Michael is a Prizewinning Set, Ceili and Step Dancer. He has won Irish Regional and FOUR U.S. National Championship Team Titles and Southern California Men’s Championships.

He is a former member of the prizewinning Derradda Set Dancers and Derradda Strawboys of County Mayo, Ireland.

After moving to Southern California Michael studied step and ceili dancing with:
• The O’Leary School of Irish Dance, under the direction of Jackie O’Leary T.C.R.G.
• The Claddagh School of Irish Dance, under the direction of Maire O’Connell A.D.C.R.G.
• The St. Ambrose Ceili Dancers, under the direction of Margaret Cleary A.D.C.R.G.
• The Morrisey School of Irish Dance, under the direction of Martin Morrisey T.C.R.G.

As well as winning many solo and team competitions at local levels, Michael won numerous Western United States Championship Team titles with the Claddagh/O’Leary School and the St. Ambrose Ceili Dancers. He also won FOUR National Team Titles - San Diego (1994), Vancouver (1995), Boston (1996), Toronto (1997) - as a member of the St. Ambrose Ceili Dancers.

Michael has performed with The Chieftains; at the Auray International Folk Festival in Brittany, France; with the Tony Kenny and Hal Roach Cabaret Shows; on the Carnival Cruise Line; at The Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas; and has appeared on U.S., English, Scottish and Irish National TV.

He has performed for former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Albert Reynold and before numerous celebrities, including; Bob and Delores Hope, Charles Bronson, Faye Dunaway…

Please visit www.MichaelPatrickBreen.com for a list of Michael's upcoming and recent projects, headshots, resume and more.

Michael has taught Irish dance in Ireland and the U.S.

He currently teaches weekly dance classes and offers regular weekend workshops for beginners.

He has taught workshops at numerous locations and events, including:
• Irish Fair – Encino – June 2001
• Scottish Dancers at Caltech – Pasadena – August 2001
• Summer Solstice Folk Festival – Calabasas – June 2002 & 2003
• Encino Folk Festival – Encino – October 2002 & 2003
• Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest – Agoura Hills – May 2003
• New Los Angeles County Irish Fair – Fairplex, Pomona – March 2003
• Irish Ceili Wedding Banquet – Malibu – June 2003
• Manhattan Beach Arts Festival – Manhattan Beach – September 2003
• Beginner workshops – Burbank - Glendale - Pasadena – Santa Monica - Ventura

Michael Patrick Breen has choreographed many Irish dance pieces.
• “Ireland V’s Italy” – Soccer themed dance piece during the World Cup
• “Mag Mor” – Irish play staged in Hollywood
• “The Malibu Waltz” – Newlyweds first dance at their wedding banquet in Malibu
• “The McConville Extravaganza!” – St. Patrick’s Day Celebration choreography
• “The Hollywood Set” – New Irish Set Dance
• “The California Half Set” – New Irish Set Dance
• “The Strawboys” of the Los Angeles Irish Set Dancers – Irish Cultural Concert in Pasadena

Michael is currently working with the Director and Producers of a new Irish musical scheduled to open in Hollywood in March 2004. He is choreographer, Irish culture advisor and script consultant.

The Hollywood Set
Michael is the choreographer of the new Hollywood Set. (Dance notes will be posted on the website in the near future.)

This is an Irish Set dance with five figures:
1) Polka – The Oscar Polka
2) Reel – The Spielberg Reel
3) Hornpipe – The Cecily Hornpipe
4) Reel – The Kilnamona Reel
5) Jig – (still to be named)

The first two figures of this set were “Premiered” at the Willie Clancy Festival in Ireland in 2002. These figures were named after two names synonymous with Hollywood!

The second two figures also received their first public performance at the Willie Clancy Festival in 2003.

The Cecily Hornpipe is named after Michael's mother Cecily Tresnan Breen, in honour of her love and promotion of Irish music and dance.

The Kilnamona Reel is named after the area of Kilnamona in County Clare where Michael's father Senan (Synie) Breen and his family were born and raised.

The name of the fifth and final figure will be announced in March!

The Los Angeles Irish Set Dancers are scheduled to perform figures of the Hollywood Set on the stage of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood (the new home of the Oscars) in March 2004.

Michael is also working on the completion of the new California Half Set.

Video - Plans are underway to produce a video in the near future, which will include the Hollywood Set, California Half Set and the recently revived Los Angeles Set.

In August 2003 Michael produced and directed an Irish Cultural Concert staged in Pasadena. The concert featured the multi-award winning Barefield Ceili Band from County Clare, Ireland; Irish folk singer and songwriter Ken O’Malley; Uileann piper Patrick D’Arcy; An Cor Ceilteach, the Gaelic Choir of the Los Angeles Celtic Arts Center: The Los Angeles Irish Set Dancers who performed in Period 1900s costume and debuted “The Strawboys.”

Michael Patrick Breen is a board member of the Irish Center of Southern California and Public Relations Officer for the Larry Bane Seisiun, Los Angeles. He is a member of and/or supports numerous organizations in Southern California, including: The Celtic Arts Center; The Southern California Irish Network; Irelands Own Social Club; The Irish Hour Radio Show Support Committee; The Brothers of St. Patrick; The Columban Fathers; The New Los Angeles County Irish Fair at Fairplex; The American Ireland Fund.

In March 2001, Michael was honored at Los Angeles City Hall. He received a Certificate of Commendation from Mayor Richard Riordan and Council Member Nate Holden - for his “outstanding contribution to the Irish and Irish-American community in greater Los Angeles as a committed and concerned leader in pursuit of Irish culture and heritage.”