Annabelle Bugay is a percussive dancer based in Richmond, Virginia, specializing in sean nós (old-style) Irish dance and Cape Breton step dance. Her dancing is deeply rooted in the North Atlantic traditions that have shaped her as both a dancer and musician.
Annabelle began Irish dancing at age six with the An Cor Rud School of Irish Dance in Richmond. She eventually achieved open championship status, but stepped away from competition to follow her growing love of improvisation and social dancing.
After spending two years in Limerick, Ireland, where she began learning sean nós, Annabelle moved to Sydney, Nova Scotia, to complete her BA in Music and Folklore at Cape Breton University. She quickly fell in love with Cape Breton and its music and dance community. She spent her time there playing piano, learning steps from friends, and going to square dances and house parties whenever she could. For Annabelle, Cape Breton showed just how joyful and meaningful dance can be when it is shared with a community.
That experience continues to shape her teaching today. In spring 2025, she opened North Atlantic Steps, where she teaches percussive dance to adult dancers of all ages and abilities in the greater Richmond area. She is passionate about creating positive and inclusive spaces where people can feel empowered to learn to dance and participate in the rich dance traditions of the North Atlantic.
