Dance

Leitrim Dance Festival

curated by Edwina Guckian

01 — 6 April 2024

The Leitrim Dance Festival returns to The Dock and venues across Carrick-on-Shannon from 1—6 April 2024.

Leitrim Dance Festival promotes engagement with percussive dance and promotes pathways for emerging and/or professional percussive dancers, locally, nationally and internationally. The festival aims to develop a keener understanding of the relationship between dancer and musician where the experience of the dance goes hand in hand with the experience of the music.

For the full programme visit: leitrimdanceproject.com

6-Day Festival Ticket

€250/€230 concession
1—6 April 2024
Access to all events included in this ticket excluding competitors entry fee for Sean Stíl Competition on Saturday. Book tickets here.

Minseach by Sibéal Davitt

€18/€16 concession
Tuesday 2 April, 7.30pm at The Dock Arts Centre
Book tickets here.

Minseach (she-goat) is a sean-nós dancer’s journey through time, from being a cailín álainn to a full blown she-goat. Join one-time reality TV star Sibéal Davitt as she dances her unique mix of contemporary and traditional styles to Las Vegas and back again. A love letter to the Irish language, Minseach is about being seen; through success and failure, through ageing and injury, through past and present. It’s about messing up, dressing up, stepping up – and embracing your inner goat.

Old Style Irish Dance Workshop with Mary McGuigan

€20/€18 concession
Thursday 4 April, 3.30—5.30pm at The Dock Arts Centre
Intermediate/Advanced Level. Book tickets here.

Dance Dialects Concert

€18/€16 concession
Thursday 4 April, 7.30pm at The Dock Arts Centre
An acoustic concert at the Dock where local and visiting artists share their new work in dance and music collaborations. Book tickets here.

Dance Dialect 2024 will feature new works by Yaelle Azoulay, Jonathann Rousseau and Dave Munnelly; Aneta Dortova and Dave Munnelly; West Kerry set dancers; Áirc Damhsa; Jesse Smith and Seosamh Ó Neachtain; Vincent Woods; Siobhán Butler; Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Edwina Guckian; Mary McGuiggan; and Aidan Vaughan.

Céilí Craiceáilte — FREE

Friday 5 April, 8—11pm at St. Mary’s Hall
A Community Céilí with one mighty big band. Dances will be called and taught on the night. All ages welcome! The local Country Markets women will sell their homemade produce at the half time break the half time break. Book tickets here.

Community Dance Workshop — FREE

Saturday 6 April, 2—4pm at St. Mary’s Hall
Community Dance with Québécois dancers Yaelle Azoulay and Jonathan Rosseau with Mayo musician David Munnelly. For beginners to advanced. All ages welcome! Book tickets here.

Sean Stíl Competition Entry — FREE

Saturday 6 April, 8pm in Cryan’s Teach Ceoil
First prize €1000 sponsored by Cryan’s

We’ve organised another competition. But this is a special one! There'll be no judges.

The Sean Stíl Competition is open to all dancers over 18 years of age. Dancers Not Chancers: Dancers must have experience and be competent in their performance. Many mighty musicians will be on hand but you are welcome to bring your own along too. All styles of traditional Irish dance welcome. We want this to be a celebration of all dancers, of all ages, of all styles from the 4 provinces of Ireland.

How will we pick a winner?
We've eliminated judges and a competitive atmosphere. This is all about enjoyment. Everyone that dances will put their name in a hat as they get up to dance and when the final dancer has stepped it out a name will be drawn from the hat for €1000. Book here.

Leitrim Dance Project is managed by a committee consisting of Director of Áirc Damhsa and dancer, Edwina Guckian; dancer, Michael O’Rourke; dancer and choreographer, Liam Scanlon; and Leitrim County Council Arts Officer, Phillip Delamere.

Leitrim Dance Festival

curated by Edwina Guckian

The Leitrim Dance Festival returns to The Dock and venues across Carrick-on-Shannon from 1—6 April 2024.

6-Day Festival Ticket

Minseach by Sibéal Davitt

Old Style Irish Dance Workshop with Mary McGuigan

Dance Dialects Concert

Céilí Craiceáilte — FREE

Community Dance Workshop — FREE

Sean Stíl Competition Entry — FREE

Dance Dialects

Acoustic concert

Minseach

by Sibéal Davitt

Céilí Craiceáilte

with Leitrim Dance Festival