Step-Up: Dance Project 2014 runs at the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick from 7th July – 12th August and this year’s project features a special partnership with Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre.
Now in its fourth year, Step Up: Dance Project is once again playing host to some of Ireland’s most promising contemporary dance graduates. Following a national open call in April, the highest number of applications to the project to date were received. For the first time, auditions were part of the selection process and the number of shortlisted dancers increased from six to seven this year, an increase which was made possible through this year’s partnership with Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre Company.
The shortlisted dancers selected to take part in the prestigious programme are Ailish Maher (Ire), Aifric Ni Chaoimh (Ire), Marion Cronin (Ire), Magda Herzak (Ire/ Pol), Juan Urbina (Ven/ Ire), Adam Faillul (Mal/Ire) and Murni Omar (Mal/ Ire).
For the duration of the project, the participating dancers will reside at UL, utilising the state of the art studios and facilities at the Irish World Academy. The prestigious programme will culminate in the performance of a new work to be performed at Dance Limerick, the Firkin Crane in Cork and DanceHouse in Dublin over the last weekend of the project (August 8 – 11).
This year’s dancers are working under the direction of choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan. Michael is Founder and Artistic Director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre and an associate artist of Sadler’s Well’s Theatre. Most recently, he directed and choreographed a new Stravinsky double bill, The Rite of Spring & Petrushka, which opened at Sadler’s Wells, London in April 2013. It has since appeared at the Galway Arts Festival, Ireland, and the Brisbane and Melbourne Festivals, Australia.
Step Up: Dance Project, is a partnership between the Arts Council, Dance Ireland, Dance Limerick and the University of Limerick, which aims to bridge the gap between dance education and professional contemporary dance practice in Ireland.
It is an annual, intensive programme of training, rehearsals, performance and development for selected dancers who have completed their professional training within the last three years. The Step Up programme will enhance these dancers’ professional networks by connecting them to the Irish contemporary dance community and improving their professional opportunities in Ireland.
Step Up: Dance Project 2014 showings:
8th August at Dance Limerick
9th August at Firkin Crane, Cork
11th August at DanceHouse, Dublin
Further info: stepupdanceproject@gmail.com
