Margaret Cleary was born in London of Irish parents, the eldest of five girls, all champion dancers. She first studied under Joan Long in Dublin and later the legendary Ted Kavanagh in Derry. She won countless competitive solo awards, including All England and All Ireland titles. She was privileged to be a member of the Kavanagh senior figure dance team during a three-year run as World Champions. After earning her TCRG in 1976, Margaret began her Irish dance teaching career in London while completing her degree in business at university. Margaret moved to Los Angeles in 1984, and by 1988, she offered her first dance lessons in the United States to adults at St. Ambrose in West Hollywood. By 1993, she expanded her classes to children and established Cleary Irish Dance. Over the last 30 years, Margaret Cleary has shared her love of dance with thousands of people of all ages, always confident in her belief that “if you can walk, you can dance.” Under her instruction, Cleary dancers have won National and International titles, including World Championships titles and Medals, North American Championships, and All Ireland titles. Margaret has chaired numerous regional Oireachtasi, National Championships, and over 60 local feiseanna in Southern California, including hosting the St. Ambrose Fall Feis for over 30 years. 

In addition to teaching, Margaret has traveled to dozens of countries over five continents as an ambassador and adjudicator for Irish dance. She currently serves as an SDCRG examiner, is a member of the CLRG examination authority (Udaras), and is Vice President of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA). She has dedicated countless hours to the Western US Region and IDTANA in various official capacities.

Margaret has worked tirelessly to promote and strengthen the Irish community in Los Angeles. From fairs to fundraisers, honoree banquets to parades, Cleary Irish Dance has been integral in the celebration of Irish culture in Southern California. Her dancers have performed in venues throughout the area, including the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl, Disneyland, television and film appearances on major networks, and museum cultural days. In recognition of her service, Mayor Richard Riordan named Margaret Irish Honoree of the Year in 1994, and in 2014, Los Angeles City Hall declared her the Irish Woman of the Year. She was recently awarded the Gradam Award by An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha for her lifetime contribution to Irish Dance, and she continues to actively teach at Cleary Irish Dance.