7th April 2016

It’s been a busy five years for Sutemos Youth Dance since their very first performance in 2011 to now two thriving youth dance groups with young people from nine different cultural backgrounds. This Dungannon based youth engagement group has grown in  strength and confidence performing at international youth dance events in Germany, Dublin and Belfast to guest performances on the BBC National Lottery Show in 2015 and at the recent Northern Ireland Assembly’s St Patrick’s Concert at Stormont March 2016.

Their light shows no signs of slowing down either as the group celebrated their five year anniversary with a special performance Twilight at the brand new events space on the Hill of the O’Neill, Dungannon, Saturday 9th April. Bringing together new dance work by Sutemos, choreography from the young dancers themselves and a special debut performance of the newly established Suteminis, a group for 8-11 year olds, the evening presented something new, rich and hugely unique for the people of Dungannon. 

22nd March 2016

Some inspiring young dancers from the north and south of Ireland, took to the stage at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast on March 20th, for Unanimous 2016.

Groups performing – Alternative Energies, Company B, Core Dance Company, ID Dance, Sixth Sense and Sutemos Youth Dance.

With support from

24th February 2016

We’ve been featured in the ‘Why Choose Belfast’ campaign.

9th February 2016

Mags Byrne, Artistic Director, is in Ethiopia with Royston Maldoom and Tamara McLorg to consult on artistic projects led by former members of Adunga Community Dance Theatre – Adulalem Amare and Meseret Yirga. Andualem and Meseret are now running community dance programmes in Addis Ababa and Adama with some of the poorest and most marginalised people.

With Royston, Mags first went to Ethiopia in 1996 for a performance project with street and working children that was meant to last for three weeks. The performance project became a training programme for those young people, which eventually developed into Adugna Community Dance Theatre, three weeks became now 20 years of working and consulting for community dance in Ethiopia.

“It is wonderful to be back in Ethiopia where Royston Maldoom and I started a training programme for street and working children 20 years ago.” Says Mags “Those children are now professional dancers, choreographers and teachers working all over the world and running dance companies and schools for the poorest and most needy in Addis Ababa and Nazareth. I am so, so proud of them and so happy to still be a part of their ongoing development”.

Keep up to date with Mags in Ethiopia by following us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DUDanceNI 

11th January 2016

DU Dance were delighted to have been nominated for the Allianz Arts & Business NI 2016 Community Prize for its work over the last eight years in Northern Ireland working at a community level to engage young people in dance. Artistic Director Mags Byrne stated:

“I believe dance has the potential to be life changing. It helps to build self-esteem and social connections and allows young people to present themselves in a positive light”

We are also pleased to be entering into a new sponsorship with Belfast Harbour who won the Business of the Year Award.

It was great to sit back and take a seat in the audience for the awards ceremony, watch some brilliant performances and celebrate the achievements of our arts community, supported and recognised also by the business community.

14th December 2015

DU Dance (NI) have published their Annual Report 2014-2015.

The report details the organisational structure, programmes of work and key statistics that reflect the impact of DU Dance (NI)’s work in 2014-2015.

This year’s report takes an infographic format making it more accessible and engaging.

It is available to read here: Annual Report 2014-2015

9th October 2015

Youth Focus Dungannon

An evening for young people from the Dungannon area, from many diverse cultures, to question what separates them and to meet key agencies as they celebrate their diversity. A brilliant, engaging and informative event thanks to Dungannon Youth Resource Centre.

9th September 2015

On Saturday evening the youth dance groups took to the stage at the Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey as DU Dance presented some of the best youth dance from Austria, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and the National Youth Groups from Scotland.

“It is really exciting to be able to welcome some of the professional dancers of the future to Northern Ireland. Almost all are coming here for the first time and our own young dancers will get to meet and network with them. I hope that wherever people go in Belfast City over the weekend, 18th – 20th September, dance will be in evidence”. Mags Byrne, DU Dance (NI) Artistic Director. 

On Saturday over 300 local dancers, aged 8 to 80 years took over the city of Belfast for an afternoon with everything from Tango at train stops to Hip Hop in empty shops, in association with somewhereto which helps 16-25 year olds access free space and support to make activities happen and so breathe life into our cities. The finale, an unexpected mass dance celebration, with live music from Beyond Skin, in the grounds of City Hall thrilled the Saturday shoppers, locals and tourists alike.

8th September 2015