Ahead of next month’s launch of Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement that will take place in November, Echo Echo Dance is today announcing a new programme to connect with artists, audiences and venues around the island of Ireland.
The All-Island Festival Outreach tour will visit Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Dingle, Galway and Carrick-on-Shannon during the first half of September. Led by Echo Echo Artistic Director Steve Batts and Associate Artistic Director Ayesha Mailey, a participative workshop programme in partnership with some of the country’s key dance venues will give an insight into the company’s unique movement practice and highlight ways for artists working in all disciplines to take part in the sixth edition of the international dance festival in Derry in November.
Company Manager, Ailbe Beirne, explained:
“This is the third year we will produce the all-island workshop programme and so far it has been a brilliant way to help us get the message out about what we do and how we can support artists to be part of Echo Echo Festival. We are inviting participants to apply for at least four bursaries that we have secured thanks to funding from the Irish government. The bursary scheme has been really successful so far in terms of making new connections and bringing more visitors to the city and into Echo Echo Studios.”
Dublin based dance artist Aliina Lindroos who participated in the 2017 programme said:
“I loved the wholesome and caring feeling of the whole festival. I appreciated the inclusivity; it is actually a quite rare thing. I also loved the fact we got to work and learn with artists whose performances we saw. It made both the performances and the classes more meaningful and resourceful.”
Cork based dance artist Chloé de-Buyl-Pisco who took part in the programme in 2016 said:
“Many many thanks for your overall innovative approaches to spreading dance across Ireland, and coming directly to us as professional practitioners throughout Ireland, with your workshop / info tour. Very innovative and effective.”
Echo Echo Festival All-Island Tour and Bursary Scheme is supported by the ‘Co-operation with Northern Ireland’ funding scheme administered by the Department of Culture Heritage and Gaeltacht in Ireland. The scheme aims to promote North-South tourism, co-operation and joint initiatives in the cultural sector.
Programme 2018
- Monday 3rd September 2pm-5pm | Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast
- Monday 10th September 6pm-9pm | Firkin Crane, Cork
- Tuesday 11th September 6pm-9pm | Dingle – venue tbc
- Thursday 13th September 2pm-5pm | DanceHouse, Dublin
- Saturday 15th September 1pm-4pm | St Nicholas’ School Hall, Galway
- Sunday 16th September 3pm-6pm | The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon
With special thanks to all of the partner venues and staff for their support.
For more information visit: www.echoechodance.com.
Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company 