Inclusive Dance Artists Sharing

Over the last year, a group of local artists with and without disabilities have come together monthly to share their artistic practice, train and learn from each other. During this sharing, the artists will offer their collective ways of working and glimpses into their one-to-one collaborations in areas of dance film, music, sound and light.

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟭.𝟯𝟬- 𝟭 𝗽𝗺 – 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 (𝗦𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵)

ISL interpretation will be available at this event. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

RSVP by emailing leonor.miralles@dancelimerick.ie
If you wish to attend but can’t stay the full time, please let us know in your email.

Get to know the artists participating in this sharing event:

DEIRDRE CORRY

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

My autobiography journey –  where did it start? 

Well it started in dance limerick when I rolled my shoulders from right to left  and I went then chin to chest  lifting my knees up and circling my wheelchair a round.  All that i remember stretching up and holding going up in possession up worldly in my body then it releaxeeeess in.

I have been exploring seed ideas for a dance film, from medical images, anatomical and somatic imagery, this is a poetic journey exploring facilitation ideas in conversation with Sophie Hutchinson, Angie Smalis and film editing by Lucy Dawson.

ERIN MCNAMARA

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

I am deaf and I like dance because it is a very deep connection for me as a Deaf person as there is nothing stopping me. I have CP as well and it is opening people’s eyes to know that I can do anything.

I have been working on a solo using light and vibrations which makes me feel amazing. I feel full of energy when i share it with others. The solo is very emotional.

COLETTE CONDON

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

I enjoy dancing and have been involved in dance projects in Limerick for many years. I also love art, boccia and enjoy horse riding. I received a medal in Boccia with the special Olympics.

I am part of the inclusive dance artists group at Dance Limerick and I love it. In 2024 I performed in the Bealtaine Intergenerational Performance at Dance Limerick. During 1-1 collaborations I have been exploring and deepening the duet created in collaboration with Molly for the Bealtaine performance, we have been working in the studio and I have had conversations and mentorship with Kimberley Harvey.

ALICE GAVIGAN

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

I trained with ZoNa Dance Company, Ballet Boost, Royal Academy of Dance Winter Associates, and SEAD (AUT), graduating with First Class Honours in Contemporary Dance from the Irish World Academy. I have worked with Dance Limerick, The National Gallery (UK), The Playhouse (NI), Dr. Phoebe Brown, Fidget Feet, and Echo Echo Dance Theatre. Awards include Dance Ireland’s Your Next Move Award (2024) and Irish Modern Dance Theatre’s Dance Explorers Scholarship (2023). In the studio, I am collaborating with Aisling on a duet, exploring lights and silhouettes for digital film or live performance.

MOLLY MACEY

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

I am pursuing a Master’s in Dance Performance at the Irish World Academy after earning my Bachelor’s degree. Passionate about Inclusive Dance, I assist with classes at Dance Limerick and completed the Inclusive Dance Training Programme at Firkin Crane, Cork. I have experience in community dance with all ages, using dance to connect and express. With a background in theatre and improvisation, I create multidisciplinary work. Recent projects include Country OK (Cork Midsummer Festival), a climate change dance project (DU Dance NI), an Irish folklore dance film, and a placement at Echo Echo Dance Theatre, Derry.

JIMMY MURPHY

Photo by Lucy Dawson

I love dancing so much. I experience dancing like a harp moves through the fingers of the harpist. I have been collaborating with musician Aisling Lyons to create a performance based on The Titanic, the movie, the piece goes on a journey from Calm to Dangerous and back to Safety. The music leads the piece and I have worked with Sean Murray to design the lighting for the performance. We have made creative choices to allow the audience to follow the journey the piece is on, even if they don’t make an immediate association with the movie itself that it is inspired by.

ANGIE SMALIS

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

I am Angie. I dance for my existence and my sanity. It is my passion and nothing I can live without being involved in.

The way I understand my place in this project is that of a support artist. By utilising my knowledge and experience as a practising dance artist, I have found myself in the most uniquely privileged position of witnessing seed artistic ideas grow. Together, as a group we have been learning from each other about our dance practice as individuals and as a group, and also about the world around us, and we are now more equipped with compassion and appreciation for one another, for dance and for art in general.

AISLING ARTHUR

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

Aisling Arthur, based in Limerick, has been involved in dance since 2010. Her first performance was at Mary I for the City of Culture, choreographed by Oliver Bleacher and recorded by Mary Hartney. She later trained with Integrated Dance Limerick (2018–2019), performing live and on film, including at the Belltable. Encouraged by Sophie Hutchinson in 2021, she continued dancing and, in 2024, began training with Katy Hewison at Dance Limerick. She now participates in Inclusive Dance Training for Artists and teaches at the Saturday Inclusive Dance Club. Passionate about dance, she hopes to engage in more Limerick projects.

BRIAN CLOHESSY

Photo by Lucy Dawson

I love the relaxed feeling I get when I am dancing. I enjoy performing and how my dancing makes the audience respond.

I have been exploring music videos with Lucy, to look at different styles of dance and different types of camera shots and where the audiences attention is drawn to. Experimenting with the camera, slow motion settings, blur, and whether I direct the video i want to make, perform in it or both. Recently with Angie, we decided to try 3 different approaches of filming, using improvisation to generate movement, together. We stitched the video together, you will see one film with three parts.

DOROTHY HAYES

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

I dance because it makes me feel connected with other dancers and the world.

I have been dancing with Sophie, exploring floor work. We have been laughing, singing, rolling, waiting and listening to one another in our dance.

SOPHIE HUTCHINSON

Photo by Lucy Dawson

I’m Sophie, and I explore the connection between thought and movement, giving shape to ideas through dance. My work is an expression of my deep belief in the human spirit—something I feel can be both disarmed and united through creative expression.

HEIDI VELDHEER

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

My name is Heidi Veldheer and I am a qualified ISL/English Interpreter. I have been working with the Inclusive Dance Artist Group for several months. It has been a wonderful experience, and I feel very privileged to be part of the project.

KATY HEWISON

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

DL Bridge Artist at Dance Limerick connecting with communities and artists co-creating projects together. Her work uses contemporary dance to co-create with communities to investigate learning and audience experiences. 

VERONICA JOYCE

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

Dancing makes me feel good and relaxed.I love spending quality time with other dancers who I consider my friends. I have been making a duet based on the theme of friendship, collaborating with Molly and Katy. We are using music by The Beatles.

Friendship is tender care, looking out for one another, happiness, kindness, smiles, loving nature, caring, having a good time, chatting to one another and also i don’t need to say anything, relaxing, having a glass of wine, a coffee morning, a cup of tea, going to the pictures, concerts, being welcomed, helping one another out.

LUCY DAWSON

Lucy Dawson

Lucy Dawson is a contemporary dance artist, educator and filmmaker, based in Limerick, Ireland. Lucy provides extensive videography, editing, photography & live editing services and workshops to local and national artists & arts organisations. Her work combines movement and improvisation practice with video and photography, specialising in choreography for camera, performance documentation, artistic promotion and improvised performance. Lucy has a strong interest in providing tools to nurture personal expression, creativity and community.

AISLING LYONS

Photo by Vlada Afanasievska

Aisling Lyons, multi-award winning musician & composer from County Clare has been described as ‘one of traditional music’s finest musicians’ by Hot Press Magazine & ‘the finest Irish harper at work today’ by Songlines Magazine after the release of her debut album ‘Aistear’. She is the holder of 8 All-Ireland titles & has performed all around the world. She is a sought after harp & concertina teacher. 

Aisling collaborated with Jimmy Murphy on a new piece of work featuring harp composition and improvisation. ‘I really enjoyed working with Jimmy on this piece and adding music to a story he had created. The story begins softly and leads up to a more dark & angry piece. We were able to collaborate on a story using few words, allowing music and dance to tell the full story!’

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥.