A series of outdoor performances from the 14th – 16th of July will mark the culmination of BENCH, the award-winning series by CoisCéim Dance Theatre that brings dance to everyday spaces.
An exciting programme of free open-air dance performances is set to take place over three days at Dublin’s Georges Dock from the 14th to the 16th of July.
The event includes the world premiere of the final commission in the award-winning BENCH by CoisCéim Dance Theatre, an innovative project that commissions dance artists and choreographers to create site-specific work inspired by the city.
Audience members will meet at Dublin’s Spencer Dock, where they will walk a short distance, to view the premiere of new work by celebrated contemporary dance artist Simone O’Toole. This will be joined in a double bill to mark the culmination of this series with choreographer Jessie Thompson, who performed in the inaugural edition, returning to present her work featuring music by Jack Foster at Spencer Dock.
The BENCH series, which began as a pilot project in 2023, has gone on to win a Business to Arts Award and is recognised for its innovation in bringing contemporary dance to everyday places. Speaking ahead of the performances, the project’s curator, David Bolger, encouraged audiences to come and be inspired,
“Over the past four years, BENCH has reimagined our public places as creative spaces, surprising and inspiring people as they go about their day. It is incredibly rewarding to witness the reactions of passersby, many of whom are experiencing contemporary dance for the very first time. This project is all about breaking down traditional barriers and bringing high-quality performance directly onto the city streets, turning an ordinary day into a moment of shared joy.”
On Saturday the 18th, CoisCéim Dance Theatre collaborator and artist Luca Truffarelli will present a masterclass for dance artists, in collaboration with Jessie Thompson. “Shared Perspectives” is a professional development opportunity for dance artists working across all styles and practices. The event, which will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. at The Studio at CoisCéim Dance Theatre in Fairview, will be preceded by free public performances of BENCH–5 (“Proses on neither here nor there”) by Mufutau Yusuf at the Stone Circle, Georges Dock, at 2 and 2:40 p.m.
Established in January 1995, CoisCéim has been a leading force in the evolution of contemporary dance in Ireland, earning numerous accolades for its national and international touring productions. In 2021, CoisCéim moved to the landmark building at 42 Fairview Strand, refurbishing the former postal sorting office to shape a distinctive new creative space in Dublin’s north city – a destination to dance. This winter, the company will present a major new stage production titled “Sing Me Your Song” by David Bolger at Dublin’s Project Arts Centre.
A registered charity, the company is strategically funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and supported by Dublin City Council and Culture Ireland.
CoisCéim Dance Theatre’s BENCH Commissions –7 and –1 will be presented as a double bill at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day from the 14th to the 16th of July. Meeting point at Dublin’s Spencer Dock.
For more information see: coisceim.com/
Image Credit: Dancer Simone O’Toole will perform pop-up dance performances in Dublin City from July 14-16 as part of BENCH by CoisCéim Dance Theatre. Image: Joshua Mulholland
