Billy Petrocelli, TCRG

Owner & Director

At the young age of four, Billy saw Riverdance for the first time at his great-grandmother’s house, and his love for Irish dance was born. He began taking classes at his local YMCA before transitioning to the Bremer School of Irish Dance, where he trained under Sheila Bremer, ADCRG. During his time with the Bremer School, Billy found strong success at the regional and national levels, winning three Regional Oireachtas titles and earning a Top 5 placement at the North American Irish Dance Championships.

Following the closure of the Bremer School, Billy transferred to the Kenny Academy in 2014, where he trained under Rose and Michael Kenny and Breda O’Brien. It was during his time at the Kenny Academy that Billy’s competitive career expanded onto the international stage. He went on to win seven additional Regional Oireachtas titles and earned Top 3 placements at major international championships, including the All Scotland Championships, Great Britain Championships, British National Championships, and North American Irish Dance Championships.

His crowning competitive achievement came in 2018 at the World Irish Dance Championships, where he placed 5th in the Men’s 18–19 competition and proudly brought a World Championship globe back to Boston.

Although Billy enjoyed a successful competitive career, he found that teaching and helping dancers grow was his true passion. Through assisting in classes, he gained experience working with dancers ranging from very young beginners through senior-level competitors. These experiences helped shape his teaching style and his desire to create an environment where every dancer feels supported, challenged, and encouraged to reach their individual goals.

In July 2022, Billy earned his TCRG certification with An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) and founded the Petrocelli Academy of Irish Dance. From the beginning, Billy felt it was important to offer both a strong competitive program and a recreational program, recognizing that every dancer has different goals. The Academy also emphasizes traditional céilí dancing and offers year-round performance opportunities, allowing dancers of all ages and levels to experience the many different aspects of Irish dance.

Billy holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Stretching and Flexibility Coach, and Youth Exercise Specialist. His background in exercise science allows him to incorporate his knowledge of strength, flexibility, movement, and injury prevention into his approach to teaching and dancer development.

Outside of the Academy, Billy currently works as an ABA Educational Assistant at Collicot Elementary School in Milton, supporting students in grades 2–4. His work in education further reflects his passion for working with children and helping them build confidence, develop new skills, and reach their individual potential both inside and outside of the dance studio.