Open to adults (18 – 80+)

No prior dance or theatre experience necessary

Come and take part in this lively taster dance-theatre workshop as part of a new performance project Stepping the Land led by Kildare Dance Artist in Residence Philippa Donnellan in collaboration with Theatre Artist Ruth Lehane.

The workshop will begin with an energising physical warm-up to stretch the body and awaken the senses. Digging into the themes of Philippa’s residency – our connection to the natural world and relationship to the land – we’ll playfully explore using dance, music, drama and text to create new scenes and moving sequences. Be inspired, jump in and discover more about creating dance theatre!

After the workshop you can find out how to join a special performance group – to create choreography and perform in Stepping the Land. 

Stepping the Land project runs from 20 March until 12 May 2024, and will culminate in public performances by participants on a local farm in Kildare.

Stepping the Land is supported by The Arts Council, Kildare County Council Arts Service and Riverbank Arts Centre.

Duration: 2 hours

Photo by Anthony Griffin 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE IN NEWBRIDGE TOWN HALL 

PHILIPPA DONNELLAN          

KILDARE DANCE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Philippa Donnellan is a Contemporary Dance choreographer based in Dublin. Originally from the UK, she has created dance theatre with diverse communities in varied settings across Ireland and worked with many organisations including CoisCéim Dance Theatre as BROADREACH Director (2006 to 2020), and Dance Limerick as DL.BRIDGE public engagement Curator. In 2021 in association with Dance Limerick, she co-directed with Ruth Lehane, WOMEN & WORK, THE CONTRACT– an intergenerational project with local women that culminated in a site-specific performance in Limerick Chambers for Culture Night 21. In 2022 with dance artist Ailish Claffey, she created DANCE BUALADH BOS a performance project with/for older-age communities, supported by Kildare County Council’s Creative Ireland Award, Creative Places Athy and ArtsandHealth.ie. Philippa is currently developing a new multi-media performance piece TAKING FLIGHT at Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre.

RUTH LEHANE

GUEST THEATRE ARTIST

Ruth Lehane is an award-winning actress, writer, theatre maker and movement director.  Trained at Trinity College, Dublin, at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq, Paris and at The Theatre Resource Centre, Toronto, Canada, Ruth is a highly skilled practitioner influenced by the disciplines of Lecoq and Theatre of Clown. She has considerable experience in artistic collaboration and creation of new performance work with different communities of age and experience across the island of Ireland.  Ruth has worked with a range of companies both nationally and internationally including: The Abbey, Dublin; The Lyric, Belfast; Barabbas; Blue Raincoat; The Ark; Big Telly; The Belgrade Theatre; Cahoots NI; Tinderbox and Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre Co.  Ruth is the founder of Fourth Leaf Theatre Company, a group committed to making theatre that provokes challenges, inspires and delights audiences.