Tipperary Dance Festival to take place in venues across the county next month

Tipperary Dance Festival has unveiled the programme for its 15th edition, running from October 8 to October 18.
Bringing together dance communities from across Ireland, the world, and the county, this year’s festival features dance artists from the US, Australia, Germany and Luxembourg, young dancers from local schools in Tipperary, and established and up-and-coming artists from Ireland.

The rich and diverse programme presents performances by turns philosophical and playful, with inspirations ranging from the beauty of our natural world to the feminism of the Amazons; from our funeral rituals to landmarks of the town of Nenagh.

The festival is organised annually by Tipperary Dance, with events happening in venues across the county in Thurles, Nenagh and Clonmel, for people of all ages and for both dance practitioners and the widest public.This year’s brilliant line-up of performances will begin on Thursday 10th October, with an international dance bill featuring In The Heart Of The Heart Of The Moment by Germany’s Alexandra Waierstall.

The evening will also feature the results of the residency of Alexandra Paal and Alice Ortona Coles at Tipperary Dance as they present From One Skin to Another, a story of transformations from cocoon to butterfly, of a snake shedding its skin, to move forward, to let go.

On Friday 11th October a second double bill will open with Amazone, a duet exploring the quest for gender equality shared by the Amazons and the feminst movement. This work-in-progress from Laura Arend is the result of her residency at Tipperary Dance. The second work is Lumen from Ireland’s Maria Nilsson Waller & Stace Gill aka Flora Fauna Project, in which three dancers bring animals, insects, plants and fungi to life.

On Saturday 12 October, the festival will present the Irish premiere of the acclaimed After All by Solène Weinachter, a light show about the dark subject of funerals.

A public performance of ‘Monsters’ on 15 October and schools performances during the festival, is sure to delight younger audiences. This captivating dance performance about friendship, filled with humour, heart, and a sprinkle of magic, is by contemporary urban dance artist Matt Sczczerek in collaboration with Alessio Motta.Connecting communities, Nenagh Arts Centre will be home to All Day Do Dance on Tuesday 15th October, a vibrant programme for all dance enthusiasts.

Everyone will be welcome to join the morning’s Age in Movement Workshop for people aged 40+, led by dance artist Mia DiChiaro.

The day’s programme will include a public performance of Monsters and related workshops for schools with Matt and Alessio.
The public will also have the chance to see the work of the local community in a lunchtime screening of two short dance films.
The stop-motion film Curious Encounters is the outcome of a series of workshops directed by dance artist Rocio Dominguez and photographer and visual artist Jairo Alvarez, working with primary school pupils from Gaelscoil Thiobraid Árann and transition year students from St Ailbe’s Secondary School in Tipperary Town.

In the enchanting Let's Spraoi! by Mia DiChiaro, a group of children embark on a vibrant dancing journey, playfully exploring the nature and the castle in their hometown of Nenagh.
This year will also be the inaugural year for the Festival’s new SPLASH Lab initiative, created to foster a growing community of practice.

The 2024 edition of the Lab will gather a core group of dance professionals with strong connections to Tipperary Dance for a week of cross-pollination, facilitated by Murielle Elizéon (FRA/USA). Australian dance artist Jana Castillo will be offering two master classes open to all dance practitioners, working to release dancers’ full physical potential and to improve body awareness, flexibility, and strength. These workshops are Presented by Luail - Ireland's National Dance Company.

Find out more about this year’s programme online as well as where to see all the performances at www.tipperarydance.com.