December 2010 Newsletter_January 2008 ... - Dance Ireland

NewsINTRODUCTIONDecember and the holiday season are here. Despite the difficult financial climate and uncertainty – 2010will be memorable for the tenacity, collective support and new ideas generated by a resilient andcreative dance sector. We should celebrate; looking back we can all share in acknowledging thewonderful range of dance projects, performances and tours undertaken over the past twelve months. So, wehope you will all find the time to join us for Xmas drinks on Wednesday 15 December from 5 to 7pm, followinga studio sharing of new work at 4pm by Liv O’Donoghue (Ten: white/grey studies in movement). At our Xmasdrinks we will also launch our second commissioned essay from Jeffrey Gormly; Everyone Is Going Solo, Together,a copy of which is enclosed here as our present to you.As usual, we carry news of performances from members throughout the country, including Irish National YouthBallet’s The Nutcracker; Youth Ballet West’s Once Upon a Time; Fidget Feet/Galway Community Circus YoungEnsemble new collaboration and CoisCéim Broadreach The Choreography Project at The Hugh Lane Gallery.For the third year Birr Theatre and Arts Centre hosts I.F O.N.L.Y (International Festival of a Necessarily LonelyYou) with a range of national and international guests, established by Legitimate Bodies. Nationally, BalletIreland concludes its extensive tour of Romeo and Juliet, while in Cork The Firkin Crane presents its final workin-progressshowing of the year with Blank Canvas artists Fearghus Ó’Conchúir and Kyle Abraham on Friday03 December.Project Arts Centre hosts a range of interesting dance work this month, including IMDT’s In this Moment, acollaboration between John Scott and Charles Atlas; Project Brand New (featuring work from DI member PeterDuffy) and The Bobby Sands Memorial Race by performer Eddie Ladd. Presented as part of Queer NotionsFestival, DI members can purchase tickets at the concession rate on production of your current DI membershipcard.Our morning professional classes continue with guest ballet teacher Judith Reyn-Stroux (29 November to 03December), guest contemporary teacher Iñaki Azpillaga (06 to 10 December) and conclude with a week ofballet led by Jane Magan (13 to 17 December).Dance Ireland and DanceHouse will be closed from Saturday 18 December until Tuesday 04 January. Morningprofessional class will resume on Monday 10 January with Elena Giannotti.Inside you will also find details on the open call for Re-Presenting Ireland: a showcase initiative by Culture Ireland,Dance Ireland and Dublin Dance Festival, which will take place next May as part of the Dublin Dance Festival atDanceHouse. Please note the closing date for applications is Wednesday 15 December 2010.And finally, Daghdha Dance Company, Dance Ireland and The Firkin Crane are working in collaboration withthe Arts Council on hosting four workgroup discussion sessions. Framed around the recently published reporton dance touring by Jane Daly: New Framework for Professional Dance Touring in Ireland; we hope to see you atone or other of the sessions.Dance Ireland takes this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and we wish you and yours ahappy, prosperous and dance-filled new year. We look forward to working with you all again in 2011… warmregards from Brenda, Elisabetta, Glenn, Inga, Paul and Siân.3

DANCE IRELAND PROGRAMMECONTACT IMPROVISATION JAMWEDNESDAYS @ DANCEHOUSE11.30am - 1.30pmFee: €2Open to all those with contact improvisationand movement experience these contactimprovisation jams will run every Wednesdayuntil 15 December.DANCE RESEARCH READING &DISCUSSION GROUPTuesdays @ DanceHouse07 December6 - 8pmFreeinfodanceresearch@gmail.comLed by Antje Schneider, and open to thoseinterested in exchange about theoretical,practice-based and practice-led research indance and performance. Providing the space toreflect on ideas, and to engage with the ideas ofa wider community; texts will be provided tostimulate discussion. New members alwayswelcomed.INTERNATIONAL GUESTBALLET TEACHERJudith Reyn Stroux29 November - 03 DecemberProfessional Morning Ballet Class(with piano accompaniment)10 - 11.30am‘Anatomical Articulation of the Limbs in Ballet’Two Afternoon Ballet Lecture Demonstrationsfor dance teachers30 November & 02 December1 - 4pmFees: €30 members/€50 non-members(two lecture demonstrations)Judith Reyn-Stroux studied atthe Royal BalletSchool, London.On graduation,she joined TheRoyal Ballet,dancing solo rolesin works byAshton,MacMillan andWright. She wasinvited to joinStuttgart BalletJudith Reyn Strouxwhere she wasPrincipal for many years, dancing the leadingroles in all John Cranko’s full-length ballets:Eugene Onegin, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeoand Julia, The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle.Under the sponsorship of Professor MichaelBirkmeyer, Director of the Vienna State OperaBallet School, Judith studied Ballet Pedagogywith the leading teachers in Europe, in additionto studies in Anatomy, corrective Gymnastics,Pilates and Kinesiology. In 1986, she joined thestaff of the Vienna State Opera Ballet School asteacher of classical ballet, variations andrepertoire. She taught graduate classes withprize-winning students, a majority of whomreceived contracts with leading European dancecompanies.She taught Liz King’s modern dance companyTanztheater Wien (resident at the ViennaVolksopera) for ten years and created a systemadapting the classical ballet education andtraining programme to the needs of moderndance training. Most notably, Judith evolved aworkshop with a powerpoint presentation toacquaint dancers/students of ballet andSource: Judith Reyn Stroux4

Source: Malgorzata Czajowskacontemporary dance with a simplified courseconcerning anatomy and kinesthetic awarenessin the articulation of the limbs in rotation.Much in demand as an international guestteacher, Judith teaches for leading classicalballet companies and contemporary dancecompanies and schools, including StuttgartBallet Company, HET National Ballet, Introdans,Preljocaj Company, Royal Ballet School London,HET National Theatre Ballet School Amsterdam,American Academy of Ballet New York, HongKong Academy of Performing Arts, Basel BalletTheatre School, Kudo Academy of Ballet Japan,Tanzhaus NRW Düsseldorf, Madrid Associationefor Professional Dancers and ImpulsTanz.INTERNATIONAL GUEST TEACHERIÑAKI AZPILLAGAProfessional Morning Class06 – 10 December10 – 11.30amFee: €7 DI members / €10 non-membersDance Ireland is delighted to welcome backInternational Guest Teacher Iñaki Azpillaga toDanceHouse from 06 to 10 December. Theseclasses are directed at people interested indance as an art of expression. The class will turnaround one or two themes per day includingwarm up, floor-work and dance evolutions in thespace, from high voltage to lazy-looking formswhere energy and imagination are the rulers ofKopiathe rhythm. Dancers are encouraged toappropriate the given material and ‘stage’ it inthe shortest delay of time, assimilating mistakesand adaptations as new versions and personalresults.Iñaki Azpillaga is dance teacher based inBrussels. Since 1994 he has been associated withthe company Ultima Vez as dancer, teacher,repetitor and choreographic assistant to WimVandekeybus on numerous productions. Iñakihas a dance studies background in Folk, Classicalballet, Jazz, modern/contemporary dance. Hehas performed with the companies of UltimaVez/W. Vandekeybus, Mathilde Monnier,Bocanada Danza, National Ballet Company ofSpain, among many others.NEW FRAMEWORK FOR PROFESSIONALDANCE TOURING IN IRELANDEarlier this year, Dance Ireland hosted amembers’ meeting and a meeting with the ArtsCouncil. An outcome of these meetings wasconsensus to continue fostering a process ofconstructive dialogue between the sector andthe Council.Recently the Arts Council commissioned JaneDaly to undertake a consultation processcentred on the development of dance touringin Ireland. The findings were collated in a reporttitled New Framework for Professional DanceTouring in Ireland. The document can bedownloaded from www.artscouncil.ie/en/areasof-work/dance-introduction.aspx.As a next step, Dance Ireland, Daghdha DanceCompany and The Firkin Crane are working incollaboration with the Arts Council on hostingfour workgroups aimed at discussing thereport’s findings. Each workgroup will bestructured as a focused round table facilitatedby Jane Daly, and it will last for no more thantwo hours. These workgroup meetingsrepresent a valuable opportunity to feedbackinto the ongoing development of a new policyframework for professional dance touring inIreland.In order to have an informed discussion, weencourage participants to read the report in full5

efore attending a meeting. Your participationwill be much appreciated. To keep thediscussion focused, there is a maximum of 12people per session. Places will be allocated on afirst-come first-served basis. Please RSVP byWednesday 01 December to confirm youravailability.Workgroup Session 1: DanceHouse07 December, 11:00 to 13:00Workgroup Session 2: DanceHouse07 December, 14:00 to 16:00Workgroup Session 3: Firkin Crane09 December: 14:00 to 16:00Workgroup Session 4: Daghdha Space10 December: 11:00 to 13:00RSVP to Áine Kelly at aine.kelly@artscouncil.ie orphone 01 618 0254.RE-PRESENTING IRELAND: A SHOWCASE INITIATIVE BY CULTURE IRELAND, DANCEIRELAND AND DUBLIN DANCE FESTIVALOpen Call Deadline:Wednesday 15 December @ 5pmFor the fourth successive year, Dance Irelandin association with Dublin Dance Festival andCulture Ireland, invites proposals fromchoreographers (Dance Ireland professionalcategory members only) and dance companies(Dance Ireland organisation categorymembers only) to submit work forconsideration for Re-Presenting Ireland.What is Re-Presenting Ireland?Re-Presenting Ireland is a showcase platform tobe held during the 2011 Dublin Dance Festivalin which experienced professional artistspresent a sample of current work, either aswork-in-progress, extract or repertoire. Due tothe technical limitations of a mixed billshowcase, there are constraints on theprogramming and, therefore, works presentedmust be no longer than 20 minutes and havevery limited set-up requirements.Re-Presenting Ireland is an opportunity fornational and international programmers andnational audiences to experience, as part of amixed bill, some of the work currently beingmade in Ireland. It is our intention to curate aprogramme that is representative of currentdance practice and of the very higheststandards. It is also a networking opportunityfor dance artists to present themselves to theirinternational peers and press during the festival.Please note, there is no production fundavailable for this studio-based showcaseplatform.Assessment process and criteriaProposals will be considered by a peer panel,comprising representatives from CultureIreland, Dance Ireland, Dublin Dance Festivaland international colleagues.Assessment will be based on thechoreographer’s track record and suitability ofthe work within the confines of a mixed billprogramme. The final selection will be madeby the end of January 2011.How to applyProposals should be submitted using the Re-Presenting Ireland application form, andaccompanied by 5 copies of a DVD of the workthat you propose. Application forms can bedownloaded from both the DanceIreland (www.danceireland.ie) and DublinDance Festival (www.dublindancefestival.ie)websites.Completed application form and DVDs shouldbe sent to: Inga Byrne, Re-Presenting Ireland,Dance Ireland, DanceHouse, Foley Street,Dublin 1, to arrive no later than Wednesday 15December at 5pm. All applications will beacknowledged by email and decisions will becommunicated by the end of January 2011.Please note, late applications will not beaccepted. All applicants must be professionalcategory members of Dance Ireland.6

FROM DUBLIN TO LUBLINby Liadain S. HerriottFrom Dublin to Lublin, a letter in difference and a world apartLublin Dance Theatre hosted the second leg of Tour d’Europe, a pilot programme designed for ten“young emerging choreographers” from France, Poland, Germany, Spain and Ireland. I foundthe week in Poland thoroughly informative and rich in cultural exchange and artistic sharing.Warmly welcomed by Ryszard Kalinowski, director of Lublin Dance Theatre, our first day wasan intensely profound introduction to the city’s heritage. One of the Lublin’s most interestingtheatres, No Name Theatre is situated in the old city’s original gate linking the Christian andJewish neighbourhoods of the old city. A group of actors settled down in this ruined city gate,Grodzka Gate, in 1992 and gradually through much research and labour, transformed thehistorical location into a theatre. Today, the theatre they designed in that space, NN Theatre isdedicated to telling the city’s history, keeping heritage alive through performance and exhibition.At the onset of World War II, eighty percent of Lublin’s population was Jewish. They were takenfrom their homes, put in labour camps and their neighbourhood, then the Jewish district of theold city of Lublin, was completely demolished. It appears today as though this part of the citynever existed, apart from this renovated gateway. NN Theatre pays hommage to the old city’sJewish neighbours, by bringing the memory of them alive through intricate exhibitions ofauthentic testimonies and photos collected from this time period. Through intriguing in-houseinstallations, NN Theatre has virtually remapped the old Jewish city which no longer exists inreality. Grodzka Gate NN Theatre acts as a museum as well as a theatre. Situated in a gatewaybetween two neighbourhoods it is now a gateway to memories brought alive through art.What impressed me most was the cross collaborative approach to the organisation of the city’sperformance events. Lublin Dance Theatre itself is housed in a building which is used by artistsfrom various backgrounds. Each set of artists has a company which corresponds to theirparticular field including dance, fine arts, theatre, music and puppetry. It is no surprise thatcollaboration is often characteristic when it comes to the events in the city related to performance.This building is called Centrum Kultury w Lublinie - Culture Center of Lublin. CentrumKultury is responsible for the organisation of the city’s events, such as Lublin’s annualInternational Dance Festival.The 14th edition of this dance festival took place the week we were there. Throughout the week wetrained every morning at Lublin Dance Theatre’s studio with Inna Aslamova, a choreographerfrom Belarus who has performed her work in the International Dance Festival. During the week,the festival opened, hosting performances from Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Greece/Slovakia. Itwas a wonderful opportunity to meet artists from other countries and to see their work.Dance writer Jadwiga Grabowska talked to us about the history of contemporary dance in Poland,Polish contemporary dance festivals and the current residential platforms for artistic researchand performance.All in all, the week in Lublin was thoroughly enriching both artistically and culturally. Thefestival facilitated networking and the Tour d’Europe team grew tighter in knowing more aboutone another. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet other artists, see their work and observe howthey operate. Tour d’Europe’s third leg in Hamburg will take place at the end of January 2011where we will be hosted by the city’s choreographic center, K-3.7

COMPANY NEWSARTS & DISABILITY IRELANDAbära International Disability Film Festivalwww.dochas.ie/abaraMotion DisabledSimon McKeown (UK), 12 mins(running on loop)03 December @ 5pmMeeting House Square, Temple BarA digital exploration of the bodies of peoplewho are physically different, this remarkablework makes use of 3D animation and motioncapture, a technique more commonlyassociated with feature films and computergames, to create a kinetic connection with thehuman form. Conceived by recording thephysical movements of fourteen people withconditions such as Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsyand Brittle Bones, the film highlights the wonderof everyday movements with all the intricaciesand uniqueness of each person’s physicality.Abara’s screening of Motion Disabled is one of 12screenings happening worldwide on 03December as part of International Day of Peoplewith Disabilities Coordinated by VSA.My DreamWang Honghai (China), 90 mins05 December @ 6.30pmCinemobile, Point VillageChina has long been renowned for the beauty,precision and physical perfection of itsperforming arts troupes. That ‘perfection’ takeson a new meaning in this beautiful executedshowcase of a Chinese performing arts companywhose every performer is physically impaired. Adazzling display of dance and movement and anwww.danceireland.ieuplifting examination of a group of youngpeople who are as energetic and ambitious asany other young folk of their age, My Dream is atestament to artistry and perseverance.BALLET IRELANDRomeo & Juliet 2010Touring until 12 Decemberwww.ballet-ireland.comBallet Ireland is touring a brand new productionof Romeo & Juliet choreographed by MorgannRunacre-Temple, which had its world premiereat the Gaiety Theatre on 19 October.Shakespeare’s tale of the star-crossed lovers,Romeo and Juliet, is one of the greatest lovestories of all time. Against a backdrop of ancientfeuds and gang warfare, the ill-fated youngcouple falls instantly and hopelessly in love. Buttheir families are bitter enemies, and in order tobe together the two lovers must be prepared torisk everything...Romeo & JulietSource: Ballet Ireland8

Source: Coiscéim Dance TheatreRomeo and Juliet is a dazzling combination ofpassion and hatred, comedy and high tragedy,making it the perfect vehicle for the talents ofchoreographer Morgann Runacre-Temple whodelighted audiences last year with heradaptation of Cinderella. Don’t miss thisinnovative and exciting new production ofRomeo & Juliet coming to a theatre near you.COISCÉIM DANCE THEATRECoisCéim BroadreachThe Choreography Projectwww.coisceim.comOver six weeks, participants from theChoreography Project have been working withchoreographer Philippa Donnellan to createdance theatre drawing inspiration from thework of painter Francis Bacon. ThisChoreography Project is in collaboration withThe Hugh Lane where Bacon’s studio is onpermanent exhibition. The project culminates inan informal presentation open to friends, familyand members of the public on 11 and 12December at 3pm at The Hugh Lane, ParnellSquare North, Dublin 1. This is the fourthChoreography Project, which offers professionaland non-professional dancers the opportunityto work with choreographers to explore andcreate dance.CoisCéim BroadreachGift vouchers are available this holiday seasonfor upcoming terms of evening classes for adultsat CoisCéim Studio. These classes inContemporary, Ballet and Jazz for new andexperienced dancers will continue until 17December and resume on 18 January. Also inJanuary, drop-in dance classes for people aged50+ will continue in Donnycarney and in the citycentre. Visit www.coisceim.com for moreinformation.DAGHDHA DANCE COMPANYSuccessful Gravity and Gracein association with Limerick City Councilwww.daghdha.ieDaghdha are delighted with the success of theirGravity and Grace festival in November. Morethan 200 people braved the storms over the fourevenings to experience exhilaratingcontemporary dance and choreography.The first evening, ‘An Opening’, hosted andwelcomed the first performance installation bythe new DMP programme participants whojoined Daghdha on 01 November 2010: HelenCerina, Jesse den Dulk, Claire Keating, RuairiO’Donovan, Asher O’Gorman. The followingevenings were a performance seriesprogrammed by Artistic Director Michael Kliën,and featured the dance artists andchoreographers Kaspar Aus, Mark Carberry, LauraDannequin, Giorgio Convertito, Jesse den Dulk,Ellen Kilsgaard, Edd Schouten and Lucy Suggate.Daghdha would like to thank everyone involvedwithin the festival for their time and inspirationsand we look forward to featuring Gravity andGrace in the national calendar in 2011.ECHO ECHO DANCE THEATRECOMPANYSeason’s GreetingsThe team at Echo Echo would like to wish all ofour fellow Dance Ireland colleagues andmembers a wonderful Christmas and New Year.We have been blown away by the passion anddiversity of the work being produced all over thecountry, despite many challenges. May itcontinue in 2011!9

Echo Echo’s programme will be announced inthe January issue but will include elements ofthe Into Contact project working withSteelstown Primary School to integratemovement into the culture, sports clubs in theNorth West and producing a performance/installation piece on climbing, created by ArtisticDirector Steve Batts and artist Dan Shipsides.The company will continue to offer an extensiveeducation and outreach programme for all agesand abilities as well as tour children’s productionUndercurrent in autumn 2011. Plus much, muchmore to be announced! We hope to see some ofyou with us next year and look forward to seeingeveryone’s work. Best Wishes from Echo EchoDTC.FIDGET FEET AERIAL DANCE THEATREAttack of the Circus22 December @ 8pmBlack Box TheatreTickets: €12/8Family ticket: €32 (4 people)www.tht.ieFidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre incollaboration with Ireland’s first youth circus,Galway Community Circus, presents acontemporary circus show combining aerialskills with music and video art. Developed andperformed by a group of spectacularly talentedyoung Galwegians, the Galway CommunityCircus Young Ensemble. Attack of the Circustakes place at Black Box Theatre on 22December at 8pm. This project is funded by theArts Council.FITZGERALD & STAPLETONwww.fitzgeraldandstapleton.comSeason’s GreetingsFitzgerald and Stapleton send a huge thank youto everyone who supported the company’swork during a very busy and productive 2010.Our score writing commission with DaghdhaDance Company is now in its exciting final phaseas we collaborate via writing and internet withfour women ranging in age from 8-63 in thecreation of four original choreographies - MINE.Áine Stapleton was named among the topartists aged under 30 for her work with thecompany and its contributions to Ireland’scultural life. She spoke passionately about thevalue of contemporary dance to society in aradio interview on Newstalk and in The SundayTimes.Fitzgerald & Stapleton expanded their work intoa new dimension, reaching new audiences witha commission from RTÉ and Absolut FringeRADIOACTIVE to create the choreography forradio, In My Father’s Name. The piece can beheard on our website.We were featured in an interview in Hot Pressmagazine which allowed us to raise furtherawareness of contemporary dance as a meansto ask burning questions about our society.Fitzgerald & Stapleton move into 2011 with adeepening conviction of the unique andessential voice of contemporary dance in all ofour lives. We consider it an honour to be part ofthis vibrant, creative and supportive communityof artists and wish you all a safe and fun holiday.Source: Fidget FeetAttack of the Circus10IRISH MODERN DANCE THEATREIn this Moment29 November – 04 DecemberProject Arts Centrewww.projectartscentre.ieIrish Modern Dance Theatre (IMDT) presents theworld premiere of In this Momentchoreographed by John Scott with live video,projections and visuals by Charles Atlas. In thisMoment will include a cast of eight outstandingdancers featuring Joanne Banks, Philip

won a coveted “Bessie” award and created newworks for Alvin Ailey II, Jacobs Pillow DanceFestival and Danspace Project at St Mark’sChurch.Actions & The Bowing Dance08 – 10 December3 Vaningen, Goteburg, Swedenwww.3vaningen.seSource: Ewa FigaszewskaActionsConnaughton, James Hosty, Marc Mann,Sebastiao Mpembele Kamalandua, RebeccaReilly, Michael Snipe Jr and Florence WelaloPoudima. A dazzling, dreamlike meeting of highenergy dance, vibrant colours, quirky humourwith giant projections filmed live by Atlas anddancers. In this Moment unites dance, film andtechnology to stunning effect.Kyle Abraham Triple Bill04 December @ 6pmProject Arts Centrewww.projectartscentre.ieKyle Abraham will create a new work for IrishModern Dance Theatre (IMDT) in 2012 but untilthen he’ll give a thrilling taste of his excitingwork with performances of three of his worksInventing Pookie Jenkins, Live! and Work-in-Progress at Project Arts Centre on 04 December.Kyle Abraham is one of New York’s mostdazzling dancer/choreographers; called equalparts power and grace by Dance Magazine,which listed him among its elite 25 to Watch in2009. Abraham’s diverse training in classicalmusic, visual art, and dance forms from ballet tohip-hop give range and depth to his sleek,evocative work. Hailed as the best and brightestcreative talent to emerge in New York City in theage of Obama by Out Magazine, Abraham’sworks probe the complex relationships betweenidentity and personal history. He has recentlyIMDT are delighted to announce that they aretouring their hit show Actions together with TheBowing Dance to 3 Vaningen, Gotenburg thismonth for three nights in a special double-billperformance. Actions will be performed by PhilipConnaughton and Ashley Chen who recentlyperformed it to a full house in VISUAL, Carlow.IMDT artistic director, John Scott will perform hisiconic The Bowing Dance which returns from itssuccessful run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010.IRISH NATIONAL YOUTHBALLET COMPANYThe Nutcracker03 & 04 DecemberO’Reilly Theatre10 & 11 DecemberPavilion Theatrewww.inyb.comThe Christmas season is not complete withoutseeing the delight and magic of IrishNational Youth BalletCompany‘s productionof The Nutcracker. 40 ofIreland’s most talentedyoung dancers willperform together withguest dancers JulianaBastos, Oliver Speersand Julianne Rice-Oxley. They will dazzleeveryone from theyoungest to the mostseasoned theatregoers.Snowflakes, flowers,mice and sweets allwrapped up inTchaikovsky’s gloriousmusic, what could bemore festive?The NutcrackerSource: INYB11

LD DANCE @ SHAWBROOKAuditions18 December @ 11amwww.shawbrook.orgShawbrook will host a one-day audition for theirShawbrook Youth Dance programme onSaturday 18 December at 11am.Shawbrook Youth Dance (SYD) will commencework with teacher Anica Louw on Friday 14January. The participants in this year’s SYD willbe working towards a “classical ballet”performance for LD DanceFest. Up to twentysenior and 20 junior dancers will work for twelveweeks receiving classes in ballet, jazz, aerial andcontemporary dance, and workshops withvisiting professional dance companies, outingsto dance theatre performances and perform invarious festivals around the country.LEGITIMATE BODIES DANCE COMPANYIF ONLY (International Festival Of A NecessarilyLonely You)DARI Masterclass10 & 11 December 2010Birr Theatre and Arts Centrewww.birrtheatre.comOffaly’s Birr Theatre and Arts Centre has beenhosting this very innovative dance festival forthe past two years. The festival was establishedin 2008 by Cristina Goletti, one of the twodirectors of Legitimate Bodies Dance Company,the resident dance company at the venue. It wasconceived out of the desire and the remit of thecompany to make contemporary dance moreaccessible and available to the audience in ruralIreland. We also place huge value in hostingsuch an extraordinary gathering of artists in ruralIreland. The manager of the theatre, Emma NeeHaslam, was very enthusiastic about the idea ofbringing national and international dance artiststo Birr and the solo format suited the stage ofthe local theatre particulary well.Now in its the third edition IF ONLY(International Festival of a Necessarily LonelyYou), thanks to the support of the Arts Council,Offaly County Council and Birr Theatre and ArtsCentre, will be an event to remember for boththe dance community and the local community.The programme for this year includes artistsCindy Cummings and Jazmin Chiodi fromIreland, Lily Dwyer (Levy Dance) from SanFrancisco, Robin Dingemans from the UK andJulie Rothschild from Colorado. The eveningperformance will take place Saturday 11December at 8pm.A variety of DARI workshops includingAlexander Technique, Contact Improvisationand Yoga for dancers will take place on Friday10 and Saturday 11. DARI (Dance Artists inRegional Ireland) is supported by Dance Irelandand Birr Theatre and Arts Centre is delighted tobe one of the principal DARI venues.DARI WORKSHOPS10 & 11 December€45/ 2 days workshops and performance€30/ 1 day workshop and performance€15/12 (concession)/ performance only10 December4:30-6pm Alexander Technique for dancers(Julie Rotschild)6:15-7:30pm Open Class Yoga11 December10 - 11:15am Yoga for dancers11:30-12:45pm Contact Improvisation(Cindy Cummings)2 -4pm Alexander Technique for dancersFor more information:legitimatebodies@gmail.comLily O’DwyerSource: Legitimate Bodies12

was to draw from dancer and performer MichaelCooney’s life and dance experience to generatematerial for a solo work. The piece has beendevised and choreographed by Peter Duffy andis performed by Michael Cooney.Source: Legitimate BodiesLily O’DwyerLIV O’DONOGHUETEN: white/grey studies in movement15 December @ 4pmDanceHouseAdmission freeFollowing a year of personal development andmovement research, Liv O’Donoghue will bepresenting a short solo and duet at DanceHouseon 15 December. This is an informal studioshowing and feedback at the end iswelcome. This research has been made possiblethrough a bursary awarded by the Arts Councilin 2009 and with support from Dance Ireland.Choreography: Liv O’DonoghueComposition: Tom LanePerformers: Maria Nilsson Waller, Tom Lane,Liv O’DonoghuePROJECT ARTS CENTREThe Bobby Sands Memorial RacePresented as part of Queer Notions07 December @ 7.30pmProject Arts CentreTickets €12/8www.projectartscentre.ie/queernotionsEddie Ladd, one of Wales’ most exhilaratingartists brings her breathtaking performance TheBobby Sands Memorial Race to Dublin for its Irishpremiere.Combining dance, text, music and new mediatechnologies and set on a 12ft x 6ft runningmachine, Ladd’s stunning solo follows the sixtysix days of the hunger strike and considers thelong-distance goal of resistance.Bobby Sands was a long distance runner as ateenager. During his time in the infamous Mazeprison in Belfast, Sands wrote articles and essayson endurance and running. His essay, TheLoneliness of a Long Distance Cripple, inspired thispiece.A uniquely physicalised distillation of the life anddeath of the IRA man who died on a hunger strikein Belfast’s notorious H Blocks in 1981.Impressive…compelling The TimesPETER DUFFYThreadsPresented as part of Project Brand NewDecemberProject Arts Centrewww.projectartscentre.iePeter Duffy has been selected to present Threads(working title) at the upcoming Project BrandNew in the Project Arts Centre. Threads cameabout as a result of a residency in DanceHousein early August 2010. The plan for the residency13The Bobby Sands Memorial RaceSource: Project Arts Centre

The Bobby Sands Memorial Race is at Project ArtsCentre for one night only as part of the QueerNotions Festival. Dance Ireland members canpurchase tickets at the concession rate for allProject Arts Centre events with a valid DanceIreland membership card.THE FIRKIN CRANEBLANK CANVAS 2010Work-in-progressFearghus Ó Conchúir & Kyle Abraham03 December @ 1pmSuggested donation €5The Firkin Crane’s BLANK CANVAS 2010 hasincluded artists from Iceland and Israel,Argentina and Switzerland, Ireland and the UK.During the month of November 2010, twodance artists from opposite sides of the Atlantic,but whose artistic trails have criss-crossed theglobe, will take up the final residencies of theyear. Fearghus Ó Conchúir and Kyle Abraham,from Ireland and the USA respectively, willresearch, develop and explore creative ideas,within the supportive structures at the FirkinCrane, the home of dance in Cork.Fearghus Ó Conchúir is an independentchoreographer and dance artist. Brought up inthe Ring Gaeltacht in Ireland, he completeddegrees in English and European Literature atMagdalen College Oxford, before training atLondon Contemporary Dance School. Fearghus’current creative preoccupation with therelationship between bodies and buildings inthe context of urban regeneration hasmanifested itself in filmed and in liveperformances in Europe, the US and China.Recent projects have included collaborationwith Chinese choreographer, Xiao Ke, which wasperformed in Beijing, Edinburgh and at theWorld Expo in Shanghai. His dance film, Momhórchoir féin, premiered on RTÉ.Kyle Abraham, dancer and choreographer, hasreceived tremendous accolades and awards forhis dancing and choreography and washeralded as one of the “best and brightestcreative talent to emerge in New York City in theage of Obama.” His choreography has beenpresented throughout the United States andabroad, including at the Okinawa PrefecturalMuseum & Art Museum, Japan, and theInternationales Solo-Tanz-Theater Festival inStuttgart. In addition to performing anddeveloping work for his company,abraham.in.motion, he teaches his uniqueapproach to post-modern dance in variousschools and studios throughout the US.To celebrate the culmination of BLANK CANVAS2010, the Firkin Crane will present an excitinglook at work-in-progress by Fearghus and Kyle,on 03 Dec 2010 at 1pm, lasting approximatelyan hour. Light refreshments will be served from12.30; suggested donation €5.YOUTH BALLET WESTOnce Upon a Time & Nutcracker Suite18 December @ 8pm19 December @ 3pm & 8pmTown Hall Theatre, GalwayTickets: €16 / €12www.tht.ieThe West’s leading Youth Ballet Company isdelighted to present Once upon a time andNutcracker Suite this December. The showpromises to be the perfect start to a magicalChristmas with a wonderful mixture of fairy-talefavourites and seasonal ballet delights. The firstpiece Once Upon a Time, takes the audience ona spellbinding journey through many favouriteclassic tales, including Snow White, Red RidingHood and Goldilocks. Inspired by the vibrantvisual images in these fairytales and set to amagical score by John Lanchberry, the ballet ischoreographed by Judith Sibley, Artistic Directorof Youth Ballet West. This work premièred atBaboró 2009 to great acclaim and the ballet hassince toured to arts festivals in Dingle andDublin.Sibley’s staging of Nutcracker Suite, the classicChristmas family favourite, played to sold-outaudiences in Galway when it was first performedin 2008. The gifted young dancers of YouthBallet West shine as they bring to life The Landof Snow followed by excellent interpretations ofthe well-known Divertissements and Waltz ofthe Flowers. The roles of The Sugar Plum Fairy14

first dance. Just as each of the points that makeup the circle is essential to the circle – everythingthat you notice in your life for the next ten daysis essential to your dance.Source: Stephen MackenSnowflakeand the Prince will be performed by JudithSibley and Leighton Morrison. With speciallycommissioned costumes hand-made inMoldova and a stunning new set this is awonderful opportunity for dance enthusiasts tosee some of Ireland’s most talented young balletdancers and the perfect family show to kick offthe holiday season.For information visit www.youthballetwest.ieOTHER DANCE NEWSCHOREOGRAPH.NETwww.choreograph.netExtract from Fitzgerald & Stapleton, MINE.Question OneCan you imagine that your whole life is adance?Imagine a perfect circle –at the centre of the circle is a single point andthe circle is composed of an infinite amount ofpoints at equal distance from this one centralpoint.Each and every single one of this infinite amountof points is necessary to the existence of thecircle. If you imagine moving or removing asingle one of these points then a hole or warp iscreated in the circle – and the circle is no longera circle.Let’s use the idea of the circle and its infinitenumber of points as a metaphor to look at thisIn 2009, with the help of Daghdha DanceCompany, choreograph.net commissioneddance company Fitzgerald & Stapleton. Weare delighted that the final element of thecommission is now under way: the creationof an exclusive original score forchoreograph.net, developed specifically forthe internet.Over the next weeks, Fitzgerald & Stapletonwill entangle four Irish women – Poppy Kane,Jenny Doyle, Kay O’Grady, and Grannymar – ina discursive, dialogical choreographic process.The participants live in different locationsaround Ireland, have some or no dancetraining, and are aged between 8 and 63 years.Every ten days Fitzgerald & Stapleton willpost a question structure onchoreograph.net, which the participants mayrespond to through any medium. In this waythey create the material for their own‘choreographic scores’ – a compilation oflanguage and visual materials to direct adancer’s attention during performance. Atthe end of this period, choreograph.net willpublish MINE, four individual scores byFitzgerald & Stapleton, edited from thetranscripts of the conversations and tailoredfor each participant.MINE is a culturally specific multigenerationalproject which aims to:l Raise further public awareness aboutcontemporary dance.l Reveal how relevant dance can be totoday’s society.l Provide an accessible and contemporarymeans by which dance can be engagedwith on a broader level.l Reflect from personal perspectives whatit means to be woman in Ireland today.The entire process for MINE can be followedonline at www.choreograph.net15

CONTACT IMPROVISATION JAM @ DANCEHOUSEWednesdays 11.30am – 1.30pm Fee: €2 per jamDANCE IRELAND PROFESSIONAL MORNING CLASS @ DANCEHOUSE29 November - 03 December Judith Reyn-Stroux Ballet06 – 10 December Iñaki Azpillaga Contemporary13 – 17 December Jane Magan BalletFees: DI Members: €7 / non-members: €10 per class.Time: 10am – 11.30amAFTERNOON BALLET LECTURE DEMONSTRATIONS‘Anatomical Articulation of the Limbs in Ballet’30 November & 02 December Judith Reyn-Stroux Time: 1pm - 4pmFees: DI Members: €30 / non-members: €50 (two lecture demonstrations).For booking and further information: reception@danceireland.ie or 01 855 8800PROFESSIONAL CLASS AT FIRKIN CRANE with Dance IrelandEvery Wednesday Contemporary Firkin Crane, CorkFees: DI Members: €7 / non-members: €10 per class.Time: 11am – 12.30pmFor more information: Firkin Crane @ 021 4507487PROFESSIONAL CLASS AT SIAMSA TÍRE with Dance IrelandEvery Tuesday Contemporary Siamsa Tíre, TraleeFees: DI Members: €5 / non-members: €8 per class.Time: 10 – 12 noonFor more information: Catherine Young @ 087 2660012MAIDEN VOYAGE PROFESSIONAL CLASS with Dance IrelandEvery Wednesday Contemporary Dance Resource Base StudioFees: DI Members: £4 / non-members: £5 per class.Time: 6.30 – 8pmFor more information: Maiden Voyage @ 0044 2890 330925MYRIAD DANCE PROFESSIONAL CLASS with Dance IrelandEvery Wednesday Contemporary Myriad Dance Studio,WexfordFees: DI Members: €8 / non-members: €10 per class.Time: 10am – 12 noonFor more information: Myriad Dance @ 053 9174 66516