Dance Limerick Announces Exciting Opportunities for Dancers and Artists This Autumn

Dance Limerick has announced its autumn programme, with an open call for the Step Up Dance Project and the group will also host the Open Futures Masterclass series. Light Moves is thrilled to welcome renowned digital and theatre artists Andrew Quinn and MHz to Limerick this Autumn

Dance Limerick unveils autumn programme with two major professional development initiatives for the Irish dance scene

This Autumn, Dance Limerick has announced an open call for the 15th edition of the Step Up Dance Project, a programme designed for early-career dance professionals, and this season it is also hosting the Open Futures Masterclass series, bringing renowned digital and theatre artists to Limerick.

Step Up celebrates its 15th edition in 2025 and they are delighted to offer an extended 8-week programme this year that will include six weeks of training and choreographic process with Philip Connaughton at Dance Limerick and the Irish World Academy, as well as two full additional weeks in the Moving in Collaboration International Intensive with Luail – Ireland’s National Dance Company.

Step Up is looking for up to five dancers born or resident in Ireland who graduated in 2022 or since then. You’re also eligible if your professional dancing career has started since 2022 but you have come through other training routes that didn’t involve graduation. This is an opportunity for dancers in the early stages of their professional career. If you are only starting your career or graduating in 2025 you are not eligible. Previous Step Up participants who match the criteria above are eligible to apply again.

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Curated by Fearghus Ó Conchúir with Dance Limerick Director Mary Wycherley and delivered under the guidance of Rehearsal Director, Lucia Kickham, the programme is focused on developing artists as performers while recognising the creativity necessary in the performer’s work.

As part of this year’s edition, dancers will have the chance to train with guest teachers, such as Finola Cronin and Mufutau Yusuf, who will provide them with a range of physical practices as well as a chance to hear from dance artists working in Ireland about how they sustain their practice.

The five selected dancers will receive a weekly fee of €650 over 8 weeks, along with accommodation for the duration of the programme. Participants must be available on an exclusive basis to take advantage of Step Up.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 25 November at 12 pm IST.

Masterclasses at Dance Limerick this Autumn

Light Moves is thrilled to welcome renowned digital and theatre artists Andrew Quinn and MHz to Limerick this Autumn for their Open Futures Masterclass series taking place at Dance Limerick.

The Masterclasses are aimed at professional artists working in the areas of dance, performance, technology, music, and production. They were developed as a result of Studio Light Moves – Open Futures commitment to investing in and nurturing creative process and inquiry in dance, technology and screen-based dance practices.

The first masterclass in the series sees computer graphics artist and musician Andrew Quinn leading a Real-time interactivity, sound & visuals workshop from Monday 20th – Tuesday 21st October.

Andrew has worked on digital effects for films such as The Matrix, Tomb Raider, Dark City, Nirvana and Vajont. He now specialises in video installations for multi-screen and immersive environments, digital sets for interactive dance productions, opera and contemporary music using TouchDesigner.

MHz (Megahertz) is a visual theatre and scenography company by creative duo Bex Anson and Dav Bernard who have spent over a decade devising performances for theatres, big tops, music festivals and DIY spaces. They will lead the second workshop called TERRAPOLIS – Movement & scenography  on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th November. The company’s work is rooted in site-specific and immersive productions presented at music festivals and city locations to audiences from varied age groups and backgrounds.

The series is made possible by Studio Light Moves – Open Futures and its partners, with a subsidised fee to promote access to the training. This year’s professional development programme is curated by Laura Murphy and Jürgen Simpson.

Both masterclasses are €30 and can be booked on Dance Limerick’s website