LuailDance

18/08/2026

Here’s a look back at our time in Belfast last month at the Crescent Arts Centre with Maiden Voyage Dance for Resonant Bodies / Shared Sounds - the first part of our Shared-Island residency and creative exchange.

Choreographers Jean Butler, Laura Murphy, Eileen McClory, with composers Fionnuala Fagan-Thiébot, Cora Venus Lunny, Tim Doyle and musicians from the Hard Rain Ensemble came together with the ensemble and guest dancers led by choreographers Jonathan Burrows and Liz Roche and composer Brian Irvine to explore ideas through collaboration, conversation and creative exchange.

The week culminated in two events: a sharing of work in development and a Youth Lab, which brought together a selected group of young dance artists to engage openly and thoughtfully with the creative process.

The second stage of this project will take place in Dublin later this year, and we look forward to seeing how the work continues to evolve.

Thank you to everyone who brought their energy, creativity and commitment to the week in Belfast.

Resonant Bodies / Shared Sounds is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Shared Island Civic Society Fund. Luail is funded by the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Maiden Voyage Dance is principally funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and supported by Belfast City Council.

Music in this video by Tim Doyle.

14/08/2026

This years festival will close with a very special event in St.Patricks Church, Curtlestown!

Join us for a rousing evening of music and dance wherein Edwina Guckian will be joined by a stellar group of traditional dancers and musicians including Seamus Hyland, Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh, Ryan Sheridan, Aoife Duignan and Fiachra Guihan.

This will follow on from our day time event led by Edwina. But, whereas the daytime gathering will be more of an event in the spirit of community participation, this evening event will be a chance to see Edwina and the group of aforementioned dancers and musicians she’s gathered really go for it and shine as performers! 🌟 🌟 🌟

As night falls across the valley, and our festival comes to a close, this will be a musical gathering to remember!

13/08/2026

ACTIVATING ARCHIVE RESIDENCY 2026

Luail – Ireland’s National Dance Company and Irish World Academy at University of Limerick, invites applications from dance artists to the Activating Archive Residency, in partnership with the National Dance Archive of Ireland, the Irish Traditional Music Archive / Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann) and Our Steps.

The residency, which will take place in November-December, will include two weeks of supported access to the National Dance Archive of Ireland in Limerick, as well as rehearsal space at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. The selected artist will also have a week of supported access to the Irish Traditional Music Archive, and online access to "Our Steps, Our Story: An Irish Dance Legacy Archive", courtesy of Our Steps and the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of NYPL The New York Public Library.

🗓️ Activating Archive Residency: November-December 2026
⚠️ Deadline for submissions: Wednesday 9th September 2026 by 5pm GMT.

Artist’s fees, travel, accommodation and per diems in Limerick and Dublin if needed, all provided.

For this opportunity details, application process, timeline, partners and all additional information, click this link: https://luail.ie/opportunity/activating-archive-residency-2026/

📷: Patricio Cassinoni

11/08/2026

04/08/2026

The MA Contemporary Dance Performance at UL has partnered with Luail to offer up to two company placements starting in September 2026.

Following its success last year, this unique placement opportunity allows MA students to spend up to one semester embedded with the company, integrating professional experience into their postgraduate studies.

If interested, click this link: https://luail.ie/opportunity/ma-placement-dance-performance-at-university-of-limerick/

Auditions for the placements with Luail will take place in Dublin during the week beginning 31 August. Applicants will be shortlisted in advance of this process.

For further information, please contact Course Director, Dr Jenny Roche [email protected]

Photo credit: Luca Truffarelli

16/07/2026

The most awaited moment of Dance Limerick summer is here!

We are really excited to announce ‘Trial’, the 2026 production by Mufutau Yusuf

A coven of witches gathers for a trial. They have been summoned to defend themselves, yet no accusation is ever revealed. The crime is absent, forgotten, or perhaps it never existed at all. Still, they proceed, constructing their innocence through testimony, gesture, and ritual, creating meaning in the absence of certainty.

A ceremonial, ritualistic piece that explores femininity, community and care as intertwined ways of gathering and relating. Through collective gestures and shared presence, it approaches ritual as a space where care, solidarity, and transformation can emerge, not through resolution, but through the act of coming together itself.

📅 Thurs 6 August | 7.30 pm | Dance Limerick Performance Space
📅 Fri 7 August | 2 pm | Dance Limerick
📅 Fri 7 August | 7.30 pm | Dance Limerick
📅 Sat 8 August | 4 pm | DanceHouse, Dublin

🎫 Tickets on sale at dancelimerick.ie (link in bio )

CREDITS
Choreography – Mufutau Yusuf
Performed by Sarah Flavelle, Áine Kidney, Alison O’Shea, Mayara Pessanha and Jyoti Soni
Rehearsal director Lucia Kickham Dance Artist
Step Up curator – Mary Wycherley
Composer - Tom Lane
Project management – Ella Daly & Gill Nic Conmara
Costume design - Ella Daly
Production Management – Seán Murray
Production Assistant – Liz O’Connell
Photography – Maurice Gunning
Community Engagement Producer - Katy Hewison
Design and Communications - Leonor Miralles
Dance Limerick Director - Mary Wycherley

Step Up Dance Project is a partnership between the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Dance Limerick, the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick and Dance Ireland. The Step Up Placement Programme is in partnership with LuailDance - Ireland’s National Dance Company.