John Scott’s Irish Modern Dance Theatre brings ‘Begin Anywhere’ to Dance Limerick on March 8 & 9

Begin Anywhere, a new work by John Scott and Mel Mercier comes to Dance Limerick this March 8 and 9. by Patricio Cassinoni

John Scott’s Irish modern dance theatre stages 2 spectacular new works in a continuous dance event: Begin Anywhere tours to Dance Limerick on March 8 & 9

John Scott’s Irish modern dance theatre presents two new dance pieces this Spring.

John Scott’s Irish modern dance theatre comes to Dance Limerick to celebrate 33 years in the dance business and stage 2 spectacular new works together in a continuous dance event.

Begin Anywhere will see 3 outstanding dancers perform 4 solos by Merce Cunningham to music by acclaimed composer John King.

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That weaves Mel Mercier’s magical musical vision where 6 dancers and 4 of Ireland’s best contemporary-trad musicians respond to the inspirations of the legendary American choreographer and composer John Cage

These four solos will lead into a new large-scale work, Begin Anywhere – a new work by John Scott and Mel Mercier that makes its world and Irish premieres this February and March, with a St Patrick’s Festival weeklong run in Dublin as part of the 2025 programme. Both pieces work together as one continuous dance event each night.

The four solos by Merce Cunningham presents four stunning solos by Merce Cunningham: Changeling (1957), Solo (1975), and excerpted solos from RainForest (1968) and Travelogue (1977) – but presented in a continuous dance event with music by John King.

The music is by arrangement with the Merce Cunningham Trust, and John King’s music drives this stunning dance showcase where dancers Morgan Amirah Burns, François Malbranque and Boris Charrion who take to the stage for 20 minutes in total and open this night of dance.

Begin Anywhere will be brought to life by 6 outstanding dancers from the USA, France, Poland, Brazil and Ireland, with the dancers in constant motion through the performance space with vigorous, sweeping athleticism contrasting with slower, stately pure movement, sharing the stage with 4 of Ireland’s best musicians with backgrounds ranging from Sean Nós to electronic. All these artists respond to the inspirations of legendary American choreographer Merce Cunningham and composer John Cage, in this new dance and music show.

John Scott, Choreographer, Founder and Creative director, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, said, “I still can’t believe that Irish Modern Dance Theatre has had 33 years of exciting work while touring dance to every part of Ireland, from opera houses to small experimental galleries and going internationally in the US Brazil, France, Scotland, London, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Estonia, Palestine, Turkey. The time has flown and all the work is hard. But it’s always a joy making it.

“I’m writing this following our sold-out standing ovation, the premier of our new work ‘Begin Anywhere’ in New York. Following our run there, we are touring Begin Anywhere and solos by the American Dance genius Merce Cunningham. We can’t wait to bring these exciting works with a large ensemble and live music back home to Ireland.

“Begin Anywhere is our best work so far. It has knockout dancing and a joyous feel somewhere between an Irish Céilí and a rock festival., mixing elements of Irish dancing formations with athletic, virtuosic jumps and fast ensemble dancing.”

Commissioned by Irish Arts Center New York, Begin Anywhere shows Scott and Mercier channelling Cage and Cunningham’s artistic universe and inspirations from Marcel Duchamp to James Joyce.

This new show came about as the award-winning Irish contemporary choreographer, John Scott, who has had extensive dialogue with Merce Cunningham Dance Company across the years, and Tony-nominated composer and sound designer, Mel Mercier came together to create this new work – Mercier was an original musician in John Cage’s Roaratorio (1979), often described as an Irish circus on Finnegan’s Wake, and John Scott had extensive exposure to and dialogue with Merce Cunningham Dance Company over the years and has collaborated with many Cunningham dancers of many generations.

Begin Anywhere is their response to their shared histories and influences taking Cunningham and Cage’s methodologies as a departure point.