Dublin Dance Festival
William Forsythe’s "Three Atmospheric Studies"
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| Country and Region | Ireland — Dublin |
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| Type of Festival | Dance |
| Location of Festival | Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Festival Address Information | Dublin Dance Festival |
| Festival Description | The Dublin International Dance Festival will be offering audiences at Dublin Dance Festival 2008 a spectacular range of work from around the globe, including several pieces from Ireland. The festival has been programmed by new Artistic Programme Director Laurie Uprichard to display contemporary dance as a vital art form that uses a range of approaches to explore current issues, personal and global concerns. Some of the performances such as William Forsythe’s Three Atmospheric Studies will make a direct political statement while other performances will be seen and experienced as simply dance—a statement that there is a language of the body that can be read and understood on a different plane. Three Atmospheric Studies at the Abbey Theatre will headline the festival. This performance draws its inspiration from a 16th century painting of the crucifixion and a recent photo from the war in the Middle East. It can be read through the prism of its commentary on the political, whether from a personal or macro point of view. William Forsythe has achieved critical acclaim as an American working internationally for over 30 years and is recognised as one of the world’s foremost choreographers. His choreographic thinking has engaged with and contributed to the most significant international artistic currents of our time, and together with his companies’ performances has won overwhelming audience acclaim and the most prestigious awards the field has to offer. He has also been chosen as Choreographer Of The Year several times by the international critics’ survey, and has an honorary doctorate from the Juilliard School in New York. The festival will also act as a platform for Irish choreographers to bring their works to national and international audiences. These artists include choreographer Colin Dunne who will premiere a collaboration with sound designer Fionan De Barra that features live electronic manipulation of the rhythms created with his taps. Colin Dunne is probably best known for his live and video performances in Riverdance - The Show, and for his own critically acclaimed production of Dancing on Dangerous Ground, for which he co-produced, choreographed and starred in with Jean Butler. Colin is currently in the running for a Spotlight Award for his performances with Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre. Another Irish choreographer, Jenny Roche, will present her festival-commissioned work comprising three solos by Rosemary Butcher, John Jasperse and Jodi Melnick. Jenny Roche became an Artist in Residence with IDFI in 2006, when the festival made a commitment to supporting her work, allied to her doctoral research, for a three year period. Jenny is an independent contemporary dancer and has worked with all major dance companies in Ireland, as well as working abroad with Janet Smith and Dancers, English National Opera (UK), Les Carnets Bagouet (France), Christina Gaigg (Austria) and De Vlaamse Opera (Belgium). Jenny co-founded Rex Levitates Dance Company and performed with the company at festivals in China, France, Cyprus and the UK. She has recently been appointed to the position of Dance Advisor to the Arts Council. Laurie Uprichard, who left her post as Executive Director of the Danspace Project to take up this new role, and who has also been named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, has this to say of the forthcoming festival: “The Dublin Dance Festival 2008 will give local, national, and international audiences the opportunity to see a great range of work from 11 countries, including several from Ireland. The artists’ work runs the full spectrum from abstract to narrative, from humorous to profound (sometimes within the same piece), from personal to political and back again. We anticipate these 16 days as a fantastic opportunity to make introductions and make new friends. We also hope to provide opportunities for everyone and anyone to get up and dance!” The Festival is supported by The Arts Council, the Goethe-Institut Dublin, and by RTÉ. |
| Festival Dates | April 17 - May 3, 2008 |
| Festival Links |
Festival Events:
Program 2008:
- THE FORSYTHE COMPANY THREE ATMOSPHERIC STUDIES, Germany
Dates: April 17-19, at 8:00pm and 3:00pm
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: €30/€20 (concessions)
Venue: The Abbey Theatre
- Three Atmospheric Studies is choreographer William Forsythe’s most explicit and political work: a great performance, simultaneously furious and reflective, on one of the central conflicts of our time. He succeeds in creating imposing images of war, purely by means of the human body, generating choreography and direction out of the fatal inner energies of conflict (Peter Michalzik). Three Atmospheric Studies is brought to you in association with ROLEX.
- IOANA MONA POPOVICI & NANOHACH PORTRAIT, Romania/Czech Republic
Dates: April 21-22, at 8:00pm
Duration: 50 minutes
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: Project Arts Centre – Space Upstairs
- This commission for Nanohach was awarded the Sazka Prize for Discovery in Dance in 2007. Portrait presents several stories about guilt, lack of forgiveness and blameful relationships. The performers explore notions of refuge, morality, hidden obsessions, children’s games and loneliness in a sinister playground scene. Ioana Mona Popovici is an emerging force in the world of contemporary dance.
- BETONTANC WRESTLING DOSTOIEVSKY, Slovenia
Dates: April 22-23, at 9:00pm
Duration: 65 minutes
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: Ss Michael and John’s – Upstairs
- Wrestling Dostoievsky is politically engaged, high-velocity physical theatre at its best. Based on Crime and Punishment and featuring stunning, high-energy performances from a cast of six young dancers, this piece confronts the audience with a breathtaking reality.
- JENNY ROCHE SOLO3, Ireland
Dates: April 24-25, at 8:00pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: Project Arts Centre – Space Upstairs
- Current DDF Artist in Residence Jenny Roche presents a series of three solo pieces in this evening of dance, performing the work of renowned American choreographers John Jasperse and Jodi Melnick and Liz Roche from Ireland. This creative collaboration has resulted in a series of poignant and intensely personal works.
- REYKJAVIK DANCE HUNDAHEPPNI (A STROKE OF LUCK) & CRAZY IN LOVE WITH MR. PERFECT, Iceland
Dates: April 25-27, at 9:00pm
Duration: 80 minutes (15 min interval)
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: Sts. Michael and John’s – Upstairs
- Two duets about love, life and relationships by emerging Icelandic choreographers Halla Ólafsdóttir and Steinunn Kettilsdóttir. A Stroke of Luck sees two women struggling to maintain just the right image behind preparations for the perfect dinner party. Crazy in Love with Mr. Perfect asks whether the love we aspire to find is real or just a fairytale?
- COLIN DUNNE OUT OF TIME, Ireland
Dates: April 26-28, at 8:00pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: Project Arts Centre – Space Upstairs
- Out of Time is a solo performance by Colin Dunne, playfully renegotiating his relationship with the tradition that has shaped his life. Known for his innovation, Dunne pushes the boundaries of traditional Irish dance to present an intimate, personal and provocative perspective on the art form.
- BALLET PRELJOCAJ EMPTY MOVES (PARTS I & II), France
Dates: April 28-29, at 8:00pm
Duration: 63 minutes
Tickets €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: O’Reilly Theatre
- The beauty of this choreography is that it is free from narrative; instead the dancers’ inexorable flow of movement imposes an enjoyment of their existence. This meditative quartet is set to a tape of John Cage’s recitation of his sound-score “Empty Words”, based on the writings of Henry David Thoreau. Cage’s pace is slow, distorting the words so their literal sense is lost – while the audience jeers, Cage reads on, undeterred, and the dancers keep dancing.
- SARAH SKAGGS DANCES FOR AIRPORTS, USA
Dates: April 29-30/May 1, at 7:00pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Tickets: €15/€12 (concessions)
Venue: Project Arts Centre – Cube
- Dances for Airports is a minimalist solo inspired by and performed to Brian Eno’s Music for Airports, in an ambient dense haze created by lighting designer David Ferri that envelopes both audience and performers. In this unstable environment, Skaggs opens up a dialogue and space to reflect on our post 9/11 culture of disaster.
- KITT JOHNSON X-ACT RANKEFOD, Denmark
Dates: April 29-30, at 8:00pm
Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: Project Arts Centre – Space Upstairs
- Rankefod is an evolutionary solo performance celebrating the origin of the species by award-winning Danish choreographer Kitt Johnson. This is the story of our evolution analysed with one fascinating body and set to a soundscape of computer-manipulated nature and animal sounds.
- RISA JAROSLOW W/DUBLIN’S CRASH ENSEMBLE RESIST/SURRENDER, USA/Ireland
Dates: May 1-2, at 8:00pm
Duration: 50 minutes (no interval)
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: O’Reilly Theatre
- Resist/Surrender exposes our assumptions about maleness with explosive physicality and startling intimacy. A barrage of male voices and driving rock rhythms dominate the original score composed by Scott Johnson. Jaroslow’s exquisite company dancers are joined by a moving “chorus” of men drawn from the Dublin community.
- TERE O’CONNOR DANCE RAMMED EARTH, USA
Dates: May 1-3, at 9:00pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: €20/€17 (concessions)
Venue: Sts. Michael & John’s – Upstairs
- Dancers move around you, between you and behind you so that you can feel the rush of air their movements create. Rammed Earth investigates the deep impact that architecture has on both art and existence, as O’Connor builds dance and movement from what is provided by the physical environment of this site-specific work.
- GIRL JONAH THIS TWO, UK
Dates: May 2, at 1:00pm, 5:00pm, and 7:30pm
Duration: 25 minutes
Tickets: €15/€12 (concessions)
Venue: Project Arts Centre – Cube - GIRL JONAH SHE WAS A KNIFE THROWER’S ASSISTANT
Dates: May 3, at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 5:00pm
Duration: 35 minutes
Tickets: €15/€12 (concessions)
Venue: Project Arts Centre – Cube
- As two individuals, the dancers have many differences (one Australian, one British, one disabled, one non-disabled) but together they collaborate to explore both their similarities and differences. These intimate duets are executed in girl jonah’s unique style as they embark on a fascinating journey to discover how their bodies work.
- POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS
Dublin Dance Festival will also present a series of moderated post-show discussions with artists and performers throughout the festival.
SPECIAL EVENTS 2008:
- RTÉ Dance on the Box
Date: April 28–May 2
Venue: RTÉ Television
- The Arts Council and RTÉ are calling on artists in film and dance to combine their talents and collaborate on the creation of four short dance films which will be premiered on RTÉ television during the 2008 Dublin Dance Festival. This scheme aims to provide an opportunity for collaborations between choreographers and film makers, to continue to develop a culture of dance on film in Ireland and to build audiences for dance-based work on television. Details of the films to be shown will be announced later in March. Screenings will also take place in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar from 10pm on May 2 & 3.
- BUMPER TO BUMPER
Date: April 19, at 7:00pm-10:00pm (Gates open 6:30 pm)
Venue: Grand Canal Square
Tickets are FREE but must be pre-booked through the box office at the chq building on April 2nd and 3rd, or DDF box office from April 4th (see below).
- Rounding off the programme is a chance for audiences to show Dublin their moves for the first ever DDF headphone disco, Bumper to Bumper. This is a chance to strut your silent stuff on the festival’s opening weekend, with Phantom 105.2’s Sinéad Ní Mhórdha and Jim Carroll going head to head on the decks for this nifty noiseless night out! Just be sure to bring your headphones and FM radio device so you can tune in.
WORKSHOPS 2008:
- DAVID GORDON & AIN GORDON MOVE TO QUESTIONS
Dates: April 17-19, at 12:00 noon
Duration: 5 hours
Fee: €50/€30 (concession)
Venue: DanceHouse
- Move To Question is a unique opportunity to take part in a workshop by movement and theatre artists Ain Gordon and David Gordon. This workshop will examine the creative process: choices we make, don’t make and don’t realise we’re making.
- GIRL JONAH INTRODUCING GIRL JONAH
Date: May 4, at 1:00pm
Duration: 4 hours
Fee: 50/30 euro (concession)
Venue: DanceHouse
- This workshop will give you an insight into the choreographic tools applied by these practitioners in creating their work, as they share with you their working process and teach you some of the company’s rep. This workshop is brought to you in association with Arts & Disability Ireland.
- DANCE STEP (CLASS)
Date: April 19-20, at 11:30am
Venue: Jackie Skelly Fitness, Clarendon Street
- NYC fitness legend Pall Gale makes his Irish debut with Dance Step – a unique aerobics class that combines basic step moves with his formal dance training and musical theatre background. This is a unique opportunity to attend a chorus line class under the guidance of the larger-than-life Pall Gale. The class is open to all abilities, no previous dance training required. For more information about taking part in Dance Step visit http://www.dublindancefestival.ie, or contact Jackie Skelly Fitness at + 353 (1) 677 0040.
Other Sources:
Articles and Reviews:
- Brave New World. Christine Madden, Anja Musiat, and Peter Crawley provide critical views of the first International Dance Festival Ireland. (Irish Theatre Magazine, Vol.III, Issue 12, 2002)
http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/ - Arts Abroad; A Festival Gives Modern Dance a Toehold in Ireland. By Brian Lavery (New York Times, June 12, 2002)
http://www.nytimes.com - Broadening the palette of dance in Ireland The first International Dance Festival Ireland left an indelible mark, writes Michael Seaver, and has set new challenges for itself and the wider dance community (Irish Times, May 28, 2002)
http://www.ireland.com/ A passion for dance. Ever since she was a child growing up in Trinidad and eagerly attending ballet classes, Catherine Nunes (38) has had a -passion- for dance. (Irish Times, March 3, 2001)
http://www.ireland.com/Video:
Dance: Merce Cunningham’s ‘Biped’ and ‘Summerspace’ The world’s greatest living choreographer, 83-year-old Merce Cunningham opened the first ever International Dance Festival Ireland with performances of Biped and Summerspace at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. (RTE Television, May 14, 2002)
http://www.rte.ie/tv/theview/archive/20020514.html
Practical Info:
Venues:
- Project Arts Centre
http://www.project.ie/ - SS Michael and John
Essex Street West
Dublin 2 Ireland - The Abbey
http://www.abbeytheatre.ie - The Ark
http://www.ark.ie/culture/html/home.html The O’Reilly
http://www.oreillytheatre.com/Tickets:
Prices
Prices range from $15 - 35- Booking
By Phone: (353) 1-881-9614
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