by Rose Rushe
DANCE Limerick and Limerick Arts Office have appointed contemporary dance artist Megan Kennedy to be Limerick’s first dance artist-in-residence. A director of Dance Ireland, she is at the John’s Square company until June 2015, during which time “she will create a new collaborative dance work, engage with local dance artists and initiatives and teach professional classes”.
Auditions will begin in October for a new work to platform next year.
The Dance Artist Residency scheme is a partnership between the artist, Dance Limerick and Limerick City and County Council and funded by The Arts Council. The residency is based at Daghdha Space’s impressive facilities.
Kennedy herself is co-artistic director of the award-winning junk ensemble in Dublin, and has toured internationally with junk ensemble and other theatre and dance production companies.
“Megan is a highly creative and innovative dancer and choreographer who was selected for this role following an open competitive application process,” commented Dance Limerick director, Jenny Traynor. “This scheme presents the opportunity for a professional dance artist to work creatively and collaboratively within the local community to develop inspiring new work”.
Dr Pippa Little, assistant arts officer with Limerick City and County Council, made clear her welcome: “We look forward to supporting Megan in exploring her brief over the coming months, as she develops a new collaborative dance work for the spring.
“She brings a new energy and vitality to the dance sector in Limerick City and County and will develop new audiences for dance. The possibilities for her project will only become apparent when she undertakes the research phase, exploring Limerick, meeting people and engaging with their experiences”.
Medan Kennedy tells us she is “looking forward to engaging with different arts and health sectors in Limerick and collaborating with dance artists, creators and designers in the city.
“We will be holding auditions in October for professional dancers for a collaborative dance piece which will be created and performed in 2015 as part of this residency”.
Details will be posted on www.dancelimerick.ie
