Dance artists with intellectual disabilities take to the floor.
The Mid West Region’s largest dance floor space, Daghda Limerick at the former St John’s Church recently played host to a performance by members of the Limerick City-based Patterns Dance Collective.
Funded by the Mid West Regional Authority (MWRA) as part of the EU Innovate, Interreg IVB Atlantic Area project, ‘The Essence of Love’ event saw Daughters of Charity Service Limerick service users put on a contemporary dance performance for friends, family members, carers and members of the general public.
‘The Essence of Love’ event also saw the local contemporary dance artists interact with professional dancers with Down’s Syndrome from the UK-based Culture Device Dance Project and professional artists from the Spanish city of Avilés.
The Patterns Dance Collective, which is due to take up residence at Dominic Street shortly, consists of contemporary dance artists with intellectual disabilities and has enjoyed a long and successful history of performing locally, nationally and internationally. Under the direction of Angie Smalis, the group has previously been in residency at the Hunt Museum where the dance artists have created solo, duet and group works inspired by the permanent and current exhibitions of the Museum.
“Patterns Dance Collective is all about integrating the dancers into the community and about them having a sense of belonging in that they are performing and showing the world what they are capable of,” explained Angie Smalis. She added: “The professional dance space at Daghda Space served as a perfect location for our dancers to demonstrate what they are capable of and how contemporary dance has enabled them to express themselves through art.”
Ms. Smalis continued: “The Spanish artists who participated in the event brought with them an exhibition that involved collaboration among different forms of art. Initially the artist paints directly onto the human body. Then, a section of the body is photographed for the final image. Music is then composed to go with the art, and choreography is then added. At the end of the event, the Spanish artists demonstrated their work, which was very motivating for the members group of our group to see the professional dancers up close and personal.”
Donal Sherlock of the Daughters of Charity Service Limerick (DOC), the umbrella organisation for Patterns Dance Collective, complemented the organisers of the event which he said “showcased the talent and broadened the experiences” of members of the Patterns Dance Collective.
He added: “The Daughters of Charity Service is very supportive of Patterns Dance Collective and what the group brings to the lives of those involved. The group underpins our own Person Centred Approach to creating opportunities that allow each service user to reach their full potential.”
Majella O’Brien, EU Project Officer for the MWRA said ‘The Essence of Love’ event helped to showcase the talents of Patterns Dance Collective artists to a wider audience.
She explained that the recent event formed part of the MWRA’s ongoing participation in the EU Innovate, Interreg IVB Atlantic Area project, which has brought about numerous cultural exchanges between The Cultural Municipality of Aviles and Ireland’s Mid-West Region.
Ms.O’Brien continued: “Seven artists from this Region travelled to Spain in November 2012 to participate in a weekend of cultural events. In a second exchange visit organised in December 2012, also co-funded by the Innovate project, the MWRA hosted four artists from Aviles who travelled to Limerick to meet with representatives from the Arts community, including Limerick School of Art & Design, Limerick City Gallery and Limerick Printmakers. A further exchange took place in November 2013, when a group from the Mid West Region travelled to Avilés to participate in La Noche Negra. This latest exchange is particularly timely considering it has taken place as Limerick celebrates its status as Ireland’s First National City of Culture.”
For more on the project visit www.mwra.ie or to find out more about the Patterns Dance Collective Performance seewww.facebook.com/PatternsDanceCollective.
