Performance May 21st 8pm!

Join us for an evening of contemporary dance in Wicklow!  

As part of Bealtaine 2011 throughout May we'll be working with professional dancers and older residents in Tinahely, County Wicklow at the Courthouse Arts Centre http://www.tinahely-courthouse.ie/

On May 21st we're holding an all day workshop and an evening performance.  We have a lovely evening planned of new pieces performed by the community alongside professionals as well as company repertoire.  Come join us and see what we've been up to!

When:  May 21st 8pm
Where:  Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, County Wicklow
Cost:  10 euro
Bookings:  (0)402 38529 9.30am to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday or email bookings@tinahely-courthouse.ie

Seating is limited so book quickly!  

On street parking available and wheelchair accessible.
This project is generously supported by the Courthouse & Wicklow County Council

A little light relief from royal weddings...

Happy International Dance Day 2011!

A video from expandance's three founding ladies to you, the four or five people who regularly read this blog :D

Mucho grá,
Rachel, Alicia and Laurie



More on UNESCO International Dance Day - the wikipedia article is here.

p.s. don't forget! Alicia performs her new solo '12 Steps' at the gorgeous Backstage Theatre in Longford, Ireland today at 4pm as part of LD Dance Fest 2011.

Rock Om teaser is online :)

Check it!  See for yourself how we Rocked SITE Fest 2011.  Thanks to editor virtuoso Lauren Auricchio Rock Om is now online.  Choreographed by Rachel Wynne, with Hunt Edward Parr, Krista Racho-Jansen, Clare Cook, Erica Frankel and Megan Kennedy, if this doesn't get you going, well....

A special shout out to Bushwick Starr Theatre, NYC and Arts in Bushwick, you guys Rock! 

Stay tuned for the next performance :)

- Alicia

Next performance Friday 29th April

We're delighted to be presenting the next installment of '12 Steps', Alicia's solo about her process in dance-making. This piece has been performed at Riverbank Arts Centre, Kildare and at the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow, and we're happy to be bringing it to LD Dance Fest at the Backstage Theatre on Friday.

Over the last couple of months we've developed the text and movement of this piece via Skype rehearsals between Alicia (on Donard Mountain in Wicklow) and Rachel (in New York City) and that process alone has been enlightening and hugely beneficial to both of us as dance artists. Come see the result on April 29th, 4pm at the Backstage Theatre, Longford, Ireland.

Please note! LD Dance Fest ALWAYS sells out, so get your tickets in advance. Remember our piece 'Sephiroth / The Forest Piece' for this festival a few years ago? Remember how packed it was? :)

Thanks to Anica Louw at Shawbrook and Fred Walshe for their support of this piece.
Photo credit Mary Hutton.

Thank you Wicklow County Council!

Dear Wicklow County Council,

Thank you for supporting us with a bursary this spring to continue developing our work and our technique. Because of you, we've been able to take on two new and incredibly talented professional dancers - Kathleen Doherty and Ailish Claffey - to engage in studio research with us and on a new project at The Courthouse Arts Centre, http://www.tinahely-courthouse.ie/ in May. By supporting us in this way, you are not only providing the space and time for three professionals to collaborate, develop and expand as artists, you are highlighting the importance of contemporary dance in rural Ireland and enabling dance communities to grow.

You make us feel all warm and fluffy inside.

Alicia, Laurie & Rachel

Teen Dance Day at Riverbank

Our Teen Dance Day at Riverbank Arts Centre was a huge success! The participants amazed me with their creativity and energy.  By day's end they had taken part in a technique class, learned the expandance approach to improvisation, choreographed their own movement phrases, created a dance piece, contributed to their own tech rehearsal, and performed their own work on the Riverbank stage!  WELL DONE to you all and a big THANK YOU to Riverbank Arts Centre for their continued support.  -Alicia

  

Teen Dance Day this Sunday 13th March

We're back with a high-energy contemporary dance & performance workshop for TEENS at Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, County Kildare this Sunday 13th March.

Dance technique, choreography, and performance all in one day!  Over the course of the workshop participants will choreograph a dance and get a chance to perform their choreography on the Riverbank stage  for family and friends.

All levels welcome - this workshop is nearly full, quick book book! Plus, we were in the Leinster Leader yesterday so those last couple of spots will most likely fill up fast.

Family and friends please join us at 5:45pm for a showing of a piece created by the participants over the course of the day. 

When:  Sunday March 13th
Time:  10am to 6pm
Cost: 20 euro
Bookings:  Ring 045 448 330 or  http://www.riverbank.ie/workshops/expandance-teen-dance-day


Note: Wear comfortable loose fitting clothing & bring a packed lunch.


Check out the below photos of past workshops!

See you on Sunday! Thanks to Riverbank Arts Centre for their support of this, and our other workshops.
- Alicia

Rock Om - the final rehearsal shots

Our performance of Rock Om at Bushwick Starr yesterday went wonderfully. Thank you to the fabulous dancers - Krista Racho-Jansen, Hunt Parr, Clare Cook, Erica Frankel, and Megan Kennedy. Thanks to Damon at Bushwick Starr, to Sarah Lowndes and Chloe Bass at Arts in Bushwick / SITE Fest, and to all the lovely people who braved the rain and came to see the show. 

We'll have video up on YouTube / Vimeo soon, but for now - here are a few rehearsal shots taken down the street at Anna Sperber's studio just an hour before we went on stage. - Rachel

Rock Om Technical rehearsal this morning

Some pictures from Bushwick Starr this morning. Thanks to Damon for helping us create some great lights. Looking forward to seeing you all this Sunday!