Echo Echo End of Year Review

As the year comes to an end we would like to thank everyone who has supported Echo Echo during 2017!

It has been another challenging year for the arts in this part of the world: the absence of a regional government and apparent lack of political interest in the arts is deeply concerning; wider economic and political developments have a direct effect on Echo Echo and the people and organisations we work with; further arts funding cuts to the minuscule arts budget here have been extremely difficult to manage, and made both short-term and longer-term planning even more difficult.

Despite this the company has had another successful year in terms of the quality and diversity of our artistic programme, continuing to develop the new Studios and Festival, and supporting local, national and international artists in different ways. Some selected photo highlights from the past year are listed below, but we could have chosen from dozens of other collaborations, performances and events that took place!

This work would not be possible without the support of our audiences and participants, collaborating artists and organisations, funders and partners – thank you for all that you do for the company.

Looking forward to 2018 we have some very interesting projects already confirmed including the first Echo Echo Contact Improvisation Festival in May; Echo Echo Ensemble tour to Sweden in September; Body Wisdom in the Community – a project in partnership with local community groups in Derry and Strabane; research projects in collaboration with Leiden University, Queen’s University and Warwick University; continued local participation projects including Donemana primary schools and Pennyburn Youth Club; and a sixth edition of Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement in November 2018 – to name but a few!

Finally, a big thank you to all of our current and outgoing Board members, to our core staff team, and to the Echo Echo Ensemble who put incredible creative energy, time and devotion into everything we do throughout the year.

Best wishes from all the team for a Happy Christmas and see you in 2018!

Ailbe Beirne, Company Manager

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Kelly Quigley, Ayesha Mailey and Esther Alleyne in The Cove – Tour of Ireland including 12 performances in Derry, Belfast, Galway, Thurles, Limerick, Dublin.

Kelly Quigley in Lost in Frost – Mayor’s Christmas Event performances in Derry and Strabane

Old Bob’s Tale by Steve Batts at Tocht Festival, Tralee, April 2017

Tonya Sheina at TIDES Launch Event, Ebrington – pic by Mickey Rooney

Waldorf and Cannon album launch at Echo Echo Studios, January 2017 – pic by Mickey Rooney

LAVA-Dansproduktion workshop at Echo Echo Festival – image by Living Witness

Magical performances of Fallen from the Moon by Mini-a-tour at Echo Echo Festival

Youth Dance Workshop with Voices Dance at Echo Echo Festival

Velvet Alibi close Echo Echo Festival in style, November 2017

Beaver Farm Workshops for Kids and Adults (Russia), summer 2017 – image by Alexey Dybovskiy

Bubble Workshop with Karen Cassidy at Echo Echo Summer Scheme

This is How we Fly in concert at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, November 2017

Inna Aslamova from Belarus at Echo Echo Festival Open Call

Company Development Week at Echo Echo Studios, September 2017

Zoe Ramsey in LUXe Sound of Light Festival, December 2017 (pic courtesy What’s On Derry Strabane)

Sunset from Echo Echo Studios