Dancer from the Dance 2023 – Contemporary Encounters

Choreographers: Magdalena Hylak, Ronan Connor, Rajinder Singh in collaboration with Susan Sentler
Curator: John Scott
Producer: Carla Fazio
Production Manager: Conor O’Connell
Stage Manager: Michaela Conley
Festival Administrator: Lia Bernhardi
Interns: Angelina Hujber, Bryce Reynolds, Emma Winikow

Magdalena Hylak is a dance artist based in the West of Ireland. Born in Poland, she studied cultural studies, including theatre and dance, at University of Wroclaw. She is currently touring nationally and internationally with John Scott-IMDT (IE) and Nacera Belaza (FR), with over 150 performances in 50 venues across 12 countries up to date. Since 2021, she has been developing her own body of work, where she questions the notion of performance. At the core of her research is the movement and sound outside of the question of style/genre or technique. Her dance work can be described as raw, repetitive, highly physical and emanating from within. She is working with the belief that dance is rooted in human existence and that there is no confusion in the public perception of a choreographic work. Magdalena Hylak is the Arts Council of Ireland Dance Artist in Residence for Galway (2023-2024).

Ronan Connor has been dancing since the age of three. He is a professional Irish dancer and performs regularly across the country. Ronan’s unique dance style is credited to his time spent dancing with Scoil Rince Uí Shé.

Rajinder Singh in collaboration with Susan Sentler : Rajinder Singh is a London based Malaysian-Irish movement artist and a choreographer who explores the human body as an interface between space, object and movement, and prepares the ground to orientate the body towards politics, towards its capacity for resistance. Rajinder graduated with a PhD in Engineering (UK) in 1993 and a Master’s in Fine Arts (Singapore) in 2010. His work is part of the national arts collections in both Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Glucksman Museum and the Arts Council of Ireland. He is the artist in residence MA Race, Migration and Decolonial Studies UCD and a member of the migrant artist group Art Nomads. Rajinder Is a recipient of substantial bursaries for his body based movement oriented work from the Arts Council of Ireland. He has been commissioned for new work by various museums and art festivals in Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia. Rajinder teaches as a guest artist/ choreographer at the Irish World Academy, Maynooth University, University College Dublin

“Launched in 2019, Scott’s personal crusade to promote Irish choreographers on the global stage began as a labour of love to challenge limiting, confused, and often negative notions about Irish choreography and identity… the festival’s growth over the past three years has been staggering… Scott’s determination has this year’s festival shining a light on some of our finest choreographers, and dance film makers, positioned as part of a global practice and historic tradition, commanding form and space with the very best. [The Festival suggests] “that Irish choreography, like being Irish, like dance itself, and dance on film, is everything you thought it was and everything you thought it wasn’t. And lots in between you never thought possible or never thought of at all. Shaping identity, and dance, well into the future.” Chris O’Rourke, The Arts Review, July 2021”

Supported by The Arts Council, Dublin City Council, Dance Ireland, Irish Film Institute, Dublin City University, Galway Dance Project, Dance Cork Firkin Crane, Dance Limerick, Fidget Feet, Scottish Government Ireland Office, Culture Ireland

Project Arts Centre is proudly supported by The Arts Council and Dublin City Council.

Please note: This performance contains loud music, strong language, triggering references and some partial nudity.