LIMERICK may be best associated with men and women putting their best foot forward on sporting fields but the county is also recognised as a centre of excellence for dance.
A woman who knows her rugby and dance is Mary Wycherley, director of Dance Limerick and proud aunt of Munster players Fineen and Josh.
Mary is the co-curator with Catherine Young of the hugely successful seventh edition of What Next Dance Festival, which has just wrapped up after five days.
It concluded on Saturday night with a Céilí Afro Dabke Ukraine. This vibrant, upbeat world music Céilí dance conceived by Catherine and The Welcoming Project, featured dance styles from around the world including Palestinian Dabke, African Dance and Ukrainian Folk Dance, finishing off the evening with some traditional Irish Céilí dances.
Mary and Catherine gave the Leader a warm welcome in Dance Limerick’s performance space of St John’s Church, John’s Square on Thursday evening despite having a million things to do on the opening performance night.
"Limerick has been a really important home for the development of dance in Ireland - it's not even nationally but internationally. People always recognise Limerick as having a very strong connection with the heritage of dance. Of course its through the university programmes and the Irish World Academy but also through Daghdha Dance Company which was one of the early dance companies.
"We can really stand behind how Limerick has invested and developed dance really significantly. I think we have really shaped things, and look, we have this gorgeous space here in John's Square which is just a gift and everybody loves. People come from abroad and they really want to be here for dance. Limerick is a well known home for dance as well as rugby,” smiled Mary.
Catherine said the festival originally started as one for up and coming artists to have a place and space to share their work.
“So one part of the festival is supporting these artists and getting their work out there. Over the years it has evolved and it has included more established artists as well. This year, the theme that has arisen from a lot of the works is dance and cultural identity. a lot of the artists are exploring that so we decided to build a programme around that,” said Catherine.
If somebody was nervous about going to seeing a performance and not knowing what to expect, Mary said dance is everybody.
“The thing I always say is, ‘Dance is movement and we all move. I think that some of the work we do here in Dance Limerick is really to help people to come and experience the joy of moving and dancing together and that really actually helps people to think, 'Oh, it is for me'. So when people take a class or they come and see something, or they bring their kids to class, they begin to think, ‘Oh, dance is for everybody',” said Mary.
The Leader was also received with open arms by Mary Nunan, performer, choreographer, and member of the Parsley Collective, who gave their first public performance that night.
"Limerick is perceived really positively not only nationally but internationally. I was talking to some younger dancers yesterday, like some really wonderful dancers, and they were saying, “People always say that if you come to Limerick as a dancer, you'll never want to leave’,” said Mary Nunan.
Dance Limerick was established just over 10 years ago so where will it be in another decade?
Mary Wycherley said it will continue to be an open door for more and more dance artists to come together to really deepen their work, ask interesting questions through movement, share the space and really add value to John's Square, and also add value to the communities in the city and county as they take their dance out to those areas.
"I imagine we will be here, stronger, better and fuller and the more people we can welcome the better for us. I really feel the value of dance and the communication through the body. It’s non-verbal, crosses all languages, nobody needs to talk
“It all happens through the body and I think the more we have that, the more we can all collectively be together. I really do think that and I think Dance Limerick will propel that thinking and invite more people to partake and enjoy what it is to be part of dance,” said Mary Wycherley.
Dance Limerick is in safe hands and feet with the likes of Mary Wycherley, Catherine Young and Mary Nunan involved.
For more information see dancelimerick.ie
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