31st March 2020

This two-year community dance exchange programme with Diyar Arts Theatre, Dar Al-Kalima University, will look at training young artists from Bethlehem and Belfast in Community Dance Theatre and foster the skills necessary for them to work within communities.  The programme will facilitate an exchange of skills and support, build networks and encourage connections and it will see young dance artists from Bethlehem coming to Belfast and local artists going over there.

Watch this space for more details…

This year’s Primary Schools Dance Festival  – which had been due to take place from 13th – 15th May 2020 – has, unfortunately, had to be cancelled. 

We look forward to hosting all of the participating schools at The Crescent Arts Centre in May 2021 when the festival returns.

18th March 2020

Following advice from the Public Health Agency and our duty of care to our Staff, Freelance Artists, young Participants and all your family and friends, and as a number of venues where we run our activities have now closed, we have made the following decision:

All Youth Engagement weekly sessions in Ballymoney, Belfast and Dungannon have now been postponed until further notice.

Our office at the Crescent Arts Centre will be closed as from Thursday 19 March but company core staff will continue to work from home and can be contacted by email or on 07790 236 130.

We wish everyone well and hope you all stay safe.

20th February 2020

Unanimous 2020
The MAC, Belfast
Sunday 5th April 2020
7pm
Tickets: £8 / £6 under-16s (group rates available)
Box office: (028) 9023 5053 / themaclive.com

We are delighted to present the 9th edition of Unanimous – a platform event showcasing great new dance theatre.

This event brings together some of the best youth dance groups from across the island of Ireland with other inspiring companies in a non-competitive arena. 

Expect a powerful and energy-packed event for families, young people and anyone with an interest in dance.

See the exciting youth dancers of tomorrow, here today.

The groups participating this year include:

• Alternative Energies, Ballymoney
• Brona Jackson Youth Dance, Derry/Londonderry
• Connect Youth Dance, Enniskillen
• Creative Steps, CoisCéim Dance Theatre, Dublin
• Dublin Youth Dance Company
• FYI Dance Club, Wicklow
• Inchicore College, Dublin – Solo Performance
• Laois Youth Dance Ensemble
• Limerick Youth Dance Company
• Sutemos, Dungannon
• Youth Action’s Rainbow Factory, Belfast

13th January 2020

We are happy to announce that Rosamond Bennett has taken on this role following our AGM in December.

Sincere thanks to the outgoing chair, Jane Coyle, for all of her support and commitment over the past few years. We are delighted that Jane will remain on the board.

Work is underway for our next short dance film project working with young carers. The upcoming film will feature young people from the Lisnaskea area.

Watch this space for news about filming and the premiere.

This project is delivered in partnership with Barnardo’s NI. Project funding is provided by BBC Children in Need.

12th January 2020

Get dancing in 2020!

Our Youth Engagement Projects (YEPs) are back in action this January with regular workshops that lead to performances!

The groups involve young people aged 7-18 years. No experience is necessary and everyone is welcome.

If you know of a young person who might be interested in joining one of our youth groups please get in touch.

T: 028 9023 0877
E: info@dudanceni.com

Read on for specific details about each group.

Ballymoney

Alternatives
Starting date: 17th January 2020
Weekly on Fridays
4pm-5pm
7-11 years
Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, Ballymoney
Artist: Janie Doherty
£1 subs per session

Alternative Energies
Starting date: Friday 17th January 2020
Weekly on Fridays
5pm-6:30pm
12-18 years
Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, Ballymoney
Artist: Janie Doherty
£1 subs per session

Belfast

Belfast Boys – This group is for boys only
Starting Date: 11th January 2020
Weekly on Saturdays
3:30pm-5.00pm
8½  – 12 years
Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast
Artist: Sean O’Neill
£1 subs per session

Dungannon

Suteminis
Starting Date: 11th January 2020
Weekly on Saturdays
9:30am-10:30am
7-11 years
The Junction, Dungannon
Artist: Sheena Kelly

Sutemos
Starting Date: 15th January 2020
Weekly on Wednesdays
7pm-8:30pm
12-18 years
Dungannon Youth Resource Centre
Artist: Sheena Kelly
£1 subs per session

The worldwide issue of migration, as experienced by a small child, is the subject of a proposed new dance theatre performance piece, which goes into development next month and will see us working in partnership with two other companies, Tinderbox and Powerstone.

Click here for the press release on this project: Little Stranger Press Release

The 2020 edition of Unanimous will take place in The MAC, Belfast, on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April 2020, 7pm.

This year we are hoping that Unanimous will be a residential event that will see groups coming together on Saturday 4th April to work with dancers from the Gary Clarke Company. The company is in Belfast performing Wasteland, the sequel to their award-winning performance, COAL. The young dancers will then have the opportunity to see the company perform that evening and engage in a conversation with Gary himself before preparing the next day for their own performance platform.

Unanimous is a youth dance platform bringing together inspirational young dancers from across the island of Ireland.

Tickets for Unanimous, which promises to be a powerful, energetic event for anyone interested in dance, will be available from February and can be obtained by contacting The MAC box office.

Our Youth Engagement Projects joined forces in December for 2019’s Day of Dance. Held for the first time in Belfast’s magnificent City Hall, this celebration event saw young people from Ballymoney, Belfast and Dungannon take part in a series of energetic workshops and technical rehearsals, where they had fun and worked creatively together. The day culminated in a performance in front of an audience of very appreciative family and friends.

What People Are Saying About Day of Dance 2019

Photo Gallery

Thanks to Belfast City Council for providing the City Hall venue and a tour of the building for the families who came along.

The groups are supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. Belfast Boys has received start-up funding through Belfast City Council – Sports Development and are supported in-kind by The Crescent Arts Centre; Sutemos & Suteminis receive funding from BBC Children in Need and are supported in-kind by Dungannon Youth Resource Centre; Alternative Energies and Alternatives are supported in-kind by Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council.

Northern Visions Video

Relive the Day of Dance with this video produced by Northern Visions (NvTv):