World of dance brought to life

Alex O'Sullivan

From classes to performances, Shandon will be full of dancers for the rest of the year.

That's because Dance Cork Firkin Crane has announced an exciting season of performances, residencies, classes and workshops to celebrate its 30th anniversary year. Running from June–December, the season features Irish and international artists.

This 1st season under Executive Artistic Director, Laurie Uprichard, expands on the organisation’s mission for dance to be one of the most vital and engaging artforms in Cork and Munster.

The season opened on 17 June with a Cork Midsummer Festival premiere of 'A Safe Passage', by Cork writer and performer Irene Kelleher.

The upcoming programme includes Lewis Major Projects from Adelaide, Australia. Helga Deasy continues as Dance Artist-in-Residence, supported by Cork City Council, with a new dance work, 'CURA', and a film looking at motherhood.

The performance season wraps up with Angie Smalis and Colin Gee’s 'Horse', the second part of a trilogy, and a showing by Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín as part of her Ceist Residency.

In addition to these performances, 6 artists – Jean Butler, Magdalena Hylak, Luke Murphy, Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín, Marta Renzi and Alberto Denis - will be in residence at Dance Cork Firkin Crane.

Dance Cork Firkin Crane’s Executive Artistic Director Laurie Uprichard said: "We’re thrilled to welcome audiences to experience a wide range of contemporary dance and meet some wonderful artists here in our crazy circular building. We invite you to have fun, take a chance, and be curious."

A special 30th anniversary event will take place on Saturday 27 August for an evening of celebration and a toast to the next 30 years.