Gathering Two - Dancer From The Dance Festival of Irish Choreography 2026

Dancer from the Dance Festival of Irish Choreography is a series of mixed programmes or gatherings of Irish and Irish-identifying choreographers, crossing borders of ethnicity, dance practices, generations, genders and dance styles from Contemporary to sean nós to classical ballet. Now in its 8th year, the festival features over 22 choreographers performing short exciting dance works celebrating the strength and diversity of the Irish identity and the Irish dance landscape.

Stray Choreography and performance: Safire Hakiri and Yves Lorrhan

STRAY is a partner dance duet exploring the act of sharing a kiss as a metaphor for moments in our lives that call us to transform through moments of resistance or immobility. Blending contemporary dance, tango and Brazilian zouk, acrobatics, and physical theatre, STRAY embodies our meandering search for novel, 21st-Century human connections: hybrid communities, fluid identities, and most importantly the wisdom and willingness to carry each other’s weight.

Signals Choreography Fiona Quilligan, Music Fergus Johnston

Dominic Harrison, Niamh O’flannagain, Jiyeong Kim, Mirela Romano

Fiona Quilligan writes: “I created Signals in the 1990s, inspired by Kandinsky’s paintings and commissioned a violin score by Fergus Johnston. Drawing from Obstinate, Extended, Winter, Reciprocal Accord, and Bright Picture, bodies moved through diagonal trajectories, distilled silences, and interrupted gestures, counterpointed by frenetic movement within a surreal landscape. I am delighted to reimagine the work with Dominic Harrison, Niamh O’flannagain, Jiyeong Kim, and Mirela Romano, whose energy brings renewed vitality to the piece”

Tumble Choreography and performance: Ashley Chen (Company Kashyl)

A choreographic stream of consciousness, TUMBLE traces Ashley Chen’s dance career through bodily memory — elegant, grounded, yet always on the edge of falling.

Sibling Choreographer: Zoë Ashe Browne, dancers Christina Guieb and Toon Theunissen

This duet explores the singular bond of siblinghood through themes of play, tethering, and deep mutual understanding. Cyclical and intimate in nature, the work reflects the innate ways we love, challenge, and recognise one another beyond words

Stepping Solo Choreography and performance by Ronan Connor

Sean Nós solo by Dancer/Choreographer Ronan Connor

BBOYALEON Solo Choreography and performance by BBOYLEON (Leon Dwyer)

A powerful solo by BBOYALEON, the first-ever Irish Bboy to qualify in any Olympic qualifier,

multiple award winner of Redbull BC, known for his explosive moves and smooth transitions, Leon has made a significant mark on the international breaking scene.

Partners include Dance Ireland, Project Arts Centre, IFI Irish Film Institute, Dublin City Council, Galway Dance and Millenium, Année européenne des Normands