NEW Belfast Boys group for younger boys

7th September 2021

We are delighted to launch a new Belfast Boys group for younger boys aged 7 – 11 years, in addition to our current group aged 12 – 16 years.   Building on the success and popularity of our programme, weekly sessions start soon on Saturday 18th September. No experience is necessary and everyone welcome!

• 10 sessions from 18th Sept – 4th Dec 2021 (incl. 2 week Halloween break)
• 2pm – 3pm on Saturdays
• ONLY £5 membership fee; £1 subs per session
• The group is led by dance artist Sean O’Neill
• Meet at Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, Belfast BT7 1NH

Please spread the word!

If you would like to find out more about Belfast Boys and how to join, please call us or email info@dudanceni.com

Popping up at #BelfastMaritimeWeekender

3rd September 2021

We are thrilled to set sail this Saturday 4th September and dip our toes in the water at the Belfast Maritime Weekender. It’s been a while!

Young people from our youth engagement projects, Sutemos in Dungannon and Belfast Boys, will be entertaining the crowds with their short devised performance pieces at 11:30, 12:00 and 12:30. Watch out for the drunken sailors!

You can find us at the Buoys on the Maritime Mile so come along and say hello! We will also be sharing exciting news about our new sessions starting this month in Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Dungannon and Belfast.

New Team Member

25th June 2021

We’re delighted to welcome to the team Morag Stuart as Marketing Co-ordinator. Morag has over twenty years marketing experience across a broad spectrum of organisations and since 2007 within the arts in Northern Ireland. This includes Wheelworks, Young at Art Events, National Museums Northern Ireland and as a volunteer with the Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts & Film Festival. She has worked collaboratively with a number of artists, events and partners such as Belfast City Council, Cathedral Quarter Trust, Island Arts Centre, Barnardo’s and QFT.

Morag will bring a wealth of professional knowledge and experience to this new role with a genuine passion for the arts in Northern Ireland.

Belfast to Bethlehem

Watch this space for exciting developments in this project which is being delivered with Dar Al-Kalima University and Diyar Arts Theatre, Bethlehem. The original plans for a community dance training programme have developed into an accredited university course that will start in January 2022.

Little Stranger Project

This inspiring piece will develop further over the summer with the creation of a short film to be screened at the EastSide Arts Festival on the 14th August. In partnership with Tinderbox Theatre Company and Powerstone Productions, 15 young dancers from Sutemos and Suteminis will take part in two weekends of rehearsals and filming to create a short film around teh impact of migration on child refugees. The event will also involve a panel discussion after the film screening.

Find out more about this event and others during EastSide Arts Festival right here.

Choreographic Commissions

We are delighted to announce six choreographic commissions thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland- Stability and Renewal funds. This opportunity was offered to young people aged 16 and over taking part in the company’s Youth Engagement Programme. With the help of the group leaders fiver young people were chosen. The sixth commission will facilitate six of the older members of Belfast Boys to develop their skills at a choreographic weekend. The work will conclude on the 13th August in Dungannon with an informal showing of the dance pieces created.

Summer Sessions

We’re gearing up for two summer weeks in Dungannon and Belfast.

Suteminis & Sutemos Summer Sessions will take place at the Events Space at the Hill of the O’Neill & Ranfurly Arts Centre in Dungannon from the 9th-13th August 2021. The summer week in partnership with Mid Ulster District Council will run for Primary School age 7-11 years from 10am-12pm and for Secondary school age 12-18 years from 1pm-3pm . The week will include learning different dance styles, creating your very own dances, a special circus workshop with Belfast Circus School and a sharing for parents at the end of the week. Click here to see this group in action: Video link

To book your space click here

Belfast Boys Summer Sessions will kick off from the 18th-22nd August 2021 in Belfast with Primary School Age from 7-11 years from 10am-12pm and Secondary school 12-16 years from 1pm-3pm.

Click here to see this group in action: Video link

To book your space: Belfast Boys 7-11 years or Belfast Boys 12-16 years

Both summer schemes are open to newcomers and no experience is necessary.

To find out more and how to book your space email us at info@dudanceni.com.

Dance floor for Ethiopia arrives.

As part of our ongoing support of community artists in Ethiopia, we spoke with Harlequin, the specialised dance floor company, and they donated a dance floor for the Meseret Yirga Dance Centre. We then had to transport the floor to Addis Ababa….easier said than done. Well, it arrived and it is a much-needed addition to Ethiopia’s first purpose-built contemporary dance studio.

For more information: Meseret Yirga Studio

Intergenerational Project.

As part of the Creative School’s project, we had the pleasure of working with students from St Genevieve’s High School in West Belfast on a short intergenerational project. The students were involved in two workshops with Alan Clarke learning Jive Dancing as well as band session and some filming. The film with messages from the students and a copy of the 1940’s film, Casablanca, will be sent on to Kilwee Care Home for the residents to enjoy.

Talks & Seminars.

Artistic Director Mags Byrne took part in the Diversity & the Arts panel discussion recorded on the 21st April. The discussion which involved four other arts organisations was arranged by the Arts Officer in Ards and North Down. Mags also spoke about her experience working with children at the European Community Dance Network seminar on the 21st June alongside our partners in Austria and Germany.