Talking about Dance

In this last episode in our 4 part series celebrating the 30th anniversary of Dance Ireland, writer and historian, Deirdre Mulrooney, talks to Muirne Bloomer and Aideen Gohery about their early dancing days, how their careers have evolved and how they find themselves working together again in different guises.

Tobi Omoseto is an internationally acclaimed Bboy (breakdancer) and hip hop dancer. Tobi trained at Broadway Dance Centre & the birth place of Hip-Hop - New York; he has been dancing for 15 years and is dedicated to supporting the foundations of this dynamic and influential dance form. As curator and director of hugely popular TOP 8 at Dublin Dance Festival, Tobi consistently delivers the best of Irish and International street dance to new audiences. Now heading into it’s 6th year, the event continues to grow in size and popularity, drawing huge numbers of both old/young dancers to the festival. He has performed his own work at Imagine Arts Festival, Dublin Dance Festival, Limerick Fringe Festival, Whats Next Festival, Loias Dance Platform, Glor Performance Platform and at Dance2Connect among other festivals and events. On screen he has performed on Sky’s Got to Dance, hit US TV show Penny Dreadful and in numerous music videos and commercials. Find out more about Tobi here. Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music: Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Lindsay is the Artistic Director of the Irish National Youth Ballet. in this podcast she talks about her dance training, how training has changed in recent times, her approaches, learnings and guidance for young, aspiring dancers. Lindsay gained her BA Hons in Theatre Dance from London Studio Centre in 2006. Since graduating Lindsay has danced with Cork City Ballet, Chrysalis Dance and in the Dublin Dance Festival. Lindsay has achieved her LRAD, ARAD and RAD RTS from the Royal Academy of Dance and her DDI and DDE in modern dance from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. Lindsay has taught for London Studio Centre as a ballet tutor, Creative Academy as a ballet tutor and ballet history lecturer and at the Van Niekerk Academy of Dance as a ballet, contemporary and festival coach. Lindsay is the director of The Dance Institute, founded in 2009. In 2016 she qualified in Pilates Instruction and in 2018 gained her Progressing Ballet Techniques (PBT) qualification. www.inyb.com Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. www.danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll.  Music: Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Mintesinot Wolde is a contemporary dancer, choreographer, teacher, graduated with an MA of first-class honors in Contemporary Dance Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance at the University of Limerick. In 2021, he choreographed and presented his new screen dance piece “See you in the Green” through Roscommon Arts Centre. And he has continued to perform in most recent works as a dancer in ‘Echoes of Calling Encounter’ directed by internationally acclaimed choreographer Akiko Kitamura (Japan/Tokyo), and ‘Inside Dance’ at La MaMa Moves New York Dance Festival directed by John Scott. He has also been featured in a short music film "Eire Ildanach''/ ‘an Irish Goodbye’ by renowned Irish musician Daithi, presented on TG4 TV channel as a part of ‘Samhlu’ 2020 that won two Prix Circom 2021 for European’s regional public service broadcasters award. He has featured as well in a music video ‘Avalon’ choreographed by Stephanie Dufresne for Grammy award winner Rhiannon Giddens. Find out more https://www.mintedancestudio.com/ Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. danceireland.ie

Ingrid Nachstern, a Professional Member of Dance Ireland, is known for her films that make a statement, explore ideas that are important to her and relevant to society today. She studied languages at Trinity College Dublin and worked as a translator in Dublin, Toronto, London, and Oxford. She is also a teacher of classical ballet. In 2003 she established her company, Night Star Dance Company; in 2014 she branched out into making films. She has now taken on the roles of Director, Script-Writer and Performer. She has collaborated on her last three films with Luca Truffarelli, the cinematographer. She was a member of the Jury for the Brooklyn Film Festival 2020 (Experimental and Animation) which took place online and for the Ethnografilm Festival (Experimental) which will take place in Paris in April 2021. Visit Ingrid's website here. About Dance Ireland Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music: Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Dublin-born Anne Maher is one of Ireland’s most respected voices in ballet and dance, with an international career spanning over 35 years. Trained initially by Myrtle Lambkin in Dublin, she has worked with the major figures of Ireland’s ballet world, including Irish Ballet Company founder, Joan Denise Moriarty and Dublin City Ballet’s Janet Lewis. Anne was awarded a scholarship by the late Princess Grace of Monaco, to study at L’Acadamie de Danse Classique in Monte Carlo under Marika Besobrasova. Following her training in Monaco, Anne danced for the British Ballet Theatre in London and as Principal Ballerina touring all over Europe with Wiener Ballett Theater. Her roles include Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Queen of the Willis (Giselle), and a range of various modern works. Anne returned to Ireland in 1997 to found Ballet Ireland, which she continues to develop as a successful and vibrant national touring company. Read more about Anne here. Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. www.danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll.  Music: Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Carla Fazio is an accomplished dance educator, artist and curator who has been bringing dance to schools and community settings for over 15 years. She holds an MA in Dance Education from New York University. Currently, Carla is working out of the South Dublin Arts Office, directing the NOISE Moves Youth Dance Festival and Emergence Young Choreographers Programme. She collaborates with Tallaght Community Arts in developing the dance strand for Street Arts Academy. She has been funded to work in the community by dlr County Council, SDCC, and DCC. Carla developed a transition year dance programme at Dominican College Sion Hill. Prior to relocating to Dublin, Carla taught full time for 6 years as a dance educator in the New York City public school system. During this time, she launched the dance programmes in both of the two schools at which she taught. Her focus is on bringing dance and movement to people who would not normally experience dance. Find out more about Carla here. Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. www.danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music: Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Zoë Ashe Browne is a dance artist and choreographer from Dublin. Since completing her professional training with the English National Ballet School in London she has danced for companies and choreographers all over Europe. Her first professional engagement was with Ballet Ireland in 2009.  Zoë subsequently went on to be professionally engaged with English National Ballet Company, Peter Schaufuss Ballett (Denmark) and Ballett Vorpommern (Germany). In August 2018 Zoë joined The Royal Ballet of Flanders. Zoë’s choreographic practice has been supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, Ballet Ireland and Dance Ireland. Zoe’s recent choreographic works include ‘Spiro’ for the Gent Festival of Flanders, and ‘The Space Between Us’ and ‘Flux’ for the Royal Ballet of Flanders’ Choreolab productions. Find out more about Zoë here Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy.   danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music:  Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy)  

Dance Ireland Member, Laura Macken, talk about her training her professional career as a performer in Ireland and the United States, and her transition into choreography. In addition to teaching for Dance Ireland, John Scott Dance and CiosCeim Dance Theatre, Laura is a qualified yoga teacher, she received an Arts Council travel and training award to train in Autism Movement Therapy in New York. She currently teaches dance classes for people with intellectual disabilities for Stewarts Care, Dublin. In January 2017 Laura graduated from the University of Limerick, with a MA in Dance, receiving first class honours on her thesis examining The Versatile Dancer. Laura’s findings demonstrated that dancers seeking to work in various styles of dance, can all truly benefit from ballet training, a philosophy that Laura encourages with all her students in all her classes. Find out more about Laura here and visit her website here.  Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. Our vision is for dance to be valued and vibrantly, actively, and confidently part of people’s lives. danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music:  Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Dance Ireland Member, Rita Marcalo talks about her practice and creative work and bringing different artists and audiences together in different ways. Rita's practice began in dance/choreography but eventually she was more interested in communicating concepts than in sticking to a particular art form. She began collaborating with others to create work in different media, and today she brings in people from different areas to solve creative problems. Her company, Instant Dissidence is also a socially-engaged practice where the company foregrounds the role that dance/choreography can play as a social engine: they are ‘artivists’ who believe in the power of connecting art and social consciousness. Find out more about Rita here. Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. Our vision is for dance to be valued and vibrantly, actively, and confidently part of people’s lives. danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music:  Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Dance Ireland Member, Fiona Quilliigan, talks about her recent film work and finding ways to continue to create, choreograph in spaces that inspire and bring movement to new spaces in Dublin.  Fiona Quilligan, Dublin-born, award-winning choreographer trained with Joan Davis and at the London School of Contemporary Dance  and in classical ballet with Maria Fay and Brenda Last.  She performed with Dublin City Ballet under artistic director Louis O’ Sullivan; Babil Gandara, Anna Sokolov, Paula Hilton Gore, Pearl Gaden and Arlene Phillips to name but a few. See more on Fiona here.  Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. Our vision is for dance to be valued and vibrantly, actively, and confidently part of people’s lives. danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music:  Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Dance Ireland Member, Roisin Whelan, talks about her training in Ireland, dancing with Shawbrook Youth Dance Company and Dublin Youth Dance Company, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and her professional work including Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and Balbir Singh Dance Company. Find out more about Roisin here and visit her website here. Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. Our vision is for dance to be valued and vibrantly, actively, and confidently part of people’s lives. danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music:  Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Dance Ireland Member Sobhán Ní Dhuinnín talks about how she came into dance, her interactions and influences and introducing her dad to her world of movement.  Sobhán Ní Dhuinnín is a dance artist based in Cork, Ireland.  Her primary focus is on place-based and site-specific work manifesting in film and live performance. She seeks to question how the human body engages with the Earth in a way that gives agency to both. Siobhán trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (UK) and subsequently completed a Masters in Contemporary Dance Performance, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance graduating in 2012.  She has performed with John Jasperse & Liz Roche (Step Up Dance Programme), Jessie Keenan, Junk Ensemble, Laura Murphy and Mary Wycherley. Siobhán was also a member of Croí Glan Integrated Dance Company performing works by Fearghus Ó Conchúir and David Bolger. Find out more about Siobhán here. Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through training, professional opportunities, and advocacy. Our vision is for dance to be valued and vibrantly, actively, and confidently part of people’s lives. danceireland.ie This podcast was edited by Danny Carroll. Music:  Don’t Start Holding Out On Me by Pantone247 (Fiachra McCarthy).

Dance Ireland Member, Oran Leong, talks to us about his inspirations and influences; traditional Irish dance and first experiences with contemporary dance and all that has unfolded as a result. Oran gives thoughtful and considerate advice to young dancers on their own professional dance journey. Oran is a Dublin-born dance artist of mixed Chinese and Irish heritage. At 6 years of age he began Irish dance training and competed locally and internationally for nearly 18 years. Having won the World Championships in 2016 for a third year in a row, the only dancer to have achieved this in his organisation, he hung up his feis (competition) shoes and completed his exams for TCRG (Irish dance teacher qualification). While no longer a competitor, he remains a part of the feis world by assisting at competitions and offering workshops to dancers of all ages and levels. Oran began to study contemporary dance under the mentorship of artistic director Mariam Ribón in the Dublin Youth Dance Company. He then applied and was accepted into the MA in Contemporary Dance Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. An Irish, Contemporary and Aerial dancer, Oran has danced with Kristyn Fontanella, Catherine Young, Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre, Justine Doswell, Iseli-Chiodi, IMDT, Monica Munoz Marin, Muirne Bloomer, Cie Marie Lenfant and has been Assistant Artistic Director of Laois Youth Dance Ensemble. Find out about Oran here Dance Ireland is the national development and representative organisation for professional dance in Ireland. We support the development of all forms of dance in Ireland through professional artistic development opportunities, training and advocacy. Our vision is for dance to be valued and vibrantly, actively, and confidently part of people’s lives. danceireland.ie