The Schade Academy, under the direction of Mary Lou Schade, its founder and artistic director, is located in Levittown, New York and has been in existence for over thirty years. From its humble beginnings, the Schade Academy has grown into one of the most widely recognized Irish dance schools in the world.

The Academy's reputation for producing dancers whose style,elegance and grace on stage is what propels its dancers to the top of Regional, National and World competitions year after year.

In 1993, Mary Ann Schade, Mary Lou's daughter won the prestigious All Ireland Senior Ladies Championship title. Since its inception in the early 1900's, she remains the only American woman to have ever achieved this title.

The Schade Academy dancers have appeared in concerts throughout the Tri-State region as well as on local television programs. They have performed on stage at Radio City Music Hall and at Carnegie Hall.

Two of the Schade Academy's more prominent students, Mary Ann Schade and Kathleen Keady, hold the honor of having been chosen to perform in the original cast of "Lord of the Dance". Rosemarie Schade, Mary Lou's second daughter, as well as Margaret Williams are currently on tour with "Riverdance".

The Schade Academy students range in age from four years to a very young sixty years of age.