The 2022 Edition of the Dublin Dance Festival is opening tomorrow, May 17, and it’s ready to take us on a boundary-breaking and thought-provoking journey. Curated by Artistic Director Jazmin Chiodi, this year’s programme is a collection of extraordinary works from Africa, Brazil, Europe and Japan that celebrate diversity in all its facets and the power of the collective.
There is such a variety of performances happening at the 2022 Dublin Dance Festival, that we thought we’d give you a taste of what you can expect to see in the various locations these fantastic artists are taking over.
The Abbey Theatre
This famous Dublin stage will host the latest creation by Brazilian choreographer Lia Rodrigues: Encantado. An ensemble of eleven performers will dance songs of the Guarani people that call to recognise endangered ancestral territories and invite the audience to explore our connection to the earth.
Fallen From Heaven is a radical celebration of womanhood brought to us by award-winning flamenco star Rocío Molina. By fusing the intensity of flamenco with contemporary feminist aesthetics, this performance explores different incarnations of the feminine archetype.
Jan Martens and the GRIP & Dance On Ensemble are bringing to the Abbey stage a production that embraces diverse voices with an atypical dance ensemble that ranges in age from 17 to 70. They took their title from the words of Chinese President Xi Jumping in relation to the right to protest and demonstrate: “Any attempt will end in crushed bodied and shuttered bones“.
Encantado, from Brazilian choreographer Lia Rodrigues, invites us to tame our fears, to return to a natural source of strength to rediscover the power of the collective.
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— DublinDanceFestival (@DublinDanceFest) May 15, 2022
Project Art Centre
Under the direction of Amala Dianor, a constellation of talents from Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso will present Siguifin, a collective African dance that celebrates individuality and the power of connection.
In Graces, Italian choreographer Silvia Gribaudi turns human imperfections into an artform, questioning gender stereotypes with wit and tenderness.
Emerging from the urgency of current times, A Call To You is a compelling new work by Catherine Young that explores human rights through the lens of the human body.
The film installation Somewhere in the Body by Áine Stapleton recounts the life of Lucia Joyce, a talented visual artist, dancer and the daughter of famous Irish writer James Joyce.
Last but not least, the Project Arts Centre will also be hosting the premiere of Dances Like a Bomb by the award-winning Junk Ensemble, a performance that celebrates the strength and beauty of mature bodies and unpacks the limits of love and care.
The Ark cultural centre
Club Origami from Japanese choreographer Takeshi Matsumoto is an interactive dance show for children that invites audiences to explore new ways of playing and moving.
Outdoor performances
Dance artist Gillies Viandier will stage his outdoor performance Street Pantone on the grounds of Christchurch Cathedral, exploring the history and identity of heritage sites and urban landscapes.
At the Wood Quay Amphitheatre, the DanceScapes programme, co-curated by Tobi Omoteso, will come alive to present powerful personal stories in an unforgettable dance experience.
In the same place during the final weekend, The Shake by Laura Murphy will offer the audience an immersive participatory performance to celebrate dance.
The 2022 edition of the Dublin Dance Festival will also offer the “Pro Intensive” series of workshops to give dancers and dance students the chance to learn from Takeshi Matsumoto, Amala Dianor and members of Lia Rodrigues Company and Dance On Ensemble.
Moreover, the Originate – Performance Showcase will be offering a powerful platform for new works by artists based in Ireland.
The festival will also feature Big Pulse Visiting Artist Programme, which will include performances, valuable discussions and key figures in dance in Ireland.
For tickets and more detailed information about the festival, visit their website here.
Just like its previous versions, this year’s Dublin Dance Festival promises an exciting and thought-provoking show. Artistic Director Jazmin Chiodi said about the programme: “My hope is that it offers us all a unique moment to be together and that it brings dance to the hearts of our people, and our people to the heart of our city.”
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