Tiny adolescent girls form four lines as the last of the sun peaks through the windows in the studio of Shelley's School of Irish Dance in Pleasant Grove.

INSTRUCTOR AND OWNER Tina Shelley picks a song from a computer in the corner of the studio and an Irish jig begins to play. Three-by-three, the girls dance out to the center of the room. Their upper body hardly moves as their thin legs bounce and kick with the quick beats of the music.

This is just their warm up.

"Running a school like this around St. Patrick's Day is a celebration time of year," Shelley said.

Shelley teaches classes at the school with her younger sister, Johanna Lambert. They are only a quarter Irish, but have grown to love the country's history and traditions through the dance, especially around St. Patrick's Day. Irish dancing is a rare find in Utah, where there's only four schools. They are requested for performances throughout the month of March.

The Shelley School of Irish Dance is the oldest school in Utah. It opened in 2000 when Shelley, 32, received her Irish step certification from the Commission of Irish Dance in Dublin, Ireland. Before she was certified, she was a BYU student on a folkdance scholarship and was a featured soloist.

"People called me in my freshman dorm asking for lessons," she said, laughing.

She started dancing at age 6 after watching her older sister compete in an Irish Dance competition and bring home several medals. By the age of 8, she was a championship Irish dancer. She qualified for the world championships four times, but, unfortunately, never went through with it.

"I remember it being bounteous awards," Shelley said of her 26 years of dancing. "Lots of medals. Lots of trophies. It was a great experience for me."

She has been all over the world with her dancing and even choreographed for the Disney TV movie, "The Luck of the Irish."

Lambert joined her from Maryland in August is also a certified teacher. Lambert's resume is just as extensive: qualified for the world championships at 10 years old, studied at the Contra Costa Ballet School and was invited to join the Contra Costa Ballet Company.

"I really enjoy my time here because I get to break away from my kids and do something I love," Lambert said between dances. She has been dancing for 25 years.

Halfway through the intermediate dance class, the girls change shoes. The delicate, black flats become blocky, hard shoes with heels.

As the music starts -- digitized bagpipes and accordions -- the studio's heart beats. The floor vibrates as the girls work on an eight-step segment of one of their dances. You can faintly hear Shelley's voice counting the steps from under the music.

"It's such an awesome art form because it's so full of rhythm and vitality and energy," Shelley said. "It's a dance form that is really focused on the feet and the footwork."

Amelia Walker, 12, of Pleasant Grove started with clogging, but when she saw Irish dancing decided to make the switch.

"I fell in love with it," she said. "All the steps and the textures in the dance."

The traditional Irish dances that have been passed down from generation to generation are taught to all students as a way to stay grounded to the art form, Shelley said.

"It's so fun to see the kids grow and get confidence in something and then excel in something," Shelley said, smiling.

For more information, contact Tina Shelley at 785-3491 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Visit their Web site at www.shelleyirishdance.com.