Meet the Team
Daniel Proudfoot
Founder
Daniel Proudfoot is a dancer with over 15 years of experience in the performing arts industry. As the owner of District Funk Performing Arts, he has dedicated his career to developing dancers and creating high-level performance opportunities for young artists.
Throughout his career, Daniel has been part of creative teams for major television productions including Britain’s Got Talent, Ireland’s Got Talent, Two Talented, and The Late Late Show on RTÉ. His work has also extended to the international competitive dance scene, contributing to productions and performances connected with the UDO World Championships.
Daniel is also the Co-Founder and Director of World of Dance Ireland, where he plays a key role in bringing one of the world’s leading dance platforms to Ireland and creating opportunities for dancers to showcase their talent on a global stage.
With a strong background in performance, choreography, and mentorship, Daniel continues to influence the Irish dance community through his teaching, productions, and commitment to the next generation of performers.
Alex O’Neill
Head of Dance
Alex O’Neill is a professional choreographer, dancer, and teacher with over 15 years of experience in the performing arts industry. His career began on RTÉ’s Supercrew (2010–2011) quickly expanding to international stages and screens including Bollywood blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie (2014). He was a guest soloist in Monica Loughman’s acclaimed annual production of The Nutcracker (2012–2015) and toured extensively as part of the Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror Tribute Tour (2014–2016). His television appearances include Centenary (2016), Laochra (2016), Vikings (2018–2019), Going Dutch (2025) and Twelve Dates Til Christmas (2025). Alex also featured in Ireland’s Got Talent’s live shows and advertising campaigns (2018–2019), and appeared in James Vincent McMorrow’s music video Gone (2020).
His commercial work includes collaborations with global brands such as Red Bull, Apple, Heineken, Facebook, Google, Vodafone, and Orchard Thieves. He starred as lead actor and dancer in the Lifestyle Sports Christmas campaigns (2018 & 2021), Head Choreographer for the ’80s & ’90s Disco European Arena Tour (2018–2020).
Alex’s film and television credits include Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel (2021), Disney’s Disenchanted (2022) Was the movement artiste for “The Watcher” in The Watchers (2024), created by M.Night Shyamalan and starring Dakota Fanning.
In 2022, he made his debut with the renowned dance company CoisCéim, under the direction of award-winning Director David Bolger, performing in Orfeo ed Euridice at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. More recent work with CoisCéim includes The Piece With the Drums (National Tour, 2023–2024), Palimpsest (2024), and Dancehall Blues Dublin Fringe Festival (2024), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2025)
Alex also debuted with ANU Productions in The Hardest of Women (2022), and was cast in Mosh, which won “Best Ensemble” at the Dublin Fringe Festival Awards (2023) UK and Ireland (2024–2025).
In addition to his live performance work, Alex is passionate about creating short dance films for Instagram and YouTube, which have reached audiences in over 190 countries.
He previously served as Head of Dance at Phoenix Performing Arts College, which at one stage was Ireland’s leading performing arts college.
Brian Gilligan
Head of Vocals & Drama
Training:
The Royal Irish Academy of Music, The Abbey School of Music and Drama, First Active Children’s Theatre
Theatre:
Scar (The Lion King UK and Ire Tour 2023-2024), Dubliner 4 (Tobacco Control Awards-Bloomberg Philanthropies/Locked Creative 2025), Riff (West Side Story: A Concert Version) Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Hans Christen Andersen (Hans Christen Andersen: A Musical Play-The Draiocht Theatre/Verdant Productions), Walking Cover Scar/Pumbaa (The Lion King UK and Ireland Tour), Friar/Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet-The Mill Theatre Dublin), Tommy Gilroy (Jimmy’s Hall-The Abbey Theatre Dublin), Assassins (The Gate Theatre Dublin-Winner of Broadway World Regional Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), Stock Jock/Lawrence De Capulet (Eugenius The Musical-The Other Palace London) Mad Magician (Bananaman The Musical-The Southwark Playhouse London), Guy (Once The Musical-Olympia Theatre Dublin), Cornelius/Understudy Doctor Faustus (Doctor Faustus-The Duke of Yorks Theatre London), Deco (The Commitments UK and Ire Tour 2016), Bruno/Ensemble (Piaf-A Pam Gems Play The Charing Cross Theatre London), Deco and Billy (The Commitments-The Palace Theatre London), Man 1 (Songs For A New World-Muse Theatre Company Mermaid Arts Centre Wicklow), Sean Og O Coileain (The Promise Musical-The Helix Theatre Dublin), Robinson Crusoe (Robinson Crusoe and The Carribean Pirates-Gaiety Theatre Dublin)
Commercial:
Marvin (Tayto Cheesiteese 2021), Lute Player (Zuto Car Dealership 2015), Friend (Migros Supermarket Switzerland 2014), Guy (National Lottery Ireland 2014)
Worskhop:
Shaun Donnelly Senior (Most Peculiar Dreams: Double F Productions 2020), Gus (Bedding Belle: Rhoda Bell Productions 2015) Ensemble (Son Of Rambo: Young Vic Productions 2015) Jack (This Is Not The Life I Ordered: Dezy Walls Productions 2022), Stephen Dedalus (Songs of Ulysses: A Musical Story) R and D Performance 2025
Brian is a qualified Vocal Coach and Director of voxroomslive.com.
Sophie Kavanagh
Dance Teacher - Commercial & Heels
Sophie Kavanagh is a Dublin-based professional dancer, choreographer, and performer with over 10 years of industry experience across television, film, theatre, live tours, and music videos. Trained extensively in hip hop, Jazz funk, Contemporary, and Vogue, she has performed alongside internationally recognised artists including Rudimental, Kat Graham, AlunaGeorge, Chris Lee, Jazzy, and Erica-Cody.
Known for her versatility, stage presence, and strong work ethic, Sophie is also trained in specialist fire performance.
Alongside her performance career, she has choreographed for major live events and music videos, bringing creativity, leadership, and professionalism to every project. Passionate about collaboration, Sophie thrives in both leadership roles and team environments, continuously seeking opportunities to create memorable and impactful performances.