17th May 2013

A big thanks to the Dublin Youth Dance Company for organising the 13th Irish Youth Dance Festival which took place on 29th & 30th June 2013 at the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire.  Two of our young dancers took part in the European Choreographic Project alongside other young dancers from the Dublin Youth Dance Company, Malmo Youth Dance Company, Sweden and L’Academie des Arts, France whilst eight of our dancers – four from Sutemos, in Dungannon and four from the Merge Cru, Belfast performed a new piece “Outer Edge” especially devised for the festival.

Other groups that took part included Scottish companies Fusion Youth Dance Company and Bound by Dance Company, and the Diverse Space Youth Dance Theatre from Austin, USA.

This was a fantastic opportunity for the young people that will enable them to make connections which could open up doors for them in the future.

15th April 2013

Merge Cru have been working together for about 18 months at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast focusing on developing young people’s breakdance/hip-hop and contemporary dance skills exploring many styles and techniques within both genres creating unique dance theatre performances. The group presented a new piece of work “Common Ground” choreographed by Paul Allen and the group for the Unanimous event – representing divides on many different levels, moving from cohesion with the group lost in music and the freedom of dance to one person breaking away from the group, battle, resolution and reaching out to each other.

The group is open to young people over 13 years who have an interest in dance and performance. The group is now closed for the Summer but do get in touch if you’re interested in joining.

30th October 2012

The group continues to grow in size and strength with performances at Ranfurly House Arts & Visitor Centre showcasing dance in Dungannon, a Volunteer Recognition Event, the Unanimous event in Belfast and some challenging outreach performances in health and social care settings in the Dungannon area for the Arts Care – Arts & Older People’s Arts Festival.

The group is currently taking a Summer break but if you are from the Dungannon and South Tyrone area and are interested in joining the group, please get in contact with DU Dance.

Young people are at the heart of the DU Dance’s work and to ensure the company benefits regularly from the direct input of young people, DU Dance’s first Youth Advisory Committee was recently formed. The group will advise the company on all matters related to young people, and report to the DU Dance board. The 8 members are drawn from three different DU Dance projects, Sutemos, Merge and Alternative Energies.

5th April 2012

Artistic Director, Mags Byrne, has been delivering training programmes all over the world. In July 2014 Mags returned again to South Africa working with 6 young dance trainees in the Magagula Heights Township, near Johannesburg whilst providing workshops for up to 40 children . This project, facilitated by Caritas Vienna, is based in the Ithuba school and carries on from work done there over the last few years.

Mags has also worked in Palestine, in May 2013 delivering a ten day workshop for dance students culminating in a new performance. This follows on from her visit in 2012 facilitated by YANTE.

The projects in Palestine and South Africa are ongoing as part of the DU Dance programme of work Opening the Spectrum.

In 2012 Mags worked alongside composer Matt Baker and director Richard Wolfenden-Brown, to deliver a two-day workshop with professional artists for Stagecoach, in Frankfurt, Germany.

10th April 0201

Unanimous is a new inspiring and exciting platform event for youth dance showcasing new work from youth dance groups in Northern Ireland. Thanks to all the performers at our first event in March including Merge Cru, Skill2Style, Speicius- Lithuanian Folk Dancers and Sutemos and special guests the Bad Taste Cru.

Our next platform event will take place in December 2013.

DU Dance would like to acknowledge the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council Development and Outreach programme and the Community Relations Council for the Merge Cru with thanks also to the Crescent Arts Centre for their continuing support.