What is Irish dance… and the space between?
Dancer and choreographer Kristyn Fontanella brings her new work In Limbo to Dance Limerick on Thursday 15 September at 8pm. This new piece explores traditional Irish dance in a contemporary context and asks “What is Irish dance… and the space between?” Tickets €7/€5
As a trained Irish dancer working more recently in contemporary dance, Kristyn Fontanella has developed a sense of being “in-between” the perceived norms of both forms of dance and has spent the last year researching movement that is influenced by both. “Coming from quite a rigid and controlled dance background, I’m using my training in other dance forms to investigate how to move in an honest way, that still has a quality of the tradition in the movement. I’m seeking to break down the dance form to its essential elements and discover how this makes the dancer move in relation to the music; a simplified movement of traditional Irish dance”.
Kristyn has been developing this work with a group of dancers willing to explore and experiment with her: “Thanks to a Traditional Arts Bursary from the Arts Council, I have been able to research and develop this vision with some young Irish dancers who are passionate about discovery and are willing to go outside their own comfort zone in this exploration. I believe this experience will open a new doorway for future generations of Irish dancers – a new tradition of exploration, to carry on for themselves”.
Announcing details of In Limbo, Jenny Traynor, Director of Dance Limerick, said “We’re delighted to welcome Kristyn Fontanella and her cast for the first public performance of In Limbo. Kristyn is an incredibly hard-working dance artist, who constantly questions her art form and seeks new opportunities to discover and collaborate. We’re excited to see her pushing the boundaries of traditional Irish dance and seeking to carve a new path where the traditional meets the contemporary, and we hope that Limerick audiences will join us to experience this new approach”.
In Limbo will be performed by dancers Sibéal Davitt, Sarah Fennell, Kristyn Fontanella, Laura Lundy, Fiona McCabe, Aoife O’Brien, Cian O’Flynn and Kelsey Schule, with music performed by Aisling Drost, Sharon Howley, Niamh Ní Bhriain and Kevin Prendergast. Choreography/Direction by Kristyn Fontanella, Musical Direction/Composition by Sharon Howley and Lighting Design by Gearóid O hAllmhuráin.
Picture Credit: Karen Goltz
ENDS
