LEITRIM DANCE FESTIVAL
1 - 6 April 2024
Programme
MONDAY 1st
10 - 11am: Step Share at The Dock Arts Centre
An hour of free space for dancers to share steps, thoughts and create together.
11 - 2pm: Professional Development workshops with Quebecois choreographers Yaelle Azoulay, Jonathan Rousseau & Mayo musician David Munnelly – The Dock Arts Centre
3.30 - 5.30pm – Professional Development dance workshops continue
FREE EVENT 6 - 8pm - Cryan’s Teach Ceoil - Quay of D Session
FREE EVENT 9pm: Cryan’s Teach Ceoil Dance Session - MAYO NIGHT
with Stephen Doherty, David Doocey, Patrick Doocey, Dave Munnelly, Molly Grady & Niamh Doherty
TUESDAY 2nd
10 - 11am: Step Share at The Dock Arts Centre
An hour of free space for dancers to share steps, thoughts and create together.
11 - 2pm: Professional Development workshops with choreographers Yaelle Azoulay, Jonathan Rosseau & musician David Munnelly – The Dock Arts Centre
3.30 - 5pm – Professional Development dance workshops continue
7.30pm - MINSEACH - Performance by Sibéal Davitt at The Dock
Minseach (she-goat) is a sean-nós dancer’s journey through time, from being a cailín álainn to a full blown she-goat. Join one-time reality tv star Sibéal Davitt as she dances her unique mix of contemporary and traditional styles to Las Vegas and back again. A love letter to the Irish language, Minseach is about being seen; through success and failure, through ageing and injury, through past and present. It’s about messing up, dressing up, stepping up – and embracing your inner goat.
FREE EVENT 9pm: Cryan’s Teach Ceoil Dance Session - DUBLIN NIGHT
with Paddy Cummins, Ultan O’Brien & Fionnán Mac Gabhann
WEDNESDAY 3rd
10 - 11am: Step Share at The Dock Arts Centre
An hour of free space for dancers to share steps, thoughts and create together.
11 - 2pm: Professional Development workshops with choreographers Yaelle Azoulay, Jonathan Rousseau & musician David Munnelly – The Dock Arts Centre
3.30 - 5.30pm – Professional Development dance workshops continue
FREE EVENT 9pm: Cryan’s Teach Ceoil Dance Session - WEST KERRY NIGHT
with Kyle McCauley, the Begley family and the West Kerry Set Dancers
Dress as a tune or a dance, night! Everyone is invited to come along to this session dressed as the name of a tune or the name of a dance. Get creative!
THURSDAY 4TH
10 - 11.30am: Step Share at The Dock Arts Centre
An hour of free space for dancers to share steps, thoughts and create together.
FREE EVENT 10.30am - 12pm – Meitheal at the Market with the West Kerry musicians and dancers
11.30 - 2.30pm – Professional Development with choreographers Yaelle Azoulay, Jonathan Rousseau & musician David Munnelly
3.30 - 5.30pm Old Style Irish Dance Workshop with Mary McGuiggan
7.30pm - Dance Dialects Concert – The Dock Arts Centre
Featuring new work by
Yaelle Azoulay & Jonathann Rousseau & Dave Munnelly
Aneta Dortova & Dave Munnelly
West Kerry set dancers
Áirc Damhsa
Jesse Smith & Seosamh Ó Neachtain
Vincent Woods
Siobhán Butler
Caitlín Nic Gabhann & Edwina Guckian
Mary McGuiggan
Aidan Vaughan
FREE EVENT 9pm - Cryan’s Teach Ceoil Dance Session DONEGAL NIGHT
with Cathal Ó Curráin, Caitlín Nic Gabhann, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh & Mary McGuiggan
FRIDAY 5TH
10 - 11am: Step Share at The Dock Arts Centre
An hour of free space for dancers to share steps, thoughts and create together.
11 - 2pm: Professional Development workshops with choreographers Yaelle Azoulay, Jonathan Rousseau & musician David Munnelly – The Dock Arts Centre
FREE EVENT 4 – 5.30pm – Dancing in the Well at the Irish Traditional Music Archives - Panel discussion – The Dock
Kyle McKauley and Edwina Guckian host a panel discussion with 4 dance artists who were given residencies at the Irish Traditional Music Archives.
FREE EVENT 8 - 11pm – Fáilte go Céilí Cráicáilte – St. Mary’s Hall
A céilí for the community with one mega big band of the best of Irish musicians. Dances will be called on the night and open to all from beginners to advanced dancers. This is a night of celebrating together through dance. At the half time tea break the local Country Market women will sell their homemade baking so bring some change to avail of these treats.
FREE EVENT 9pm - Cryan’s Teach Ceoil Dance Session SLIGO NIGHT
with Ava Glancy, Sinéad Johnston & Ryan Sheridan
SATURDAY 6TH
FREE EVENT 2 – 4pm - Community Dance Workshop with Yaelle Azoulay & Jonathan Rousseau - St. Mary’s Hall
FREE EVENT 4 – 6pm Dress as the name of a tune or dance - Children’s session with Áirc Damhsa & Carrick Trad - Cryan’s Teach Ceoil
FREE EVENT 8pm – Sean Stíl Dance Competition in Cryan’s Teach Ceoil
Competitions can bring on a certain standard in some ways, but what is standard? How often have we seen fantastic regional musicians competing and not getting a look in, adjudicated by people who know nothing about it, and as a result, competitions in many ways have contributed to the demise of regional styles. How can you adjudicate between people like Denis Murphy and John Doherty. Two wonderful players from different parts of the country with their own way of expressing music? How any one individual can get up and say that this man is better than the other!" - Paddy Glackin
The very same can be said for the old dances of Ireland and so we’ve organised another competition. But this is a special one! There'll be no judges.
1st prize - €1000 - sponsored by Cryan’s Teach Ceoil
It's open to all dancers over 18 years of age. Dancers Not Chancers: Dancers must have experience and be competent in their performance. Many mighty musicians will be on hand but you are welcome to bring your own along too. All styles of traditional Irish dance welcome. We want this to be a celebration of all dancers, of all ages, of all styles from the 4 provinces of Ireland.
How will we pick a winner?
We've eliminated judges and a competitive atmosphere. This is all about enjoyment. Everyone that dances will put their name in a hat as they get up to dance and when the final dancer has stepped it out a name will be drawn from the hat for €1000. Enter HERE.
FREE EVENT 9pm - Cryan’s Teach Ceoil Dance Session - LEITRIM NIGHT
with Mick Mulvey, Matt Mulvey, John Blake & Shane Meehan
Leitrim Dance Festival 2024 is supported by
The Arts Council of Ireland - Leitrim County Council Arts Office - Dance Ireland - Cryan’s Teach Ceoil - The Dock Arts Centre - Irish Traditional Music Archives
