Personal details
- Birth Date: 1971-03-14
- Birth Location: Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA
- Professions: Actress, Additional Crew, Producer
Jean Butler? Oh, she’s a total powerhouse. Born March 14, 1971, out in Mineola, Long Island—so, a New York original. People usually know her as the woman who basically lit the stage on fire with Riverdance: The Show back in ‘95. That whole Irish dance thing blew up, and honestly, she was the one people couldn’t take their eyes off. Her energy? Wild. Footwork? Insane. You’d swear her legs were made of springs. But she wasn’t just about Riverdance. Nope. She dove headfirst into other projects too. There was The Brylcreem Boys in ‘98, which was this quirky blend of romance and war, set on an Irish island during WWII. Not your typical dance gig, but she pulled it off—she’s got that kind of versatility, you know? Then in ‘99, she starred in Dancing on Dangerous Ground, a full-on dance drama based on an old Irish legend. Jean helped create and produce that one, so she wasn’t just a performer—she was steering the ship. Not a lot of dancers can say that. And, fun fact, she’s been married to Cuan Hanley since April 26, 2001, and they’re still going strong. She’s not just a performer, she’s basically dance royalty. If Irish dance had a Hall of Fame, she’d have her own wing. She’s the real deal, not just onstage, but off it too—always pushing, creating, and keeping Irish dance in the spotlight.
reference nBack in April of ‘99, she snagged the Irish Post Award for her killer impact on Irish dance—yeah, not just a trophy for the shelf, but a legit nod to how much she changed the game. People were already obsessed with her moves, but this was like, official recognition that she’d basically left a mark nobody could ignore. The award itself’s a big deal among the Irish community, so you know she wasn’t just another dancer blending into the background. She’d pushed boundaries, brought Irish dance to new crowds, and honestly, made it cool again—think beyond the old-school steps, more like giving tradition a whole new twist. After this, her name started popping up everywhere. It’s wild how one award can turn someone into a legend overnight, but honestly, she’d probably already earned it way before the ceremony. Just took everyone else a little longer to catch up.
March 14, 1971
Konidela Ram Charan
Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA
54 years old