is the first Hampton Road Irish dancer to perform in both of these shows. She was also the feature dancer in the Irish ensemble in the 2014 and 2017 Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, Va, and was Co-choreographer in 2017. Sara is honored and proud to have Rhodes Academy dancers’ part of the in the 2026 Virginia International Tattoo Cast. Sara is a 2013 Graduate from CNU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Theater and earned her coveted TCRG (Teagoscoir Choimisiuin Rinci Gaelacha)  teaching certification in 2014 through the Irish dancing commission in Dublin, Ireland. 

Sara has completed and passed the CLRG Child Protection Vetting Course (CHILD PROTECTION - CLRG)

Kelly Ann Gould, TCRG

Virginia Beach Instructor

Kelly Ann Gould is from Virginia Beach, Virginia and began Irish dancing at the age of eight. Over a 15-year competitive career, she was a five-time World Championship qualifier, placed at the 2022 World Championships, and qualified for Nationals eight times. In 2023, Kelly Ann achieved a lifelong goal by performing in Celtic Fyre at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, ranked America’s #1 Theme Park Entertainment. She continued as a troupe member for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Kelly Ann has also been a featured Irish dancer in the Virginia International Tattoo in 2014, 2017, and 2026— the largest military music and performance event in the United States, hosted annually in Norfolk, Virginia. Kelly Ann is a 2018 graduate of The Governor’s School for the Arts, where she majored in modern dance and minored in jazz. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University in 2022. She began gaining experience as an assistant Irish dance teacher in 2019 and, in 2025, earned her T.C.R.G. (Teagascóir Choimisiúin Rince Gaelacha), a rigorous certification recognizing her as a licensed Irish dance teacher. Kelly Ann has also successfully completed the C.L.R.G. Child Protection Vetting Course. Kelly Ann is deeply passionate about sharing the art of Irish dance with students of all ages, and her love for teaching continues to grow through her work with Sara and Rhodes Academy.