Dance Ireland2012 Activity Report

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Welcome and Introductionfrom Dance Ireland Chairperson

It is always a pleasure to reflect on good things, especially when they are somewhat unexpected. Dance Ireland’s initiative over the past year is an example of how – four years into recession – it can be seen to uphold the desire to foster and generate dance; as an ongoing training, a literary subject, and a practice. My board and I wholeheartedly endorse the fulsome, steady progress and achievement evidenced by this Activity Report, outlined in the following pages.

I will not surmise its content here; rather, comment on a broad range of areas of develop-ment, both extant and beginning to emerge: for example, writing about dance (essays, treatises); dance as film/photography; affordable training on a continuous basis; partnerships – both national and international; practical administrative assistance where requested; open-studio showings; fundraisers; celebration of seminal figures in dance (Ninette de Valois); hosting visitors such as Arts Minister, Jimmy Deenihan T.D.; and, most importantly I would contend – a commitment to meet our members’ financial hardships with reduced/bartered rates, vowing to remain ‘open’ as a dance house.

In effect, Dance Ireland’s overriding tenet is the enablement of dance to continue: meeting new circumstances with renewed policies of inclusion, service and professionalism, of which I am very proud.

I do hope that the year ahead will be met with the vigour and gusto that I have come to recognise as one of Dance Ireland’s defining characteristics.

As with the old Irish adage: “may the road rise up to meet (us)”; many good wishes for 2013.

Dr. Adrienne BrownChairperson

cover photo by Maurice Gunningopposite page by Maurice Gunningback cover by Maurice Gunning

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Overview

2012 was another busy and productive year for Dance Ireland. Working with over 400 national and international dance artists Dance Ireland provided time to learn, space to experiment and opportunities to present work in various stages of development both at home and abroad.

In addition we maintained our commitment to ensuring DanceHouse remains a vibrant and inclusive ‘home’ for dance. Open for 50 weeks; Monday to Saturday (and quite a few Sundays as well) we recorded 34,444 people through our doors for a range of morning and evening classes, rehearsals, presentations, seminars and special events.

Some of our 2012 programme highlights included working with Associate Artists Emma Martin, Aoife McAtamney and Liv O’Donoghue; securing Charitable Status; the publication of How do you solve a problem like ballet in Ireland? and the launch of Dance Ireland 21 by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan T.D. in November.

Increasingly partnerships are key features of our programme and notable ones this year include: the fifth edition of Re-Presenting Ireland – a showcase initiative in association with Culture Ireland and Dublin Dance Festival; a second Step Up: Dance Project in association with the Arts Council and University of Limerick; Come Dance with Me: Ninette de Valois symposium in association with Irish Ballet Forum, Ballet Ireland and the Abbey Theatre and Dance Matters hosted in association with dance academics Emma Meehan and Aoife McGrath.

76,70034,44420,06214,3824,0053,3302,3001,4281,3001,152829790145

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Dance Ireland and Dance House2012 Statistics

hits and visits to www.danceireland.ieDanceHouse attendancesattendances for daytime activitiesattendances for evening class activitiesparticipants in Local Initiatives programmeFacebook fansfortnightly Ebulletin subscribers professional artist training and development attendances Twitter followersprofessional morning class attendancesOpen Day / Free Taster Classes participants audiences for New Movements, Re-Presenting Ireland, Open HouseCulture Night participants and visitors

Dance Ireland members availed of Winging It! 138 times

While all of these figures are impressive, they are only meaningful because of thecontinued support of the ‘Dance Ireland family’ – all the dancers, teachers, choreographers and dance enthusiasts - who work with us and use DanceHouse throughout the year. We are fortunate to be surrounded by such committed dance enthusiasts and professional dance artists who are resourceful, resilient and creative.

opposite page by Maurice Gunning

weeks of morning classes

attendances

451,152

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Training ProgrammeThe backbone of our artistic programme is the provision of daily morning class. In 2012 we provided 45 weeks of classes attracting 1,152 attendances, taught by experienced and innovative teachers from Ireland and abroad. In addition we partnered with companies, venues and festivals around the country to encourage visiting artists to teach class when possible.

Morning classes are aimed at an advanced level appropriate for professional dancers and advanced level dance students. Morning classes are run in week-long blocks and alternate between classical ballet, traditional dance and contemporary dance genres.

Morning class prices have remained at a very affordable rate; €7 members / €5 student members / €10 non-members. In 2012 we further developed a range of discount class cards: €50 10-class card/ €30 5-class card / €20 student weekly card, offering unparalleled excellent value to dancers wishing to maintain their daily practice.

Teachers: Elena Giannotti, Laura Macken, Joanna Banks, Aoife McAtamney, Maria Nilsson-Waller; Justine Cooper, Liv O’Donoghue, Philip Connaughton, Keren Rosenberg, Katherine O’Malley, Monica Munoz, Juan Corres Benito and Megan Kennedy;

International Guest Teachers: Marcos Morau, Ori Flomin, Jon Kinzel, Julian Barnett, Robert Heaslip, Anita Wach and Sergiu Matis;

Morning classes presented in association with companies: Ballet Ireland, Liz Roche Company, La Zampa, La Veronal and The Loose Collective;

Contact Jams: 19 weekly Tuesday sessions from January to June; co-ordinated by Cindy Cummings, the jam was lead in turn by a core group including Fergus Byrne and Jenny McDon-ald;

Master classes: in association with Dublin Dance Festival from Yuval Pick, Trisha Brown Company, Rob Tannion and Desiree Kongerød;

Regional master classes: in association with I.F.O.N.L.Y Festival from Asli Bostanci and Michelle Ellsworth;

Choreographic Workshop Week: ‘Rewriting Distance’ with Guy Cools and Lin Snelling, in association with the MA in Contemporary Dance Performance/Irish World Academy, UL;

Summer Intros: 4 weeks of morning classes and afternoon workshops especially designed for recently graduated and young dancers, taught by Patricia Crosbie (Classical Ballet), Liz Roche Company (Contemporary Dance), ponydance (Dance Theatre) and Breandán de Gallaí (Traditional Dance). opposite page by Terry O’Leary

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Development Programme

Dance Ireland Residency

Isabella Oberländer Karen Gleeson

Maria Nilsson-WallerCindy Cummings/Regan O’Brien

Rachel MulcahyLisa CahillLisa Tighe

Justine CooperPhilip Connaughton

Junk Ensemble Amy Kinlon

Ríonach Ní Néill Keren Rosenberg

Luke MurphyMichael SherinFiona Quilligan

Dagmara Jerzak Justine CooperAmy Kinlon Aoife McAtamney (Associate Artist) Emma Martin (Associate Artist) Liv O’Donoghue (Associate Artist) Anita Wach (Modul-dance)The Loose Collective (Modul-dance) La Zampa (Modul-dance) La Veronal (Modul-dance) Ori Flomin (International Guest Teacher) Julian Barnett (International Associate Artist)Robert Heaslip (International Associate Artist) Sergiu Matis/Sheena McGrandles (E-Motional Bodies & Cities)Andreea Novak (E-Motional Bodies & Cities)

The Dance Ireland Residency programme is a key means of ensuring dance artists maintain a studio practice. Open to Dance Ireland members, residencies are offered on a rolling basis, on receipt of a short proposal. DanceHouse studio space is allocated subject to availability and is capped to a maximum of 4 weeks per artist per year. In 2012 we hosted 31 residencies by the following artists, ranging from 1 to 3 weeks:

Associate ArtistsIn a new development for 2012 and in response to an Open Call we received 6 Expressions of Interest for Associate Artist positions and were in a position to support three choreographers with their self-directed projects through a range of supports including: studio space, administrative support and bank-roll facilities, advice, networking and international presentation opportunities:

Aoife McAtamneyEmma MartinLiv O’Donoghue

International Associate ArtistsWe provided two internationally based choreographers with a connection to DI with the resources to undertake self-designed programmes of R&D and share their process with us through classes, studio showings and networking opportunities:

Robert Heaslip (IRL/Scotland)Julian Barnett (USA)

International Exchange Artist - Jon KinzelAs part of an on-going reciprocal exchange with Movement Research New York, we hosted choreographer and teacher Jon Kinzel in a 2-week teaching and research residency which concluded with a New Movements sharing of an initial collaboration involving DI member Philip Connaughton.

The Next StageIn response to an Open Call (3 proposals received); we sponsored a place for a DI member, Peter Duffy, to participate in The Next Stage during the Dublin Theatre Festival (27 Sept to 13 Oct).

Re-Presenting IrelandA showcase initiative by Culture Ireland, Dance Ireland and Dublin Dance Festival; presented over two weekends: 18 & 19 / 25 & 26 May, for an audience of 300, presenting work, in two mixed bills, featuring:

Maria Nilsson-WallerPhilip ConnaughtonAoife McAtamneyCatherine Young50% Male Experimental TheatreIseli-Chiodi Dance CompanyJohn Scott Dance

Re-Presenting Ireland panel comprised: Madeline Boughton (MB Arts International), Julia Car-ruthers (DDF), Mona Considine (Backstage Theatre, Longford), Brendan Kearney (Greenwich Dance, UK), Yvonne Whyte (PACT Zollverein, Essen Germany). We received 20 proposals from a range of dance makers for consideration.

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With an average attendance of 20 people per showing, we hosted 19 New Movements throughout the year. New Movements is an opportunity to present ‘work fresh from the studio’ followed by audience Q&A:

13 Jan20 Jan27 Jan10 Feb17 Feb

16 Mar23 Mar13 Apr

13 May12 Jun29 Jun29 Jun29 Jun12 Oct19 Oct

30 Nov07 Dec07 Dec14 Dec

Isabella OberländerMaria Nilsson-WallerAnita Wach (Modul-dance)Jon Kinzel (Internarional Exchange Artist) Aoife McAtamney (Associate Artist)Sergiu Matis / Sheena McGrandles (E-Motional Bodies & Cities)The Loose Collective (Modul-dance)Julian Barnett (Internartional Associate Artist)Robert Heaslip (International Associate Artist)E-Motional Bodies & Cities Research Project (Group 1)La Veronal (Modul-dance artists)Aoife McAtamney (Associate Artist) Liz Roche Company (Modul-dance)La Zampa (Modul-dance)Keren RosenbergEllie Creighton / Jessie KeenanMichael SherinDagmara JerzakFiona Quilligan

Step Up: Dance ProjectDance Ireland partnered with the Arts Council and the University of Limerick on this professional development initiative involving 6 dancers, company teachers Elena Giannotti (IT/IRE) and Lindsey Clarke (US) and choreographers John Jasperse (US) and Liz Roche (IRE).

The company comprised: Jennifer Brown (Limerick), Lisa Tighe (Dublin), Lucia Kickham (Enniscorthy), Orla Shine (Roscommon), Siobhán Ni Dhuinnín (Cork) and Brona Jackson (Belfast).

Step Up: Dance Project 2012 company presented a double-bill of newly created works (Crowd by Liz Roche and This Way, or That Way or The Other by John Jasperse) performed in three venues: Irish World Academy of Music and Dance UL (23 August), DanceHouse (24 and 25 August) and the Firkin Crane Cork (26 August).

An ancillary programme of presentations from Dance Ireland, Mary Nunan, Mary Wycherley and Jenny Roche, took place in the evenings during the rehearsal period on campus at UL.

New Movements

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Dance Ireland provided administrative/bank roll facilities, working with Artistic Programme Director Victoria O’Brien and Project Manager Lisa Hallinan. The Steering Committee was chaired by Mary Nunan, with Dr Jenny Roche (UL) and Paul Johnson (DI). The Artistic Selection Group comprised Mary Nunan, Paul Johnson, Anica Louw, Lisa McLoughlin and Mariam Ribon; 12 applications were received.

Modul-dance www.modul-dance.euPart-funded by the EU Culture Programme; Modul-dance is a 5-year collaboration (2010–14), involving 22 European dance houses and media institutions from 15 countries which focuses on the development of European dance artists, through a range of residencies, research opportunities, network sharing, presentation and production modules.

In 2012, our Modul-dance supported artist was choreographer Liz Roche who undertook a number of international residencies with her company working on the

development of a new piece: Body and Forgetting.

We also supported Associate Artist Aoife McAtamney and DI member Mary Wycherley to undertake residencies in Hellerau, Dresden (February); and later in the year Associate Artist Liv O’Donoghue was supported to undertake a residency in TanzQua-tier, Wien (November).

In DanceHouse, we hosted Anita Wach (February), The Loose Collective (March), La Veronal (June) and La Zampa (October). In addition to working in the studio, these

artists also taught morning classes, participated in New Movements and other DI events.

DI curated a Think Tank day (March): Why Text in Dance? with keynote speaker Dr. Áine Larkin (University of Aberdeen) and presentations from DI member Áine Stapleton, Sergiu Matis/Sheena McGrandles (E-Motional Bodies & Cities) and Gunilla Heilborn (Sweden) and Marta Navaridas/Alex Deutinger (The Loose Collective); with 28 attendances.

DI hosted a three-day partners’ meeting in DanceHouse (17-19 May), which included opportunities to introduce DanceHouse, the work of Dance Ireland and members of

the dance community to our European partners who also attended Re-Presenting Ireland presentations.

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Think Tank: Why Text in Dance?

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E-Motional Cities and Bodies www.e-motional.euE-Motional Cities and Bodies is a 2-year mobility and exchange programme (2011 – 2013) involving partners from Ireland, UK, Latvia, Romania and Cyprus, with funding from EU Culture Programme.

E-Motional is realised in Ireland by DDF and Dance Ireland, in association with Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, UL.

Mobility grants awarded to Associate Artist Liv O’Donoghue and DI members Elena Giannotti and Jenny Traynor (CoisCéim).

Hosted Sergiu Matis/Sheena McGrandles in DanceHouse and UL.

Hosted (25 May - 13 June) artistic research residency for a national/international group (Group 1). DI members involved were Fearghus Ó’Conchúir, Mary Wycherley alongside

dance artists from UK, Latvia, Romania and Cyprus and Irish UK based radio maker Frances Byrne.

DI member Nick Bryson awarded a 2-week residency in Lemesos working on a project in collaboration with Cristina Goletti, Damian Punch, John Healy and Cypriot artists.

Associate Artist Liv O’Donoghue (with Maria Nilsson-Waller) performed Grey/White Studies in Movement at “Time to Dance” Festival in Riga as part of performance

exchange strand (16 June).

DI member Liadain Herriott, awarded (6 – 21 August) residency in Riga/Latvia.

Lynette Moran and DI member Emma O’Kane awarded (21 August – 3 September) residency in Riga/Latvia.

E-Motional artistic research residency (Group 2 with DI member Laura Murphy) undertook a residency from 1 -15 September in Riga/Latvia.

Renata Gaspar undertook a 2-week residency at UL in September.

Andreea Novac undertook a 2-week residency in DanceHouse in September.

E-Motional artistic research (with DI member Fearghus Ó’Conchúir), 1–15 November in Lemesos.

Gabriela Tudor Fellowships for Managers (internal) awarded to Tiina Ylonen/DDF (Oc-tober) and Elisabetta Bisaro/DI (November).

Culture Night (21 September)An evening of studio presentations, Open Studio and classes involving Ballet Ireland, Company B, Andreea Novac and Hip-Hop teacher Rachel Horkan which attracted 145 partici-pants and visitors.

Special EventsAre We Dancing Yet? Making Dance in County Wexford, 2001- 2011; DI hosted the Dublin launch of Deirdre Grant / Myriad Dance publication (February).

20th anniversary film screening of a recording of Tower of Babel: Delusional Architecture (1992); icontact/IMMA site specific production (February).

Fundraiser: Day of Dance for Lily-Mae / neuroblastoma research; DanceHouse hosted one-day event with 454 participants attending and raising over €10,000 (September).

Come Dance with Me: Ninette de Valois symposium; October; DI provided support to a partnership between Irish Ballet Form, Ballet Ireland and the Abbey Theatre.

Dance Matters (November): DI in partnership with dance academics Dr Emma Meehan and Dr Aoife McGrath hosted symposium with keynote speaker Dr Rachel Fensham (University of Melbourne) and presentations from Jenny Roche, Emma Martin, Roisin O’Gorman, Jools Gilson, Fitzgerald & Stapleton and Fergus Byrne.

Dance Photography Project: throughout 2012 photographer Maurice Gunning was ‘in residence’ working on a new body of work commissioned by Dance Ireland (for exhibition in 2013) focusing on the work of the Associate Artists in DanceHouse.

How do you solve a problem like ballet in Ireland?The fourth in a series (of five essays) commissioned by Dance Ireland from dance writer Christie Seaver (October);

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Dance Ireland 21Throughout 2012, the executive and board undertook work on Dance Ireland 21; a programme of additional special events marking over 21 years as a resource and service organisation in Ireland. Dance Ireland formerly the Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland Ltd (APDI) was first established in 1989 and incorporated in 1992 – 2013 marks the organisations 21st anniversary.

Dance Ireland 21 was launched by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Mr Jimmy Deenihan T.D. and guest speaker Mary Nunan on 20 November 2012.

Dance Ireland 21 (www.danceireland.ie/21) aims to highlight the innovative vibrancy of the Irish dance community – our members, through a range of events, including Made in Dublin (performance season), Minutes in Motion (12 short dance film commissions), Source (photography exhibition), curated Dance Talks, Dance Ireland on Tour and a fundraising campaign to raise €21,000 for a new dance commission in 2014.

Local InitiativesWith support from Dublin City Council, Local Initiatives provides opportunities for local and city-wide groups to engage with DanceHouse and the work of Dance Ireland, through access to free classes, studios and creative opportunities:

Open Days: 4 evenings of free ‘taster classes’, January and September with 829 participants.Open House: 24 November showcase performances by Company B, Dublin Youth Dance Company and Flashdance, for an audience of 60 people. Macushla Dance Club: weekly dance sessions for over 50s, with 619 attendances; Company B: weekly sessions with 563 attendances.Flashdance: local hip-hop group; January c21 attendances.Creative dance workshops (8 weeks) led by dance tutor Michelle Cahill for local crèche, Kids Inc; on average 12 children per session; 108 total.

DanceHouse Rentals/ Partnerships/ Studio AssistanceDance Ireland is committed to ensuring that all DanceHouse studios remain affordable to dance makers and companies, regardless of resources. We are mindful of the difficult financial constraints many artists are working under, so we are ensuring that access to high quality studio space is maintained. We are open to approaches that can maximise and leverage our resources with the dance sectors needs.

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For example in 2012: We continued to support the on-going endeavours of Dublin Youth Dance Company and Irish National Youth Ballet by providing studios on Saturdays at highly subsided rates.

With others, including Ballet Ireland, Liz Roche Company and Breandán de Gallaí we partnered on the delivery of classes and workshops.

At the same time we supported a range of other members’ projects with free and favourable studio rental deals that ensured they were able to leverage fully their resources to ensure maximum benefit for all, including Katrin Neue/Butoh Dance Festival.

Support ServicesThroughout the year, staff met and provided a range of advice, information, contacts and letters of support to Dance Ireland members in support of their proposals, including 58 meetings with members;

In addition, we are a first point of contact for a range of national and international public/non-member enquiries by email, telephone and in person; 122 logged; Two Open Members’ Funding Advice Clinics: Monday 13 and 27 August;

Associate Artist information session: 05 December and attended by 7 members (with Associate Artists Liv O’Donoghue and Emma Martin in attendance).

Equipment HireDance Ireland maintains a range of equipment available for hire to all members at nominal rates. These include: Dance Floors, Ballet Barres, Digital Camcorders, Projectors, Digital Camera, Televisions, DVD players, Electric Piano, i-Pod Hi-Fi system, Projector Screens and Portable TV Trolleys; with over 60 hires availed of in 2012.

MembershipAt the heart of Dance Ireland are its members. With over 200 members (December 2012) made up of dancers, choreographers, teachers, companies, organisations, and friends, we rely on the support of all our members to ensure our continued success in nurturing, promoting and resourcing the diverse range of dance in Ireland today.

Dance Ireland AGM: Sunday 15 April27 members attended the AGM, which reviewed and approved 2011 AGM minutes, 2011 Activity Report, 2011 Audited Accounts and re-appointed Byrne, Moreau, Connell as Auditors. Other items discussed included Dance Counts 2010. Following an election, Richard Wakely was elected to the board of directors. Under AOB, three items were raised for discussion: the lack of support for vocational dance training, difficulties facing companies in light of recent Arts Council funding decisions and the lack of administrative support available to independent dance makers.

Dance Ireland EGM: Sunday 15 AprilAn Extraordinary General Meeting was held following the AGM, for the purpose of considering these resolutions:

That the Company approve and adopt the attached draft Memorandum and Articles of Association in place of the existing Memorandum and Articles of Association with immediate effect.

That the name of the Company be changed to Dance Ireland Limited (subject to the consent of the Registrar of Companies) and that a further amended Memorandum and Articles be adopted accordingly.

Following a presentation and discussion members present passed the resolutions.

APDI/ Dance Ireland Timeline ProjectIn advance of our official 21st anniversary celebrations planned for 2013, all members were invited to contribute to an organisation timeline. A number of members contributed on the AGM day, including some of the founder members and former board members.

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2012 Cultural Partners Dance Ireland is a resource and service organisation supporting all forms of dance, with a non-executive board of directors and six full-time staff members. Dance Ireland is the trading name of the Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland Ltd (APDI).

Dance Ireland is funded by the Arts Council and Dublin City Council, with project support from Culture Ireland and EU Culture Programme for Modul-dance and E-Motional Bodies & Cities projects. Additional income comes from membership fees, programme activities, DanceHouse studio rentals, as well as support from our cultural partners.

Dance Ireland operates DanceHouse on license from Dublin City Council.

Dance Ireland Board of Directors Adrienne Brown Chairperson, Megan Kennedy Secretary, Richard Johnson, Lisa McLoughlin, Anne Maher, Breandán de Gallaí, Richard Wakely (elected April AGM).

The Board of Directors met six times in 2012; with meetings held in January, March, April, June, September and October.

Dance Ireland Executive Paul Johnson Chief ExecutiveSiân Cunningham General ManagerElisabetta Bisaro Programme Manager Inga Byrne AdministratorAoife Ryan Receptionist Aoife Fitzpatrick (to February) Receptionist Caoimhe MacAndrew (from March) Receptionist

Work Placements: Intern: Rachel Horkan; JobBridge Placement: Terry O’Leary

Communications Consultant: Annette NugentWebsite Design: Pixel Design Print Design: CRM Design & Print2012 Activity Report Design: Rada Moneva IT support: Data DirectInsurers: First Ireland Accountants: Byrne Moreau Connell Bankers: Bank of IrelandSolicitors: Eversheds

Registered Offices: DanceHouse, Foley Street, Dublin 1, Ireland Tel: 01 855 8800 E: info@danceireland.ie W: www.danceireland.ie Company Registration: 189346; CHY: 16193