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EVERY LITTLE STEP... the Rhythm of Hope

Dance Theatre of Ireland (IRL) & Soul Steps (USA)

Every Little Step... performance excerpts from Joyce Soho, NYC

Every Little Step ... slide show

Every Little Step...Further Information

APAP, NYC Showcase performances Jan 13 & 14 2013

Stam-pede Sun 13 Jan, 3pm Symphony Space
Dance Mix, Sun 13 Jan, 10:30pm, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre

Focus 2013 Mon 14 Jan, 4:30pm, New York City Centre, Studio 4

Ch: Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick and Maxine Lyle

Dancers: Aurelia Michael, Robert Connor, Kyle V. Martin , Bridget Madden, Tess McHugh, Marc Stevenson, Andrew Vickers

“They are the music as well as the dance…a joyful… enunciation   of possibility and positivity…  …the high-jinks gymnastics of contemporary dance moves punctuated with breakdance spins….leave with a smile” The Irish Times

"seamless in its fusion... a fantastic show... inspiring" - NYC Dance Blog

" It shines in floor-skimming speed… percussive embroidery... the aural image of unity is persuasive and rousing." - The New York Times

"ebullient performances and choreography" - Dance  NYC

 

    NATIONAL TOUR IRELAND 2012

Nov 2           Draíocht, Blanchardstown, 8pm  

Nov 6th–9th  Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, 8pm                                               School Matinees Nov 8th & 9th, 12pm

Nov 11          Workshop, DTI Centre for Dance, 3.30pm

Nov 13          Hawk’s Well, Sligo, 8pm

Nov 14          Workshop, Irish World Academy, UL 4pm

Nov 15          Workshop, Irish World Academy, UL 10am                                                    Performance, Irish World Academy, UL 8pm

Nov 17          Síamsa Tire, Tralee, 8pm

Nov 18          The Firkin Crane Theatre, Cork, 8pm

Nov 21          Monkstown Educate Together

Nov 22          Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, 8pm 

Nov 23          Axis, Ballymun, 8pm

The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof                                     Barbara Kingsolver

Dance Theatre of Ireland (DTI) are pleased to premiere Every Little Step… the Rhythm of Hope, a collaboration with Soul Steps Company (NYC) combining African-American Stepping, Irish and urban rhythms, modern dance and storytelling. With dancers from both companies, it draws on exhilarating body percussion, sheer human energy and touches on the ways people sustain in good times and bad..

An evolutionary and experimental meeting (the first of its kind), the new work is all about rhythm and a physical musicality - using stories and call/response - which drives the performance. Clever, joyous, personal and highly energized. Outreach and audience engagement are uniquely part of the work of both Companies and the art form of Stepping. Performances and workshops in unique settings will accompany Every Little Step... along the way.

The creation and premiere of Every Little Step in November in New York was supported by Culture Ireland's Imagine Ireland, a year-long season of Irish arts in America. The National Tour of Every Little Step Every Little Step... the Rhythm of Hope is made possible by the support of the Arts Council of Ireland Touring & Dissemination Programme, the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and supporters on FundIt.

For more information see our creations page Every Little Step... the Rhythm of Hope  

Every Little Step... Info & Biographies

Every Little Step... Third Steps, rehearsals excerpts 3

Every Little Step... Second Steps, rehearsals excerpts 2

Every Little Step... First Steps, rehearsals excerpts

Every Little Step... Informal showing September 28th - slide show

Touring to USA in 2012

BLOCK PARTY!               
Ch. Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick

View BLOCK PARTY trailer
View Block Party Slideshow 2012, USA

View Block Party Audiences, 2012 USA

Flint Hills International Children's Festival

May 29- June 3, 2012  

Ordway Centre for the Performing Arts

St. Paul, Minnesota (USA)

Block Party! a playful performance for Public Spaces Touring in 2012

Merging the worlds of dance, music and architecture, Dance Theatre of Ireland have toured Block Party! to rave receptions from Festivals and audiences all over Europe, Ireland and Korea. Roving dancers and musicians, flying blocks, vanishing structures, instant architecture - it’s a BLOCK PARTY! Five dazzling dancers, plus explosive percussion played live by Brian Fleming & friends, perform this movable feast for the eyes and the senses, for the adult and the child (in you). Over 23,000 people in 6 countries and 31 venues have seen Block Party! and its still growing!

This Outdoor Spectacle will immerse you in a vibrant world of colour and play with giant-sized Toy Blocks, creating designs more clever than a Rubik’s Cube on pointe. A performance for the whole family, don't miss it this summer!

Choreographed by DTI Artistic Directors Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick. Innovative sculptor Andrew Clancy created the Blocks and dancers include: Adam Murphy, Khyle Eccles, Cosimo De Tommaso, Kathleen Doherty and Jessica Rowell.

“...dancers spilled in and out of structures...transformed into couches, houses… limitless possibilities…joyous leaps, sprints… and dance licks...such fun...real stars”        Michael Seaver, THE IRISH TIMES

BLOCK PARTY: Ch. Robert Connor/Loretta Yurick. Dancers: Adam Murphy , Khyle Eccles, Cosimo De Tommaso, Kathleen Doherty and Jessica Rowell; Design: Andrew Clancy Music composed by: Robbie Harris touring with Brian Fleming, Hugh O'Byrne and Robert Connor

Supported by the Arts Council Touring and Dissemination of Work Scheme 2011

2010

Handle With Care, Re-Presenting Ireland

Dublin Dance Festival

Friday & Saturday, May 14/15 and May 21/22 at 1pm

Dance House, Foley Street.

Handle With Care, a new quartet by Dance Theatre of Ireland Artistic Directors, Robert Connor and Loretta Yurick, will be shown as a work-in-progress for the Re-Presenting Ireland Dance Showcase. It will be performed during the Dublin Dance Festival 2010 at Dance House. Re-Presenting Ireland is a showcase initiative of Culture Ireland, Dance Ireland and Dublin Dance Festival. With dancers Mirjam Gurtner, Cosimo de Tommaso, Iker Arrue and Laura Vilar, the new work is underpinned by reflections on the many transformations of love, vulnerable and ecstatic states and the fine line between love and loss, life and death.

Creations & Performances 2008

Dance Theatre of Ireland (IRL) & NOW Dance Company (KOREA)
Parallel Horizons / Under the Roof (2008)
Ch. Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick; Ch. In Young Sohn

Premiere Korea SEPTEMBER 20
Ansan Cultural & Arts Centre

Premiere Ireland NOVEMBER 12
Pavilion Theatre

Dance Theatre of Ireland and the NOW Dance Company Korea are delighted to join their Companies - Dancers and Musicians - in this very special co-production that will premiere in Seoul and tour in
Ireland & Korea in Autumn 2008. The 2 Companies will be in residencies (in Ireland and in Korea) creating two new works throughout Spring & Summer 2008.
Bringing together dancers (4 from each Company) and Musicians (2 from each  Company), the programme will be performed by a cast of 12 members -- 8 Dancers
and 4 Musicians/drummers, with the music performed live. Two cultures, two traditions, two unique music and dance histories, traditional and contemporary.

The production will premiere at the Seoul International Dance Festival and tour in Korea in September & October 2008, followed by a the Irish Premiere at the Pavilion Theatre November 12-15, 2008 and nationwide tour in Ireland

Artistic Directors From Korea

The making of Parallel Horizons/Under the Roof in Ireland, 5-min Documentary

The making of Parallel Horizons/Under the Roof in Korea, 5-min Documentary

For further information on the production...

Choreography: Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick, with Dancers : Jazmin Choidi, Alexandre Iseli, Lise Manavit, Jon Morley, Byung Hwa Kim,Ju Jin Shin, Min Young Park, Seung Kwan Yu Original Music: Rory Pierce, performed by Nick Bailey, Lee Il Woo, Bo-mi Kim & Rory Pierce; Costumes: Nicola McCutcheon, Min Chun Hong; Digital Sceneography: Suzanne Mooney Lighting Design: Ron Smith, Choi Hyung Lo; Dramaturg: Lee Jae Whan; Set Design: Lee Sung Hee.

2007

Dance Theatre of Ireland presents
SLOW DOWN
Ch. Martine Pisani (FR)

With jubilant detachment, Dance Theatre of Ireland bring alive a very beautiful work called (appropriately) "Slow Down", choreographed by the Paris-based choreographer Martine Pisani. In this playground for six dancers, Slow Down explores the insignificant troubles, the practical jokes, the awkwardness, and the barricades that make human relationships come alive. Other worlds come to mind: Charlie Chaplin's or Jaques Tati's. Six characters reveal secrets and obstacles of a public performance during a stage séance, outlining what it means, "to be on the stage". Their hesitation, lost orientation, inarticulate declarations, and even sophisticated movement sequences in a "non-dance" style, discretely find irony in the everyday demands of discipline, creativity, concentration and ardour. Don't miss it! Deliciously fun.

Premiere, Wed 7 Nov- Sat 10th November 2007
Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Booking 231 2929

Slow Down: Ch. Martine Pisani (France) Dancers:  Robert Connor, Lee Davern, Eneko Balerdi Eizmendi, Alex Iseli, Karl Pacquemar, Tania Pieri; Costumes: Nicola McCutcheon;  Lighting : Ludovic Riviere/Paddy McLoughlin

Research partner in the Arts Council Touring Experiment

DANCE THEATRE OF IRELAND present
premiere Exodus/Grand Junction
Ch. Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick (Irl) / Charles Linehan (UK)

8th - 11th November
Pavilion Theatre, Booking (01) 231 2929

Dance Theatre of Ireland present a double bill featuring two beautiful new works: Exodus, is a new creation by Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick with stunning World music. In a context where “immigration” has come to mean “border control”, people are moving (legally or illicitly) all over the world. What do we bring with us? What do we leave behind? How do we encounter another? Featuring an international cast of 6 dancers, digital scenography by Suzanne Mooney and original music by Rory Pierce. GRAND JUNCTION is a signature work by eminent UK choreographer Charles Linehan acclaimed for its eloquence and masterfaul attention to detail.

About Dance Theatre of Ireland
"…incredibly inventive…astonishing ….extraordinary...beautiful...” The View

About Charles Linehan
“atmospheric dances that thrive on the emotional undercurrents of human interaction” Time Out (London) “pure magic… deeply sensuous” Dance Now

DANCE

THEATRE OF IRELAND Present

"WaterMark"

A new work inspired by associations of this elemental liquid. Informed by the many ways that water moves… toward, through, around and away…from land, our bodies, our lives; deluge, drought, power, beauty, sacred, desecrated…the stain left behind

"scintillating performances ….beautiful" Brennan, Irish Examiner

“Nothing less than stunning” RTE Entertainment

“Outstanding…amazing performances..” Breandan de Gallai, (Riverdance) The View RTE One

“artistic energy to spectacular effect” Madden, Irish Times

"Connor & Yurick's work is a constant reflection on our human states of frailty and strength… a prime force in Irish dance." The Sunday Times

Premiered Pavilion Theatre, 9-12 November 2005 and toured Ireland November 2005

Spring Performances 2006

WaterMark opens the Internationale Tanzwoche Dresden April 28th & April 29th, 2006

Choreography: Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick (Ireland)

With Dancers: Robert Connor, Stephane Hissler, Styliani Lamprinou, Melanie Nezereau, Karl Paquemar and Hildur Ottarsdottir
Original Sound Sculpture: Linda O’Keeffe
Original Music: Rory Pierce, Additional Music: David Yoken, Video: Suzanne Mooneyl, Lighting: Mark Galione, Costumes: Veerle Dehaene

"BETWEEN YOU & ME"

What is it that makes the duet so compelling? When it gets down to two, what is revealed? Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick, Artistic Directors of Dance Theatre of Ireland, one of Ireland's most esteemed companies, bring to the stage a scintillating showcase of four duets. Well known for their fast paced and intricate partnering, they present a new duo, together with three other duets created by renowned international choreographers & performers. These include Austria's leading choreographer Willi Dorner's 'Intertwining', a seamless dance thriller for two men of action/reaction and virtuosic density. Willie's work is gutsy, dynamic and full of contrasts. In his innermost personality he is a choreographer working at the interface where contradictions collide…smart, sensual and witty. Award-winning Swiss Choreographer Philippe Saire's new work reveals bodies in perpetual discussion and examines the many intimate layers of separation and fusion. His vocabulary mixes order & disorder, falls & jumps, flow & precision with absolute finesse. And a new duet is premiered by Alex Iseli (Switzerland) and Marie-Françoise Garcia (France), former dancers and outstanding performers with the Company who bring a movement language rich in intelligence and ease. Each in their own way, disclose what is possible in the physical discourse of two."Connor & Yurick's work continues to innovate, inspire and provoke…Their work is a constant reflection on our human states of frailty and strength…a willingness to take risks has turned the company into a prime force in Irish dance." THE SUNDAY TIMES

Between You & Me
Ch: Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick (Ireland), Willi Dorner (Austria), Philippe Saire (Switzerland); Alex Iseli & Marie-Françoise Garcia (Switzerland/France)
Dancers: Robert Connor, Karl Paquemar, Melanie Nezereau, Alex Iseli, Marie-Françoise Garcia, Mike Winter
Lighting : Mark Galione/ Krisha Piplits
Costumes : Suzanne Cave

Dance Theatre of Ireland performing Lausanne, Switzerland

AS A MATTER OF FACT…
Ch. Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick

PREMIERE Nov 5th - 8th, Pavilion Theatre

Nov 5 - 8 The Pavilion Theatre Dun Laoghaire,
               nightly 8 pm, matinee Thurs. Nov 6th@ 1:30 01 231 2929
Nov 13 The Watergate Theatre Kilkenny 056 61 674
Nov 20 The Mermaid Theatre Bray 272 4030
Nov 25 Draoicht Blanchardstown 01 885 2522
Dec 01 The Townhall Theatre Galway 091 569 777"I'm older, I'm wiser, I know what's coming. Me. You? You what? You're gonna make it happen?? I could happen to you. Think so? Trust me.…me who?" Time management, mismanagement, cost of living, products of more than one country. Meanderings of the modern day mind. From the annals of Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, to the latest Quality of Life reports comes a new production by Dance Theatre of Ireland, cross pollinations of word and image …contradictions, communications, secrets, astonishing fluidity, clinical precision… and the best dancing in Ireland. Think physical, think fast. With live music and an impressive list of Irish & international collaborators. Set in a 3-dimensional world by Swiss artists, Tenteki.Choreography, Concept & Design: Robert Connor & Loretta Yurick; Original Music, played live: Dara O'Brien; Additional original music: Fran Hegarty & Eugene Murphy; Text: Joe O'Byrne, Loretta Yurick: Video & graphic imagery: Tenteki (Switzerland); Dancers: Gillian Beauchamp, Emma O'Kane, Vanessa Spinassa, Carl Paquemar, Astero Styliani Lamprinou, Angel Zotes RamosRTE 'The View' page and photos on As A Matter of Fact

As A Matter of Fact & Watermark View a combined video clip of As A Matter of Fact and Watermark