Rising Stars: Meet Lochlan Howard of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lochlan Howard.

Hi Lochlan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am Lochlan Howard, a six time World Champion and professional touring Irish Dancer.

Growing up I trained at The Academy Irish Dance Co. in Westerville, OH. My oldest sister Brooke, started dancing the year that I was born. She started Irish dancing after seeing a performance at the Dublin Irish Festival. I quite literally grew up around dancing eventually starting classes in 2012, when I was 7 years old. With The Academy, I would go on to compete at the World Championships, winning my first title at the 2016 World Irish Dance Championships that took place in Glasgow, Scotland. Following this win, for years to come I was still competing. Every subsequent year that the World Championships took place I won my solo category and picked up team dancing titles as well. By the time I was ready to be done competing in 2023, I had won six solo world titles as well as 4 titles on teams as well as all other major Irish dance competitions of that particular year.

Following the 2023 World Championships, I got an offer to perform in Lord of the Dance. My first show would be in Taipei, Taiwan at the Taipei Arena alongside a cast of nearly 100 dancers. I was then offered to stay on and join the main cast of Lord of the Dance for a start in Germany and Eastern Europe the following year in 2024. I have been touring with Lord of the Dance ever since, performing in sold out shows all around the world. I never imagined that following in my sister’s footsteps (quite literally), would lead to a career as a professional dancer, but I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities that I’ve been given over the years. I am still as I write this on tour in the UK with Lord of the Dance, but when I am home in Ohio, I teach where it all started alongside my teachers Byron and Ed at The Academy Irish Dance Co. in Westerville training the next batch of the best Irish dancers in the world.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
All in all the bumps in the road along the way are just that, they’re part of the journey.

Dancing and continuing training in 2020 during the pandemic was quite challenging. When the lockdown first occurred, it was, as we all know in the first weeks of March in 2020. The World Championships were scheduled for the end of March and eventually ended up being cancelled. This was extremely disappointing as my friends and I had been working so hard in the studio with my teachers day in and day out. While the opportunity to compete at the Worlds that year was taken away, I was extremely fortunate that my dance teachers kept up classes over Zoom during this time.

While it was tough to keep up technique at home with limited space, these classes really solidified my love for dance. It kept up some normality by having the schedule day to day with my friends and my teachers, even if it was only online. Coming out of the pandemic, this had reinforced my love for dance it ended up keeping me in it for the long haul. In 2021 the World Championships would be cancelled yet again, but finally when they could recommence in 2022, I am fortunate to say that I was able to win again for the fifth year in a row. While the pandemic was a hindrance to many dancers and certainly was to me at times, I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without this time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For two years now I have been touring in Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. I have performed in 5 continents to sold out crowds in the largest theaters and arenas all over the world. I never imagined this opportunity would present itself to me. Irish dancing is quite a difficult world to navigate. As an American, it is tough to get into touring shows as such because the companies are based in the UK and Ireland. I am extremely fortunate that my dance teachers at The Academy not only teach how to be technically proficient dancer, but they also teach us how to be professional performers. The Academy productions that I was a part of are some of the best “local” dance school productions to ever be put on. This is all credited to my dance teachers Byron and Ed, Byron being from Columbus himself. The two of them performed in Lord of the Dance and Riverdance respectively.

My time growing up around their creative ability, quite literally learning from the best is certainly what sets me and the other dancers at The Academy apart from others. Currently, the touring cast of Lord of the consists of me and two of my other best friends I grew up training with at The Academy in Westerville, Katie Claar and Bella Rogers. In professional environments, “The Academy dancers” are known for their technical precision and almost second nature attitude to being part of a large production. There is really no other dance school in the entire world that can prepare you better for work in an Irish dance show, with many Academy alumni having long and illustrious careers in touring shows.

When I am off tour back at home, I am proud to work alongside my teachers helping in training the next generation of world class dancers. At the most recent World Championships which took place in Chicago this past Spring 2026, The Academy dancers brought home 10 first place titles, more than any other school in the entire world. Some of the kids on these teams were as young as 8 years old. The opportunity that is being a part of The Academy is quite literally second to none. I am so grateful that Byron and Ed have trusted me to be even a small part of their legacy.

Among my dancing career, I have a growing social media following too. It feels like a lottery win when you have a viral video. A few of my dance videos have gone viral and I always share my travels around the world. While not a full time career, through my posting on social media I have been given opportunities for brand collaborations, working with brands such as Under Armour, Diesel, and Loewe. A career in social media never feels possible, but is something I would like to keep trying to develop.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I could never imagine not coming home to Columbus. My whole family is in the city. I come home to my parents who live in New Albany, which is where I grew up and went to high school. New Albany is such a tight knit community and just simply a gorgeous place to be. One of my sisters lives in the Short North which is another great place to go for dinner and a walk. We are frequenters of the many brunches and happy hours along High Street and downtown. There is an endless amount of things to do and finding new spots is always so exciting. My other sister just moved to Dublin. Bridge Park/Old Dublin has become one of my favorite spots in the city as well. And just outside of New Albany, my grandparents live in Johnstown. Being able to quickly jump from urban, to suburban, and rural communities is so perfect. There are so many places in and around Columbus to choose from that are all so different and so perfect in their own way. I simply have so many little special connections to so many different places around Columbus that it makes it hard to leave every time, but so warm and inviting to come back to.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lochlanhowardd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucky.howard.54
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@luckyhowardd