31st March 2020

That’s a wrap! Filming has concluded for our latest short dance film working with young carers.

The film features incredible young people from the Fermanagh area and was shot by Corish Productions across two days in February on Devenish Island and in Fivemiletown.

This project is delivered in partnership with Barnardo’s NI and is funded by BBC Children in Need.

Here’s a quick roundup of what our Youth Engagement Projects have been up to since January:

• Our facilitators for Alternative Energies and Belfast Boys put on taster sessions in primary and secondary schools in Ballymoney and Belfast;
• Sutemos had a fantastic experience in a workshop led by Maiden Voyage Dance’s Sandy Cuthbert and Vasiliki Stasinaki. Sutemos then had a great time watching Maiden Voyage’s double bill of ‘Brink’ and ‘The Here Trio’;
• NVTV aired a programme featuring our Day of Dance. Missed it live? You can catch it on Vimeo here.

What’s coming up…

Our Youth Engagement Projects may be paused for the time being but we’ve got a special project in the works! All of the dancers are coming together remotely to make a fun dance video. Make sure you’re following us on social media so you don’t miss it.

Unanimous 2020 was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 4^th & Sunday 5^th April in The MAC, Belfast. We are hoping to reschedule later in the year. Watch this space for further information.

Unanimous brings together some of the best youth dance groups from across the island of Ireland in a non-competitive arena.

After two windswept days filming in February, we have completed the first edit of our 5^th short dance film, this time with young carers from the Fermanagh area. 

Coming up, as soon as we can, will be:

• The group screening and then the public premiere of the 5^th short dance film which has been filmed by Corish Productions;
• The delivery of the 6^th film project – this time featuring Barnardo’s NI Young Carers Council and young people from across Northern Ireland;
• A celebratory end-of-project jamboree where all films will be screened as part of a live performance.

This project is delivered in partnership with Barnardo’s NI and is funded by BBC Children in Need. The Jamboree has been part-funded by National Lottery #CelebrateNationalLottery25.

We are delighted to be partnering with Sadler’s Wells and The National Trust on a large-scale project set to take place on Divis & Black Mountain later this year.  The project, which is called Nature Underfoot, will involve mass participatory dance taking place in outdoor spaces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and will culminate in a live, one-day performance event.

More information to follow and if you’re interested in getting involved be sure to email us at info@dudanceni.com.

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.