Big Apple Feis 2012, New York City

Vendors 2010 Big Apple Gala Ball HonoreesMr. Mark Howard Founding Artistic Director By using Irish dance as both an instrument and metaphor, Mark Howard has been crossing dance and cultural boundaries in important ways. Over the past ten years, this Emmy Award-winning choreographer has synthesized forms and transcended craft into art, creating something that is forward-looking and new. His work maintains integrity, while it simultaneously goes beyond the framework of ethnicity to carve new traditions. Born in Yorkshire, England and raised in Chicago, Howard began his dancing career at age nine at Chicagos Dennehy School of Irish Dance. Becoming a North American champion Irish dancer himself, he launched the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance at age 17. Experiencing great success, the school won an unprecedented 32 World Championship titles for the UnitedStates the first when Howard was only 25. Twenty-one years since its inception, the Trinity Academy has grown from a dozen students practicing in a church basement, to the largest Irish dance program in the world. Intent on preserving the legacy of Irish dance and providing a creative outlet and professional livelihood for dancers, Howard formed the Trinity Irish Dance Company at age 29. Before that time, there were no Irish step dancers performing collectively outside the competitive realm. In the late 1990s, he began a second company called Trinity II. Howard continues to choreograph new works for the company, as well as expand his independent career working in theater, television, concert and film. In 1994 and in 2001, he was named one of Irish American Magazines Top 100 Irish-Americans for his innovative work in Irish dance. In 1991, his PBS production of Green Fire and Ice aired nationally; and in 2002, PBS began airing One Step Beyond. His early work found a common rhythm and movement between African and Celtic dance, which was an integral part of the 1993 Emmy Award-winning PBS special, World Stage. In 1995, his choreography was presented in the ABC special, About Us: The Dignity of Children, hosted by Oprah Winfrey. Howard has done extensive film work for Disney, Touchstone, Universal and DreamWorks, working with such directors as Ron Howard (Backdraft) and Sam Mendes (American Beauty). He recently choreographed scenes for Road to Predition, starting Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. During this time, Howard became a personal dance coach for Tom Hanks. Howard has also trained such celebrities as Lara Flynn Boyle (The Practice) and Kate Hudson (Almost Famous). Howard was a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson from 1988 to 1990, and his national television credits include Late Night with Conan OBrien, Live with Regis, Good Morning America and CBS This Morning.Big Apple Feis MainHomeHome-2011Home-2012Adjudicator MusiciansAdjudicator Musicians-2011Adjudicator Musicians-2012HotelHotel-2011Hotel-2012Contact InformationContact Information-2011Contact Information-2012Syllabus and Stage SchedulesSyllabus and Stage Schedules-2011Syllabus and Stage Schedules-2012Entry InformationEntry Information-2012VendorsVendors-2011Vendors-2012Volunteers-2011Volunteers-2012SponsorshipHonorees-2010Honorees-2011Gala BallGala Ball PerformersIrish IdolBachelor and Bachelorette of the yearCelebrity Judge Idol and Bachelor EventsMusicMusic-2011Non Dancing CompetitionsCostume RoomFashion ShowPress ReleasesNYC ActivitiesRafflesSpecial Guest Appearances