2nd October 2024

This August we were proud to bring SHIFT to the stage at BBC Blackstaff Studios, Belfast.  Through dance and music, this immersive event explored young people’s perspectives on the climate crisis, migration, and human resilience.

The impetus for SHIFT came from the DU Dance (NI) Youth Steering Group whose members were outspoken in their opinion that much more needs to be done publicly to address the environmental crisis.   A call to action across the island of Ireland resulted in 70 young people and 16 children from companies in Belfast, Dungannon, Omagh, Laois, Limerick, Moira, Roscommon and Wicklow coming together.  It started with a digital rehearsal period in July, workshops in the community and a seven-day rehearsal programme whilst staying in Stranmillis University College.

The experience of meeting, creating and performing has made a real impact on the lives of everyone involved in the project:

“It’s been an amazing experience to make new friends and bond over something we all care about, everyone has been so sweet and I hope to get to experience something like this again as it has made my summer the best one ever.”

“It was really fun and eye opening.”

“It was really fun to get to work with different people from different places and different dance backgrounds! Thanks so much for the opportunity to do this project.”

“I really enjoyed working with and meeting different people. As a dancer I specifically appreciated the musicians and thought it really added to the experience.”

“It’s been very exciting and inspiring seeing the range of different talents.”

The artistic, creative and collaborative approach of SHIFT was underpinned by an exploration of the climate crisis and feedback from the young participants shows the real impact of the project:

“The visuals of the performance and the text made me more aware of issues involving climate displacement. I thought I was more knowledgeable about this but was surprised to learn more which was great.”

“While I was already very aware of the severity of the climate crisis, this project reinforced the urgency of the situation and how quickly we need to take action.”

Watch a 2 minute film on the background to SHIFT and hear from those involved: HERE

The audiences who came to the three sell-out performances also felt better informed and really inspired to do more. They were awed by how SHIFT brought the climate crisis into sharp focus:

“SHIFT was the most electrifying and moving experience I’ve ever witnessed on examining the climate crisis.” James Orr, Head of Friends of the Earth NI

“It was so moving from start to finish, I shed several tears! The music was beautiful, the dancing so emotive and the visual projections were incredible!” Eve Shearer, Belfast City Council

You can hear more from the audience in this 2 minute film: WHAT DID YOU THINK?

If you have been inspired to DO MORE, check out our guide on sustainability with tips and ideas on how you can make the world a greener, cleaner, fairer and more creative place.  Learn how easy it is to DO MORE!!

SHIFT was presented in partnership with Music Generation Roscommon and Queen’s University and creative direction and choreography was by Robby Graham of Southpaw Dance Company.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council for their core funding and the trusts and foundations who support our on-going programme.

We were delighted to be part of the 35th annual Cinemagic Film Festival when ‘Tough to Calm’ preceded the main billing on September 29th at Queen’s Film Theatre.

This short dance film features the Belfast Boys and is centred on issues the group wanted to explore;  hyperactivity, emotional wellbeing and anxiety.

Deborah Hamilton, Programme Director for the Youth Engagement Projects, said: “The boys and their families had a wonderful time and it was lovely to see their film on a big screen again.”

Many thanks to Cinemagic for inviting us to be part of this great event.

25th July 2024

You are invited to join us on August 21st and 22nd for SHIFT, an immersive event exploring young people’s perspective on the climate crisis, migration, and human resilience through breathtaking dance, music, and visual projections.

Join us as 70 young dancers and musicians from companies across Belfast, Dungannon, Omagh, Laois, Limerick, Moira, Roscommon and Wicklow unite to voice their fears and hopes for the future in an epic dance theatre performance.

This will be a mesmerizing 45-minute showcase of talent and creativity and is suitable for all ages.

We are absolutely delighted to present SHIFT in partnership with Music Generation and Queens University, and with creative direction and choreography by the renowned Robby Graham of Southpaw Dance Company.

Dates & Times:

August 21st: 3pm & 7pm
August 22nd: 1pm

Venue: 

BBC Blackstaff House, 62-66 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BB

Tickets are only £5!  You can book now via Eventbrite: HERE

We have a special rate for groups of 8+.  Just contact info@dudanceni.com or 02890 230877.

See you there!

2nd July 2024

Sharing some of the photos from last month’s grand opening of the Sutemos photography exhibition ‘Seen / Unseen’ which took place in the CRAIC Theatre in Dungannon on 5th June.

Friends and family came along to see the fantastic series of photos of the dancers in motion taken by Jim Corr (seen above with some of the group and Deborah Hamilton, Youth Engagement Director).

Our group, along with dance artist Christine O’Neill, had explored through dance the important topic of what we see on the outside compared to what we don’t see going on in the inside.

We are delighted that so many of the CRAIC Theatre’s audiences and groups – over 2,000 people – had the opportunity to see the exhibition in this busy and vibrant venue.  It will be on display in two other Dungannon venues over the next year.  Watch this space!

28th June 2024

On Saturday there was a full house in The MAC Upper Theatre for the Belfast Boys film premiere.  Family and friends dressed up and walked down the red carpet to join the boys and watch ‘Tough to Be Calm’.

This year’s Belfast Boys programme focused on emotional well-being, hyperactivity and anxiety in young people, matters of real interest to our boys, and their ideas were used as a springboard for the film project.

The film explores how sometimes it is – and sometimes it isn’t – tough to be calm.  Often, whether boys are tough or calm can be viewed negatively so the boys enjoyed developing choreographic material that could be used in ‘tough’, hard edged movement in the urban city centre settings but was also utilised as a contrast in the ‘calmer’ woodland scenes in the leafy idyll of Belvoir Forest. As always, this project took ideas from the energy levels the boys bring to every session.

The audience gave the film glowing reviews.  Much fun was had and MUCH popcorn eaten!

Thank you to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

See below for the photos from the filming day:

19th June 2024

Last week, we celebrated the end of another fruitful year on the Creative Schools programme as partners Blessed Trinity College, Belfast hosted a wonderful Tea Party for all involved, including Newington Day Centre.

This year’s project aim was to show the voices and faces of North Belfast through dance, portrait photography and creative writing.  The photography exhibition, entitled “The Story of Who We Are”, was facilitated by DU Dance (NI) friend Joe Fox and was on show in the school hall for all to see.   This intergenerational project has seen some wonderful friendships between students and the group members from Newington as they shared stories of growing up in this part of the city.

After a genteel cup of tea and tray bake, the peace was disrupted as Sheena and Sean had everyone dancing in their seats!  This was a great reminder of all the group has worked on over the past few months.

The afternoon rounded off with a quiz on North Belfast hosted very professionally by student Grace – who we know has a great future in public speaking!

Thank you to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Education Authority and Urban Villages for their support.

4th June 2024

Over two days in May we delivered our 14th Primary School Dance Festival in partnership with Belvoir Studio Theatre.  Over 200 children from Belmont, Finaghy, Elmgrove, Glenwood, Holy Rosary Primary Schools and Penrhyn Prep took part and we were joined in the audience by the P3 class from nearby Belvoir Park Primary School.

During the morning, all the schools have time to become familiar with the theatre setting and learn the importance of lighting and sound, timing and spacing during their own rehearsal.  Then after much needed refreshments (thanks to a donation from Lidl NI) there is time to enjoy dance-themed crafts and outdoor games.   Before we know it,  it’s SHOWTIME!

Sheena’s fun warm up session (see above) is always popular – everyone has to get involved.  Then it is over to the children.  This year we enjoyed a wide array of dance styles, music and costumes and were mesmerised by hip hop dance and some fabulous Vogueing. On Day 1 we explored the globe with high energy performances from Bollywood and Waka Waka: This time for Africa and on Day 2 we met some ferocious lions, friendly Trolls and even travelled back to the Stone Age!

Once everyone had performed, the children could sit back and watch a uptempo jive from professional performer Mira Rendilheiro, captured below:

Each year we ask the teachers involved why the Primary School Dance Festival is important to them? Hear what they had to say:

To allow children to be creative and express themselves through dance and have fun! 

Dance is an important part of the curriculum and this is a great way to help children develop their skills. 

To increase a love for dancing in primary school aged children and boost confidence skills to perform in front of a crowd. 

We also ask what the legacy is for the children who are involved in the festival:

The children really grew in confidence and enjoyed every minute of it! 

Many were nervous but throughly enjoyed watching the other schools and saw how dance can be fun for all and not just girls!

The children’s confidence grew massively over the weeks that Sheena was in to visit our school and teach them the dance.

Their teamwork skills also progressed and it was a great sense of achievement for them to perform. 

And what about the children? Well, this participant sums it up perfectly:

I can actually dance! This is fun!! 

Thank you to Joe Fox for his wonderful photography.  Thank you to the volunteers who helped at the event, to funders Enkalon and Lidl and, again, to hosts and partners Belvoir Studio Theatre.

On the Saharan Plains with Belmont Primary School’s Lion King.

Glenwood Primary School’s P3 go back to the Stone Age.

Vogueing a la Finaghy Primary School.

Finaghy Primary School’s P1 all went on a ‘Summer Holiday’. Watch out for the shark!

Bollywood vibes with Glenwood Primary School’s P5.

Holy Rosary PS are full of joy as they perform Waka Waka: Time for Africa.

15th May 2024

On Wednesday 5th June, the CRAIC Theatre in Dungannon will see our youth engagement project Sutemos mark the end of a great year of dance with a sharing of work for friends and family and the grand opening of a photography exhibition called ‘Seen / Unseen’.

The group of young people, along with dance artist Christine O’Neill, have been exploring through dance the important topic of what we see on the outside compared to what we don’t see going on in the inside.   Their ideas originated from experiencing first hand that social media can dramatically affect how we perceive the world and crucially how by portraying a bright and vibrant online appearance often we don’t see the real and dark lives behind the screen.

Together with the vast technical support and creative ideas of Jim Corr, a professional photographer who can take much credit for capturing many of DU Dance performances and events, Sutemos hope that the exhibition shows how even in the “unseen”  it is still possible to work together in the darkness.

After the opening in June, the exhibition will go on display in two other Dungannon venues over the next year.

Thank you to supporters Dungannon Youth Resource Centre and funders Children in Need.

If you would like to hear more about Sutemos or the exhibition, please contact deborah@dudanceni.com.

14th May 2024

It was fantastic to see some great coverage of the latest phase of the Creative Schools Programme in the press last week.

This phase of the project has brought older people from Newington Day Centre together with  students from Blessed Trinity College in North Belfast for a series of weekly dance classes facilitated by our own Sheena Kelly and Sean O’Neill.

Watch this short film made by Arts Council of Northern Ireland on the project to hear what a real impact it is having:

29th April 2024

Today is International Dance Day and so it feels apt to reflect back on our annual Unanimous platform held earlier this month.

Unanimous brings together some of the best youth dance groups from across the island of Ireland in a non-competitive arena. This year we were delighted that the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland performed as part of their UK touring schedule. We were also joined by Dublin Youth Dance Company, FYI Dance Club (Wicklow), Laois Youth Dance Ensemble, Youth Action’s Monday Night Club (Belfast), Ohr Dance Company (Laois) and High Points Youth Ballet (Belfast).  Of course our Youth Engagement Programmes Sutemos Youth Dance and Belfast Boys took to the stage too.

It was a fantastic evening compered by members of the Youth Steering Group.   Thank you to everyone involved; the commitment of every single young dancer – and the team behind each group – is just inspiring.

The feedback was really positive and the audience clearly enjoyed the evening:

“Gathering youth from different parts of the UK and Ireland to share their passion for dancing is so much more than just an event.”

“Wonderful to see the planning, practice, creativity, and collaboration that went into it.”

Unanimous continues to demonstrate how dance is a tool for facilitating personal and social development. When asked why youth dance is so important, audience members were keen to share:

“For friendship, expression, being themselves, exercise, and being involved in the arts.”

“It offers so many positive experiences from self expression, feeling good about oneself and getting good at something and feeling pride and new skills.”

“It gives them confidence, strength, ability and comaraderie amongst their peers. Our boy has completely blossomed since beginning with his dance troupe.”

Until next year!

Top left to right: Youth Action’s Monday Night Club; National Youth Dance Company of Scotland; Sutemos

Middle left to right: Dublin Youth Dance Company; Belfast Boys; Ohr Dance Company

Bottom left to right: FYI Dance Club; Laois Youth Dance Ensemble; High Points Ballet

Photo credit: Jim Corr Photography