Libbi Rose is a 23 year old Belfast born dancer who is currently studying Contemporary Dance at the Irish World Academy in Limerick. She participated in Echo Echo’s Contact Improvisation Festival in 2019 and since has formed a great relationship with the company and the Echo Echo Ensemble. Over the Summer of 2021, Libbi has been visiting Echo Echo on a regular basis, and the company have been supporting her exploration of movement and dance through the offer of studio time and space, in the form of a mini-residency.
We asked Libbi a bit about her background in movement:
“My introduction to dance came through exploring free movement and not through technique. Sometimes I struggle with communicating and voicing my thoughts. Dancing has helped me to open up and connect with others. I see it as a therapy. There are infinite possibilities within movement and this keeps it exciting and a constant learning process for me.”
“Over the past 7 years I have been afforded the opportunity to assist my cousin in teaching dance to young children during summer dance camps. It was great to watch the young people move increasingly freely and creatively as they became more confident over time. I definitely learnt a lot from this experience. Through attending formal dance classes I have been introduced to contemporary, jazz and ballet techniques and principles and in 2019 I was very happy to have the chance to partake in the Global Waters Project, with Maria Sinnecker.
When visiting Berlin I took part in a dance-theatre project and was instinctively drawn towards a dancing possibility. The approach to dance and performance I encountered there was so different from anything I had previously experienced! I am very happy to be now studying contemporary dance at the Irish World Academy in Limerick. My understanding of how and why my body moves and of dancing in general has been evolving and growing through varied experiences, and my passion increasing with each of them. To me dance is like a tree! The more I learn, the more intricate and detailed the branches become, every branch being unique and interconnected.”
We asked Libbi about her experience of Echo Echo:
“Attending the Contact Improvisation Festival 2019 in Echo Echo Dance Studios in Derry was an unforgettable experience, I learnt so much. It greatly expanded my understanding and outlook of dance, as well as connecting me with a vibrant community of people. When I first entered Echo Echo’s doors, I instantly felt welcome and inspired. The building itself alongside the people there provide a buzzy, yet open atmosphere. A perfect storm for creating work. Dance is valued as both an art form and a tool for bringing people together. I look forward to spending more time here!”
