Zara began dancing at the tender age of 6 with the Michelle Lee School of Irish Dancing in Dublin. She soon excelled, becoming a champion dancer.
In her competitive career she consistently placed in the top five in all major competitions, the Leinster and All Ireland championships and winning the Dublin Title in 2002.
Zara always had a love of the stage and of different types of expression. Over the years she has trained in ballet, hip-hop, piano and vocal choral work, but most extensively she has trained in Irish dance.
From the age of 15 she has been extensively touring the USA performing in a number of high profile Irish Caberet productions and from there, at the age of 16, she went on to become a member of the elite 'Riverdance flying squad' dancing throughout the world.
While studying for her Degree in English and History in NUI Maynooth Zara was then asked to tour with 'Riverdance the show' full-time. It was an opportunity not to be missed and so Zara deferred her degree and went on the road in 2004 with the Avoca Company in Europe!
After just a few months she was asked to train as Lead dancer. She is the first an Comhdháil dancer to perform this role and she performed her first show as principal dancer in Hamburg, Germany in November 2004.
She held this position as principal dancer for four years. With 'Riverdance the show' Zara has toured with the Avoca, Corrib, Foyle and Boyne companies throughout Ireland, the USA, Canada, Russia, Asia, Europe, Scandanavia and Mexico.
Zara also has an avid interest in TV presenting and she returned home to complete the Bill Keating course in Media Presentation and Production in Dublin.
Zara also successfully obtained her TCRG (Official qualification to teach Irish Dance) in 2008.
In August 2007 Zara was asked to become the principal dance soloist for the US Billboard Topping show 'Celtic Thunder', which is available on DVD. Zara toured the USA and Canada with the production in Autumn/Winter 2008, Spring 2009 and Autmn/Winter 2009. Some highlights of her 'Celtic Thunder' touring days were performing in the fabulous Radio City Music Hall NYC, the Air Canada Arena Toronto and the Nokia Theatre LA.
In January 2010 Zara was delighted to open her own dance school - THE ZARA CURTIS ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE in Dunboyne Co. Meath and Adamstown Co. Dublin, with classes for both children and adults available. She hopes to build her class up steadily while continuing to perform.
