Step Up Dance Project is a programme of professional development for recent dance graduates or equivalent early-career dance professionals in partnership between the Arts Council of Ireland, Dance Limerick, the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick and Dance Ireland.
Step Up celebrates its 15th edition in 2025 and we are delighted to offer an extended 8-week programme this year that will include six weeks of training and choreographic process with Philip Connaughton at Dance Limerick and the Irish World Academy, as well as two full additional weeks in the Moving in Collaboration International Intensive with Luail – Ireland’s National Dance Company.
We are looking for up to five dancers born or resident in Ireland who graduated in 2022 or since then. You’re also eligible if your professional dancing career has started since 2022 but you have come through other training routes that didn’t involve graduation. This is an opportunity for dancers in the early stages of their professional career. If you are only starting your career or graduating in 2025 you are not eligible. Previous Step Up participants who match the criteria above are eligible to apply again.
Curated by Fearghus Ó Conchúir with Dance Limerick Director Mary Wycherley and delivered under the guidance of Rehearsal Director, Lucia Kickham, the programme is focused on developing artists as performers while recognising the creativity necessary in the performer’s work. As part of this year’s edition, dancers will have the chance to train with guest teachers, such as Finola Cronin and Mufutau Yusuf, who will provide them with a range physical practices as well as a chance to hear from dance artists working in Ireland about how they sustain their practice.
The five selected dancers will receive a weekly fee of €650 over 8 weeks, along with accommodation for the duration of the programme. Participants must be available on an exclusive basis to take advantage of Step Up.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 25 November at 12 pm IST. Please send your CV and a personal statement outlining your motivation to be involved in Step Up along with a weblink to a 1-minute improvisation to stepupdanceproject@gmail.com
Read the full terms and conditions here
