All classes are taught by fully qualified, vetted & safe-sport certified instructors.
Learn more about our teachers.
Meet the Staff
Teachers dedicated to helping An Clar dancers become the best version of themselves.
Lexa Hickey
Owner|TCRG/ADCRG
Lexa started dancing at the age of 4 with the Schilling School in Wharton, NJ. With the closure of the Schilling School at age 10 she moved to the Broesler School of Irish Dance under the instruction of Kevin Broesler, ADCRG. From there Lexa went on consistently to place in the Top 5 at the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas (7 consecutive times in 1st place), & numerous Top 10 & Top 5 placements at the North American Championships, Great Britain Championships, All-Ireland Championships, & World Championships; her highest & most memorable placement being 3rd at the 2008 World Championships in Belfast.
In April of 2009 Lexa auditioned for Riverdance and received a spot in the 15th Anniversary tour with the Boyne troupe. On this tour she had the honor to perform at such places as The Pantages in Los Angeles & at Radio City Music Hall during St. Patrick’s Day week. Lexa has also had the privilege over the years to perform several times with Eileen Ivers, The Chieftans, Cherish the Ladies, Frank Patterson at Carnegie Hall, Liadan, Lunasa, Danu & Ciaran Nagle of the 3 Irish Tenors.
In May 2011 Lexa took her TCRG exam and passed with honors. Lexa opened An Clar in July 2011 in Albany, NY followed by Byram, NJ (Lexa's hometown) in January 2012.
In December 2017 Lexa passed her ADCRG exam. She is a fully qualified teacher & adjudicator certified and registered with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG), IDTANA, & Mid-Atlantic Region. Lexa is fully vetted having also completed her SafeSport certification.
Lexa is an active member & volunteer within the Irish dance community giving her time on several regional, national & international committees. She has co-chaired the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas 2020-2022 and most recently co-chaired the 2025 North American Irish Dance Championships (NAIDC) which hosted 5000 competitors from 15 different countries held in National Harbor, Maryland.
Additionally, Lexa is currently serving her 2nd term as the Mid-Atlantic Assistant Regional Director.
In addition to her certifications with CLRG, Lexa is CPR & AED certified with the American Heart Association and has completed several continuing education workshops under the New York State Dance Education Association at New York University, Steinhardt School of Education, Dance Education Program which was also combined with training from the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries.
Lexa is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her love of Irish dance with the next generation.
Hayden-Grace Francis
TCRG
Hayden started dancing at the age of 3 with the Campbell School of Irish Dance in Albany, NY. Following the closure of the Campbell School in 2011, Hayden began to dance for the An Clar School of Irish Dance under the instruction of Lexa Hickey, ADCRG at the age of 10. Under Lexa’s instruction, Hayden moved up to the Open Championship Level and consistently placed at the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas and North American Championships. She also competed internationally many times at the Great Britain Championships and the All-Ireland Championships.
Hayden qualified for the World Championships for the first time in 2018, she then continued to qualify at both the regional and national level in the following years. Hayden has placed in the Top 5 at the Oireachtas two times and her biggest achievement was placing 33rd at the 2022 World Championships in Belfast.
In April 2023, Hayden competed in her final solo competition at the World Championships in Montreal. Before fully deciding to hang up her shoes she competed with her Senior Ladies 4-Hand at the North American Championships in Nashville, where her team came in 4th place. She also competed on teams at the 2023 Oireachtas, placing 3rd in both her Senior Mixed 4-hand and Senior Mixed 6-hand. Following the Oireachtas in 2023, Hayden switched her focus towards studying for her TCRG Examination.
In September of 2024, Hayden took her TCRG exam and passed. Along with Lexa, she now teaches for the An Clar School of Irish Dance in Albany, NY. Hayden is certified and registered with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG), IDTANA, & Mid-Atlantic Region. Hayden is fully vetted having completed her SafeSport certification.
Hayden credits Lexa with her love and passion for Irish Dance and she is honored to follow in Lexa’s footsteps in sharing this love for years to come.