January 2009 Newsletter:January 2008 Newsletter.qxd · 2017. 2. 14. · 3 News In a new departure,...

JANUARY 2009

dance ireland NEWS

January 2009 Newsletter:January 2008 Newsletter.qxd 11/12/2008 17:50 Page 1

Dance Ireland is the trading name of the Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland Ltd. Established in 1989, DanceIreland is a membership-led organisation, operating on an all-Ireland basis, dedicated to the promotion of professional dancepractice in Ireland. Incorporated in 1992 as a not-for-profit company with limited guarantee, the organisation has evolvedinto a national, umbrella resource whose core aims are the promotion of dance as a vibrant artform, the provision of supportand practical resources for professional dance artists through our training and development programmes and advocacy ondance and choreography issues.

Dance Ireland manages DanceHouse, a purpose-built, state-of-the-art dance rehearsal venue, located in the heart ofDublin’s north-east inner city. DanceHouse is at the heart of Dance Ireland activities, as well as being a home for professionaldance artists and the wider dance community. Studios are available for hire. In addition to hosting our artistic programmeof professional training and development, performances, exhibitions, special events and a fully equipped artists’ resourceroom, DanceHouse offers a range of evening classes to cater to the interests and needs of the general public.

Dance Ireland News is published 12 times a year

Published by Dance Ireland, DanceHouse, Liberty Corner, Foley St, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Printed by CRM Design + Print, Unit 6, Bridgecourt Office Park, Walkinstown Ave., Dublin 12, Ireland.

ISSN 1649-9506

Disclaimer Dance Ireland reserves the right to edit or amend all articles or notices published in this magazine. The viewsexpressed are those of contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Dance Ireland members.

Cover: CruX Dance TheatrePhoto: Stas Bernasinski

Deadlines for next edition:February 2009 Copy & Photos: Friday 16 January Inserts: Friday 23 January

All photos submitted must be accompanied by appropriate credits and acknowledgements

BOARD MEMBERSAdrienne Brown Chairperson, Cindy Cummings, Megan Kennedy secretary, Lisa McLoughlin, Anne Maher, Fearghus Ó Conchúir, John Scott vice Chairperson, Gaby Smith

DANCE IRELAND PERSONNELPaul Johnson, Chief Executive

Siân Cunningham, General Manager

Elisabetta Bisaro, Development Officer

Inga Byrne, Administrator

Kelly Chen, Bookkeeper

Brenda Crea & Glenn Montgomery, Receptionists/Administrative Assistants

Dance Ireland, DanceHouse, Liberty Corner, Foley Street, Dublin 1. Tel: 01 855 8800 Fax: 01 819 7529 Email: [email protected] Website: www.danceireland.ie

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News

In a new departure, we are delighted to enclose as a supplement our 2008 Activity Report. We hope youwill take the time to review our past year’s activities, if only as a means of informing what can be achievedin 2009.

We commence the year with morning class led by international associate artist Colette Sadler, followed byballet with Stephen Brennan and later in the month, contemporary with Liz Roche, plus classes in Belfast,Cork, Tralee and Wexford.

We proudly announce the names of the 12 successful bursary recipients and give advance details on ourupcoming Multi-Disciplinary Exchanges as part of our Choreographic Services Programme. Further detailsabout our on-going exchanges with Movement Research, La Pacifique and Dance House Glasgow will beannounced in the coming months.

Looking forward, we carry details of our members’ activities throughout the country and abroad, includingnews of new work and touring from Fearghus O Conchúir; Echo Echo, expandance, Rex Levitates, IMDT andLegitimate Bodies. In addition we have information on a number of upcoming new initiatives from FidgetFeet, Dance Research Forum Ireland and DARI (Dance Artists in Regional Ireland), plus updates from recentevents by Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, Myriad Dance and Fergus Byrne.

Invitation to Round Table Conversation Sunday 25 January at 2pm We are all aware of the difficulties we face in the year ahead; the board and executive of Dance Ireland wishas a first step to provide an opportunity for our members to come together and discuss how best we cansupport ourselves and our artistic practice in the new funding climate.

Many of the challenges facing us all are shared challenges and notwithstanding the reduced budgets weare all working with and the straitened circumstances – art will still be made – albeit in a very changedcontext. By the time of the meeting, we will have a clearer picture of the impact of 2009 funding decisionson our work.

The purpose of this gathering is to discuss how to maximise our resources, share the challenges, supportourselves and each other moving forward, and maybe even initiate a new partnership or two.

In response to this new context; we invite you to:

An open conversation about how the dance sector can work together to support creativity in a changing funding climate

Sunday 25 January 20092pm to 4pm DanceHouse

INTRODUCTION


PROFESSIONAL MORNING CLASSChristmas may have taken its toll…so, what’s betterthan jumping into the studio for morning class tosweat those accumulated toxins out of yoursystem? Class resumes on Monday 12 January withColette Sadler, who returns to Dublin for her secondthree-week residency as our international associateartist, during which she will begin research on anew performance work musical (working title) withEva Baumann.

From 19-23 January, Stephen Brennan of BalletIreland teaches ballet class, followed by Liz Rochewho will teach contemporary class from 26-30January.

Professional morning classes will continuethroughout the year, bringing you a variety of stylesand teachers from Ireland and abroad. To invigorateboth your body and your mind and prepare you foryour working day, there is no better way thancoming to DanceHouse Monday to Friday! And forthose of you living outside Dublin, we continueproviding access to classes in Cork, Tralee, Wexfordand Belfast. Keep an eye on the website for thelatest updates.

And remember to enjoy the variety and flexibility of

our training programme at reduced rates, buy a 5-class card or 10-class card and use it for anyprofessional morning class or open company class.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY EXCHANGESBuilding on last year’s successful programme, wewill have a second series of multi-disciplinaryexchanges starting in March with:

Body and Space – led by choreographer HayoDavid, this workshop will target dancers,choreographers, architects and experts with aparticular interest in engaging in the workingprocess. This workshop builds on last year’sexchange, when David worked with a diverse groupof dance artists and architecture students. While thefocus will be again on the connections betweenbody/space/time, it will expand to includebody/image and the virtual space in relation todance and architecture (2-6 March).

Body and Text - led by choreographer JonathanBurrows and writer/curator Adrian Heathfield; thisintensive workshop will focus on the relation ofmovement to language and the uses and abuses oftext in dance performance. The workshop will beopen to those with professional experience of

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DANCE IRELAND PROGRAMME

OPEN CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL DANCE TEACHERSDance Ireland is looking for experienced dance teachers to deliver professional morning class as part of ourprofessional training programme.

We are interested in practitioners specialised in a range of contemporary dance techniques, classical balletand complementary dance genres to complement and increase our existing pool of teachers.

Dance Ireland is committed to providing the highest teaching standards and all classes are aimed at anadvanced level appropriate for professional dancers and advanced level dance students. Teachers shouldbe able to provide a strong, dynamic challenging class geared towards the professional dancer, even whenthere are mixed levels in the class.

Classes run daily, Monday to Friday from 10am to 11.30am @ DanceHouse.

All those interested should send an application including full CV, clearly outlining their professionalteaching experience to Elisabetta Bisaro, Development Officer, Dance Ireland, DanceHouse, Liberty Corner,Foley Street, Dublin 1, Email: [email protected]; or call Elisabetta on 01 884 8104.


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making or performing; the process will involve bothdiscussion and practical task based investigation(30 March – 1 April). As places are limited, earlybooking is advisable.

These two workshops will be followed by Body andTheatre, a lab for choreographers and theatredirectors.

HEADS UP! Gregory Livingston

International contemporary guest teaching residency

23-27 February

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMMEAs part of our ongoing commitment to promotingmobility and exchange among independent artists,Dance Ireland will again partner with MovementResearch NYC, La Pacifique/CDC Grenoble andDance House Glasgow. Jointly curated, theseexchanges aim to foster the exchange of creativedance artists between the two countries with thegoal of establishing long-term artisticcollaborations.

CHOREOGRAPHIC BURSARY AWARD2008/2009For the second time, the Arts Council awardedDance Ireland €100,000 to provide a programme ofChoreographic Services for the period 08/09, whichcomplements our core artistic programme. DanceIreland allocated €60,000 towards ChoreographicBursary Awards. We received 26 proposals; met with20 artists and awarded 12 awards as follows:

Name Region Type of AmountAward €

Nick Bryson Offaly Full bursary 8,000

Mark Carberry Limerick Full bursary 9,000

Emma Fitzgerald Dublin Full bursary 5,000

Elena Giannotti Limerick Full bursary 8,000

Laura Murphy Cork Full bursary 5,000

Leonie McDonagh Galway Full bursary 8,000

Rebecca Reilly Dublin Full bursary 6,500

Mary Wycherley Clare Full bursary 5,000

Eddie Kay Dublin Seed bursary 3,000

Aine Stapleton Wicklow Seed bursary 1,500

Emma Martin Dublin Scholarship 500

Ingrid Nachstern Dublin Scholarship 500

Peer panel: David Bolger (Artistic Director CoisCéimDance Theatre), Mary Nunan (Course Director MA inContemporary Dance Performance, IWAMD) andJohn Scott (board member Dance Ireland,choreographer/artistic director IMDT).

We look forward to working with these artists in theupcoming year!

EVENING CLASSES @ DANCEHOUSEThe new term of evening dance classes commenceson Monday 19 January at DanceHouse.

Something for everyone, classes include AsthangaYoga, Aikido, Ballet, Bellydance, ContemporaryDance, Contact Improvisation, Flamenco, IrishDance, Jazz, Salsa, Pilates, and much more…

Why not drop in and join us at DanceHouse for ourweek of FREE taster classes starting Monday 12January. There are classes for every level and all arewelcome!

For full listings visit: www.danceireland.ie

STILL, LIFE A photographic study of Ireland’s modern dancepioneersPhotography by Jonathon Mitchell10 FebruaryDanceHouse

Commissioned by Dance Ireland, still, life is aphotographic exhibition that throws a light on thesecret history of modern dance in Ireland. Thevibrant, diverse dance community that existstoday was built on the foundations laid by anextraordinary group of dance practitioners andartists. Twenty years ago they were operating in acultural vacuum, bereft of support from arts bodies,isolated from their international peers and with anaudience that did not understand their art form.Through talent, dedication and perseverance theycreated a dance community that is today thrivingand complex, and occupies a position of culturalsignificance within the Irish arts.

still, life is an exhibition celebrating these uniqueartists and their contribution to cultural life inIreland. Every image is a stand-alone work, amoment from a story that reveals something aboutthe protagonist. Each artist represented in still, life isphotographed in a location of their choice aroundDublin. The image is created through a collaborativeprocess with the photographer involving devising,


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A THREAD OF YEARSAn exhibition of Irish Ballet at DanceHouseRunning until 23 January 2009Admission is free

Curated by Victoria O’Brien, A Thread of Years visuallyrecounts the histories of five key ballet movementsthat operated in Dublin between 1927 and 1963.

The history and artistry of each of the differentmovements is conveyed with materials from bothpublic and private collections. The items chosen forthis exhibition will give the viewer an insight intothe philosophy and creative spirit of each company,revealing behind each movement and theirproductions a rich tapestry of inspiration andtechnique.

The materials brought together for this exhibition isthe result of research work recently completed atthe Irish World Academy of Music and Dance,University of Limerick, for a PhD thesis entitled: AHistory of Irish Ballet from 1927 to 1963.

While Irish ballet history has remained a largelyneglected dimension of artistic life in this country,this exhibition aims to redress the balance of theyears by providing an introductory understandingof the various activities of these dance companiesand a greater appreciation for the role that ballethas played in the development of Irish culturalactivity.

improvising and directing in situ. This creativeinteraction between the subject and theenvironment allows the artistic self of each artist tocome through in the image.

still, life has been created with the support of DanceIreland and with the assistance of the Office ofPublic Works.

Jonathan Mitchell was born in England, and haslived in Dublin since 1999. He was a professionaldancer for fourteen years, from 1991-2005. Hebegan working with Irish dance companies in 1997,and worked with many of the leading Irish dancecompanies. He has worked as an award-winningportrait photographer since 2005; most of his worknow is in developing new ways of creating danceimages.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL HOTMAIL ACCOUNT HOLDERS It has come to our attention that not all of youre-mails have been coming through to DanceIreland e-mail accounts. We have looked into thematter and found that some hotmail accountsmay be blocking our e-mails.

We have contacted our e-mail provider andthere is nothing that they can do about thesituation as we are not ourselves hotmailaccount holders.

If you have noticed that you have not receivedan e-mail in response to your query you may liketo contact us from another e-mail provider, orcall us at 01 8558800.

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this new work, casadh arís. The performance is aninvestigation and a celebration of thecommunication between them and their art forms.

In November 2006, composer Rachel Holstead andchoreographer Fearghus Ó Conchúir met for thefirst time in the Ionad Cultúrtha. This initial project,Casadh, was a research period, as they both hadexperience in ‘translating’ art but had nevercollaborated before. Both were living in a differentculture – Rachel was spending time in Canada andFearghus was based in London – while they bothwere born in the Gaeltacht – Rachel in West Kerryand Fearghus in Ring. This dual existence –Gaeltacht born but working in very differentenvironments – is what has driven the link betweenthese two contempoary artists. During the researchperiod of Casadh (which means turning, meetingand performing), they worked toward a commonlanguage between sound and movement.

Casadh Arís is the continuation of this initialmeeting, a new work, which will be performed inJanuary 2009. Rehearsals took place in the IonadCultúrtha, Baile Mhúirne in December and theJanuary performance will consist of choreographyby Fearghus Ó Conchúir with live and recordedmusic by Rachel Holstead, as well as film projectionsby the film maker Chris Hurley (Cork Film Centre). Toreflect the triangle involved between the creators of

THE ACADEMY & AGENCY OFPERFORMING ARTSAnnie10 – 18 January Solstice Arts CentreEvening shows 7pm Matinee shows 2pm (10/11, 17/18)Tickets: Adults €18/Children €15046 9092300www.solsticeartscentre.com

The Academy & Agency of Performing Arts isdelighted to present Annie the Musical. The heartwarming rags-to-riches musical follows Annie’sescape from Miss Hannigan’s orphanage in a questto find her parents, to her eventual salvation bybillionaire Oliver Warbucks. Annie will delightaudiences of all ages; featuring hits like Tomorrowand It’s a Hard Knock Life this is a show for all thefamily.

CASADH ARÍS Fearghus Ó Conchúir, Rachel Holstead and Chris Hurley16 -21 January

Music and movement fuse in the word casadh aschoreographer Fearghus Ó Conchúir and composer Rachel Holstead come together in

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this new piece – Rachel from Chorca DhuibhneGaeltacht agus Fearghus from the Ring Gaeltacht –with the Ionad Cultúrtha in the Muskerry Gaeltachtin the middle, the piece will be performed in 3locations: Múscraí – Ionad Cultúrtha, Baile Mhúirneon Friday 16 January. Portláirge - Scoil San Nioclás,an Rinn on Sunday 18 January. Chorca Dhuibhne –Lab na Mainistreach, An Daingean Tuesday 20 &Wednesday 21 January 2009.

Funding for this project comes from the ArtsCouncil, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Cork County VEC,Waterford County Council and Kerry CountyCouncil.

COISCÉIM DANCE THEATREThe Choreography Project9 January- 1 March CoisCéim studio, 14 Sackville Place, Dublin 1Tuesday 7.30-9.30pm & Friday 6-8pm€130 www.coisceim.com

The Choreography Project is for people wishing tocreate, choreograph, and perform dance theatre.The project is intensive and challenging, offering achance to unlock the imagination and stretch thebody! Led by choreographer Philippa Donnellan,participants will explore the translation andinterpretation of words and phrases to create newchoreographic material. The process will involveworking individually and together as a group todevise an original dance theatre piece. TheChoreography Project is open to adults with someprevious experience of movement/dance.

The Choreography Project begins on Friday 9January and runs for 8 weeks each Tuesday & Fridayevenings, culminating in two public performancesfor friends and family at CoisCéim Studio onSaturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March.

Also a new piece is in the making for CoisCéimCreative Steps. Dancer and choreographer EddieKay has been commissioned by CoisCéim to workwith the group and will be stretching every sinew toget them into shape with his unusualchoreography. The piece which takes as a startingpoint, the many ways we communicate, is beingdevised in December and January. It will be showninformally at DanceHouse, 8 February before beingpremiered at CoisCéim studio 28 February & 1March.

Emma Martin - Drogheda Youth Dance and PhilippaDonnellan - CoisCéim Creative Steps have joined

forces to host Make a Move, an informal meeting ofyoung dancers at DanceHouse on 8 February. Dancetheatre groups from Drogheda and Dublin willcome together to take part in workshops andperformances; to show and share some of theirwork and experience different contemporarychoreography.

DANCE ARTISTS IN REGIONAL IRELAND(DARI)Dance, choreography and discussions on dance practices 10 & 11 JanuaryBirr Theatre, County [email protected]@gmail.com

Tralee hosted the first in the Dance Artists inRegional Ireland (DARI) pilot scheme kindlysupported by Dance Ireland. DARI came into beingas a result of regional dance artists Catherine Young,Tanya McCrory, Nick Bryson & Cristina Golettilooking for ways to address key issues being facedby dancers based outside of Dublin, namely accessto professional training, mentors and indeed otherfellow dance artists to engage with. Dance Irelandhas supported a pilot scheme which will allow forfour weekend workshops, comprising ofprofessional morning class, followed by anafternoon workshop in choreography to takeplace throughout regional Ireland.

The inaugural weekend hosted by Catherine Youngwith the support of Siamsa Tíre took placeNovember 23/24 and was led by Liz Roche andproved to be a very fruitful weekend of dance,choreography and discussions on dance practices.The remaining DARI weekends will rotate over thecoming months to Birr, Co. Offaly (Jan 10/11) andto Galway end of February.

The workshops are open to all professional dancersbased outside of Dublin. Prior booking is essential.

DANCE RESEARCH FORUM IRELANDSecond Student Symposium - Call for Presentations6 MarchThe Irish World Academy of Music and DanceUniversity of Limerick061 202542www.danceresearchforumireland.org

Dance Research Forum Ireland (DRFI) invitespresentations from students on a current academicresearch project on dance or a current dance work-in-progress.


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Academic presentations will be confined to nomore than 4 Power-Point Slides (10 minutes); dancepresentations will be confined to 10 minutes. Allpresentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Please forward all abstracts of presentations [email protected] by 5 February.

For information relating to the symposium contactDr Catherine Foley at [email protected]; 061202922; or Mats Melin at [email protected].

DANCE THEATRE OF IRELANDNew term of classeswww.dancetheatreireland.com

Dance Theatre of Ireland will run a new 10-weekterm of classes starting at DTI’s Centre for Dance on26 January 2009 and runs until 4 April 2009. A widerange of classes are on offer evenings,weekends and weekdays and at 90 per 10 weekterm. Registration is now on. Interested parties cancontact DTI on 01 280 3455 or [email protected] to geta registration form/brochure.

Company class with DTI is also available Monday toFridays and is open to all professional dancers.Sundays at DTI houses Dublin Youth DanceCompany, a professionally directed dance group foryoung people who seek involvement inchoreography, rehearsals and performances.

ECHO ECHO DANCE THEATRECOMPANY New production due to tour in March 2009www.echoechodance.com

Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company has an excitingall-female production to offer audiences this Marchcalled Ripple Affect. Arising from questions such as:What do you do after you have been hugged? Whatresonates in your body and memory and where doesthat lead you? Do you dance together? In unison?Closely? With a leader or as equals?

Steve Batts, Co-Artistic Director of Echo Echo DanceTheatre Company has used these questions as astarting point to devise, direct and choreograph anew work for five exceptionally expressive,technically gifted, and creative female dancers.

Regular ensemble members Ayesha Mailey andEmily Welther are joined on stage by newcollaborators Leilani Weiss, Maite Larraneta, andSiobhan Simpson. Music is performed live by sisters

Lorna, Karen and Joleen McLaughlin – theremarkable Henry Girls.

This eight women performance gives a warm,inviting blend of duets, solos and group dances,vocal harmony and rich instrumentation,movement that makes sense and beauty on ahuman scale. A performance which will touch youdeep inside.

Ripple Affect premieres on 16 March in TheWaterside Theatre, Derry before touring to Belfast,Sligo, Letterkenny and Dublin.

EXPANDANCETrio with Invisible Third - the second instalmentWednesday 7 January @ 8pm in New York Thurs 8th January @ 1am in DublinNYC: Dance Theatre Workshop, 219 West 19th StreetDublin: Location TBD, please check our website fordetails Both locations are free (Donations accepted) www.movementresearch.orgwww.expandance.blogspot.com

expandance present the second instalment of Triowith Invisible Third which was performed at ProjectBrand New in July 2008. The audience response atthe Project Theatre was overwhelming and we aredelighted to have the opportunity to perform itagain. This time, Rachel Wynne & Alicia Christofi-Walshe perform in New York while Laurie Schneidersimultaneously performs the piece in Dublin. This isa piece about friendship and connectionweathering thousands of miles and many timezones. A piece to open your heart and remind youthat distance is only physical.

In other news Laurie Schneider will be hosting aDublin workshop in the expandance technique inthe first week of January, open to both dancers andnon-dancers. This practice starts from a place ofstillness and cohesion within the individual and

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group as a whole. You will learn to move from anintuitive place within, in tune with those aroundyou, in an expansive and playful way. To register your interest e-mail:[email protected].

Finally thank you to those of you who came tosupport us at 60x60 Dance at the World FinancialCentre Winter Garden, NYC, on the 14 November.Both performances went wonderfully, and we weredelighted to receive acknowledgement in the NewYork Times.

FABULOUS BEAST DANCE THEATRETwo new works for 2009www.fabulousbeast.net

Michael Keegan-Dolan and his Fabulous Beastcompany have recently returned from Berlin wherethey performed his award winning production TheBull in the prestigious spielzeit’europa programmeof the Berlin Festival. Running from October toJanuary, the tanztheater programme also featuredwork by The Forsythe Company and Sidi LarbiCherkaoui. The three performances of The Bull, a co-production with Dublin Theatre Festival andbarbicanbite07, were enthusiastically received bylarge audiences at the stunning thousand-seatHaus der Berliner Festspiele. The Berlin castincluded Irish artists Dave Boyd, Michael M. Dolan,Colin Dunne, Olwen Fouéré, and Robbie Harris, withlongstanding Fabulous Beast ensemble membersMilos Galko, Emmanuel Obeya, Neil Paris, RachelPoirier, Angelo Smimmo, Vladislav Soltys, DaphneStrothmann and Gianluca Pezzino.

In 2009 Keegan-Dolan and his company will beginthe process of creating two new works on verydifferent scales. Their next international outing is a

much anticipated Australian debut at the PerthInternational Festival at the end of February 2009with Giselle, another Olivier Award nominated co-production with Dublin Theatre Festival which hasbeen touring internationally since 2004 and wasseen again by Irish audiences at the Galway ArtsFestival last July. Fabulous Beast is supported by TheArts Council and the performances in Berlin andPerth have been made possible by additionalsupport from Culture Ireland.

FEARGHUS Ó CONCHÚIRA new collaboration with composer Rachel Holsteadwww.bodiesandbuildings.blogspot.com

It’s still early December as we prepare for thisJanuary edition of the newsletter and the composerRachel Holstead and I have just resumed work onour collaboration, Casadh Arís. It’s been great toconcentrate on making a new piece after theSunday Tribune article that was written about myresidency for Dublin City Council that wassupported by the Arts Council. I was very gratefulfor the support of the dance community to reassureand encourage me in the face of criticism I thoughtunfair because it omitted the huge amount ofoutcomes (two new pieces, a film, international

Project Brand New

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narrow for the way he’s exploring the body in space,physically embodying time in a gentle yet relentlessenquiry. His interest and experience of the body ledhim to think how contemporary wrestlers, anddancers, would emerge from holding that pose. Indescribing dance form, he speaks of contactimprovisation and Steve Paxton. With the Kennedytwins, movements are directed through spacegoing far beyond their normal chorography. Atension emerges in the work, the sisters, unused towrestling techniques grapple with the physicaldemands and emotional strain of his direction. Theecho of sibling rivalry is disclosed, the visible strainapparent as relationships are tested. The closephysicality of their movements reveals aparadoxical connectedness and a tension.

The ensuing video recognises the significance ofthe body in relation to digitalised time. It lets usexperience the still frame in all its detail. Allusions toBarthes’ punctum come to mind as the part of animage that sustains it, that animates it beyond itsstill death/life (Fergus Byrne), surely referencingLaura Mulvey’s discourse on representation of timebetween movement and stillness in cinema.

While his work suggests performance and time-shifts between the conflict of two thousand year oldwrestlers and the present day twins; is there adanger that the performance aesthetics mayconceal the interesting (and core?) investigation ofconflict, which this work seems to address.

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exchange) that the residency helped develop. It’sworth sticking together to help each other andassert the value of our contribution to society ineconomically troubled times.

FERGUS BYRNEThe WrestlersRunning until March 2009Performance, installation, video/film, drawingStudio 13 (IMMA)

The statue The Wrestlers by Giovanni Piamontini inthe National Gallery of Ireland is the subject ofFergus Byrne’s current work.

(RE)-PRESENTATION OF THE BODY

Review by Mary-Ruth Walsh

Taking his cue from a two thousand, three hundredyear old pose, Fergus Byrne directs the twin dancersMegan and Jessica Kennedy. They embark on anexperiment in exploring and creating spacesbetween Contact Improvisation, wrestling, danceand performance. In creating new spaces on theborders of these disciplines, Byrne’s keen timeperception, as measured by the body, begins tounfold in the territory of body conflict.

The pose taken from a marble sculpture in theNational Gallery of Ireland; The Wrestlers issomething he has been conscious of since a boy.The physicality of two bodies in close combatgripped his imagination long before standing infront of the statue with dancers Wolfgang Hoffman,Thomas Butler, and wrestlers Emmet Nolan andDave Zike, listening to their commentary on thepose and hold of the marble figures.

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Social etiquette and wit smooth-over dailyinteractions screening the complex area of bodyand conflict. Does this work investigate what’sbehind our complicated social mores by revealingour potential hidden tensions?

Fergus Byrne’s work is supported by the ArtsCouncil and Dance Ireland.

FIDGET FEET AERIAL DANCE THEATREAuditions, Residency & Workshop www.fidgetfeet.com

An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny in collaborationwith Fidget Feet will create a multi-faceted versionof The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. Thisis a new Christmas adaptation by Gavin Marshal(RSC) and Fidget Feet to celebrate the theatre’stenth anniversary, performing December 2009.Fidget Feet will be holding workshop auditions inDonegal in mid April. We are looking for female andmale actor/dancers. All interested parties shouldcontact Fidget Feet at info@ fidgetfeet.com. Thisproject is funded by the Arts Council.

Chantal and Jym will be on residency at Shawbrookfrom 10 January until 17 April working on a newFidget Feet piece and working with the youth dance

company. These two new pieces will be performedat The Backstage Theatre in Longford on Thursday16 April as part of the Longford Dance Festival.

Fidget Feet are also working with renowned Frenchaerial choreographer and teacher Fred Debs tocreate a new silks piece with three of Fidget Feet’sfantastic female aerial dancers. This piece willexplore the tender connection woman can have –trust, love and support. Fidget Feet received acommissions award from the Arts Council andstarted work on the piece in Nov/Dec 2008 in FirkinCrane Cork.

IRISH MODERN DANCE THEATREEternal14 JanuaryHarah Theatre, Beit Jala, Palestinewww.irishmoderndancetheatre.com

IMDT are delighted to announce that an officialscreening of Eternal will take place on January 14 inBethlehem, Palestine. Preview screenings were heldon 04 December in Al Harah Theatre in Beit Jala,Palestine. Eternal, a collaboration between IMDTand 1Eye Films, was shot early last year on locationin Palestine. Eternal was directed by Steve Woodsand features IMDT dancers Aisling Doyle andMichael Pomero.

John Scott was honoured to perform recently at LizLerman’s critical response process workshop, whichwas presented by the Dublin Dance Festival, Createand Bealtaine. John performed an extract from hissolo piece The Bowing Dance. Pull Up

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January sees the return our IMDT’s popularbeginner modern dance classes. They will be heldevery Tuesday in DanceHouse from 6pm-7pmbeginning with a special FREE taster class onJanuary 13. The 10-week term will be taught byJonathan Mitchell with occasional guest teachers.Booking is essential.

Artistic Director, John Scott will be attendingAssociation of Performing Art Presenters (APAP),New York during the month of January as part ofthe Culture Ireland delegation.

LEGITIMATE BODIES DANCE THEATREAerowaves - Hanging in ThereSaturday 17 January 8pmThe Place, Londonwww.aerowaves.co.uk

Legitimate Bodies Dance Company is in for a busyJanuary as Nick Bryson and Damian Punch appearin Hanging in There at the Robin Howard Theatre inLondon. This is a very important appearance forsuch a young company and an incredibleopportunity to present this seminal work aboutNorthern Irish political negotiation in a trulyinternational context.

After being chosen as one of the Aerowavescontributions to their programme, the piece will bepresented as part of a triple bill during the seasonalResolution! Festival. Aerowaves is the section of thefestival dedicated to companies outside the UK andalso a network of international dance performancefestivals, which is leading to further engagementsfor the company later in the year. Mexican Tour 2009

Later this month the company will tour Mexico withBryson’s latest production Touching Distance, a triofor women successfully presented earlier this yearin various venues around Ireland.

The piece will be performed first in Mexico City atthe cultural centre Los Talleres and will then tour toa number of venues in Mexico City as well as Puebla,Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Tijuana and Mexicali. Cristina andNick will also lead technique classes as well aschoreographic workshops at Los Talleres, at thecontemporary department of the National Schoolof Dance in Mexico City and at the Universidad deLas Americas in Cholula. They will then be inresidence for a week as guest artists with the LuzBoreal Company in Tijuana.

The company wish to acknowledge the support of

Culture Ireland and is grateful to Isabel Beteta,Artistic Director of Nemian Dance Company andMyles Doherty, Cultural Attache of the Irish Embassyin Mexico for all of their help in making this tourpossible.

MYRIAD DANCESonraigh Youth Dance [email protected]

On Saturday 29 November, at the new WexfordOpera House, the Sonraigh festival was eloquentlyand enthusiastically opened by Rosaleen Molloy,Arts Officer of Wexford County Council, the mainfunder of the festival weekend. Myriad’s artisticdirector, Deirdre Grant added another wonderfulelement into the weekend festival and officiallylaunched a wonderful new documentary on dancein special needs, The Friendship Project, highlightingthe work of the company with the Ard Aoibhinn daycare centre in Wexford town over a two year period,edited by local film maker Terence White.

The highlight of the evening was the performancesof seven youth dance companies who travelledfrom all over Ireland. Each youth dance company(ranging in ages 13 -25) gave high quality andsometimes challenging performances of new andinnovative dance works from WYDmoves, OffalyYouth Dance, New Moon Youth Dance Company

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(Cork), Kerry Youth Dance Theatre, Dublin YouthDance Company, CoisCéim Creative Steps and ourown County Wexford Youth Dance Company.County Wexford Youth Dance Company performedthree pieces that evening opening the show withDream Landscapes choreographed by guest artistMonika Bieniek, D’un Coup d’eil/At a Glance ByFestival Coordinator Sheila Creevey and thestunning Beauty by kind permission of DeborahHay. Myriad wishes to thank all those groups whoparticipated this year.

The new Wexford Opera House’s O’Reilly Theatreproved to be a wonderful venue for the event, andthe Youth Dance performances were the secondtime this year that Myriad got a chance to work onthe main stage, the first being involved in theproduction of Snegurochka at the 54th WexfordOpera Festival last October. The company currentlyis in negotiation with Wexford Opera House about apossible move in and becoming a residentcompany.

The festival also offered participants morning danceworkshops by Philippa Donnellan (CoisCéim) andÁine Stapleton & Emma Fitzgerald (Myriad Dance)on the Sunday morning, followed by a networkluncheon provided at the Myriad studios. Sonraighconcluded on Sunday evening with the premiere ofAuthenticity, the latest solo work from artisticdirector, Deirdre Grant and performances of TheRidge and the Runner by Aine Stapleton and EmmaFitzgerald.

REX LEVITATESMovement Research work in progresswww.rexlevitates.comwww.cprnyc.org

Rex Levitates will be in residence at MovementResearch New York until 5 January. During theresidency Liz Roche will be developing new workwith Katherine O’Malley and celebrated New Yorkdancers Jodi Melnick and Juliette Mapp. The workwill be shown at Judson Church at 8pm on January5 as part of the Movement Research at JudsonChurch program. This residency is supported byDance Ireland, Movement Research NY and the ArtsCouncil.

Liz Roche will also be showing Shared Material onDying and the Movement Research work in progressat Centre for Performance Research (CPR) duringthe Association of Performing Arts Presenters(APAP) conference 10-12 January. Her work will beincluded in a programme with choreographersJohn Jasperse and Jonah Bokaer.

Rex Levitates attendance and showing at APAP2009 is generously supported by Culture Irelandand the Arts Council and a special thanks to LaurieUprichard, Dance Ireland, Barbara Bryan, JohnJasperse and Jodi Melnick.

OTHER NEWS

IRISH THEATRE INSTITUTEPerforming Artists Onlinewww.irishtheatreonline.com

Irish Theatre Institute welcomes all professionaldancers and choreographers to create a profile forIrish Theatre Artists online. Irish Theatre Artists is anew online database of freelance practitionersworking in professional theatre and dance inIreland. Launched earlier this year, this onlineresource is an illustrated, up-to-date, searchabledatabase of Actors, Dancers, Directors, Designers,Choreographers, Technicians, Composers,Production Managers, Stage Managers and muchmore – effectively a webpage per artist, created bythat artist.

There is no charge for inclusion in this Irish TheatreInstitute database or to search the database online.

To search the database or to register to create yourprofile visit: www.irishtheatreonline.com

For further information contact Lian Bell at IrishTheatre Institute: 01 6704906.Body Count

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EVENTS LISTINGS

Date Event Location

expandance7-8 January Trio with Invisible Third NYC: Dance Theatre Workshop,

Dublin: Location TBD,For details visit:

www.movementresearch.orgwww.expandance.blogspot.com

The Academy & Agency of Performing Arts10-18 January Annie Solstice Arts Centre

www.solsticeartscentre.com

Legitimate Bodies17 January Hanging in There The Place, London

www.aerowaves.co.uk

Rex Levitates5 January Work in Progress Judson Church

www.movementresearch.org

12 January Shared Material on Dying Center for Performance Research, Brooklynwww.cprnyc.org

IMDT 14 January Eternal (film) Harah Theatre, Palestine

www.irishmoderndancetheatre.com

Fearghus Ó Conchúir & Rachel Holstead16 January Casadh Arís Ionad Cultúrtha, Baile Mhúirne

18 January Casadh Arís Portláirge – Scoil San Nioclás

20-21 January Casadh Arís Chorca Dhuibhne – Lab na Mainistreach,An Daingean

Dance Ireland26 January Round Table Conversation/ DanceHouse 01 855 8800

dance sector meeting www.danceireland.ie

Echo Echo Dance Theatre16 March Ripple Effect – Première The Waterside Theatre

028 71314000ww.watersidetheatre.com

Fidget Feet16 April Two New Works The Backstage Theatre

043 47888www.backstage.ie


DANCE IRELAND MORNING CLASSES @ DANCEHOUSE

12 - 16 January Collette Sadler Contemporary

19 - 23 January Stephen Brennan Ballet

26 - 30 January Liz Roche Contemporary

Class Fees:DI Members: €7 per class;

Non-members: €10 per class. Class card available!

Time: 10.00am to 11.30am

For more information: www.danceireland.ie – Concession rates: DI members

PROFESSIONAL CLASS AT THE FIRKIN CRANE with Dance Ireland

Every Wednesday Contemporary Firkin Crane, Shandon, Cork

Time: 11am to 12.30pmFees: DI Members: €7 per class / Non-members: €10 per class

For more information: Firkin Crane @ 021 450 7487

PROFESSIONAL CLASS AT SIAMSA TÍRE with Dance Ireland

Every Tuesday Contemporary Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Time: 9am to 11amFees: DI Members: €5 per class / Non-members: €8 per class

For more information: Catherine Young @ 087 266 0012

MAIDEN VOYAGE PROFESSIONAL CLASS with Dance Ireland

Every Wednesday Contemporary Dance Resource Base Studio,35 Donegall Street, Belfast

Time: 6.30pm to 8pmFees: DI Members: £4 per class / Non-members: £5 per classFor more information: Maiden Voyage @ 0044 2890 330925

MYRIAD DANCE PROFESSIONAL CLASS with Dance Ireland

Every Wednesday Contemporary Myriad Dance Studio, Wexford

Time: 10am to 12noonFees: DI Members: €8 per class / Non-members: €10 per class

For more information: Myriad Dance @ 053 9174 665


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