AN ALL-island dance company, which will be co-run by a renowned dance school in Limerick, has been established by The Arts Council.
The Arts Council has made €2million available for the establishment of a national dance company, which will be led by the Liz Roche Company and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, as well as Maiden Voyage Dance.
The new company will aim to provide a platform for dance, allow for collaboration and development, and will seek to strengthen the existing dance ecosystem, as well as develop the artform and pathways for artists to create work of scale and ambition.
The move comes as part of the Arts Council’s Advancing Dance policy, which set out a vision for the future of the dance sector in Ireland.
A key part of this plan was the establishment of an all-island dance company that would lead to expanded opportunities to engage with dance, as well as extending the reach of Irish dance internationally.
Minister Catherine Martin said that “through its strategic vision and inclusive programming, the company will serve as a catalyst for cultural development and artistic excellence across the island.”
Liz Roche, who will take up the role of artistic director at the new national dance company, added that it will “see the birth of a unique dance ensemble adept in performing invigorating, brave and ground-breaking work from a range of choreographers based across the island and internationally.”
