Theatre and Dance NI, in partnership with the MAC, Belfast, presents a unique five-day dance intensive featuring two internationally acclaimed artists: Michael Keegan-Dolan and Oona Doherty.
For the first time, two of the most renowned figures in dance, hailing from the midlands of Ireland and Bangor, will lead on an exclusive week-long intensive in Belfast. This is an unmissable opportunity for dance artists to dive deep into the creative processes of two choreographers, in a dynamic, immersive and collaborative setting.
Each day will begin with a morning session led by Michael, followed by an afternoon session with Oona. This intensive is a rare chance to experience two contrasting yet equally compelling artistic perspectives; challenging and inspiring participants to push their boundaries and expand their practice in new and unexpected ways.
Michael Keegan-Dolan:
Each morning, we will begin together early and work gently but consistently to get energy moving, within and without. Using simple dances, natural rhythms, folk songs and stories we will aim to land together at a place where each of us will gain a clearer understanding of the relationship between ourselves and our individual creative practices.
Oona Doherty:
We will sweat. Each day physically training for strength as well as learning repertoire. Every day a new work. Hope Hunt, Hard to be Soft, Lady Magma, Navy Blue and Specky Clark. The best of. See ya there.
The intensive will run from Monday 28th April – Friday 2nd May 2025 at the MAC, Belfast.
Daily Schedule:
- Morning: Mickael Keegan-Dolan
- Lunch
- Afternoon: Oona Doherty
- Dialogue / Industry session
This five-day intensive is open to dancers, actors and musicians 18 years and over with previous training experience. We welcome local, national and international applicants. Selected participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.
Applications
To apply, we ask that you please fill in this application form.
Please attach videos (as a YouTube or Vimeo link only) within the application form. Please ensure with the link can view/download the file without a password.
As there are only 22 spaces available, only the first 100 applications received will be assessed. There are several subsidised places available for TDNI members.
Deadline for applications is 5pm on Sunday 9th March 2025
Cost
- TDNI Member Subsidised Place – £225
- Non – Member – £450
If you have any questions, please contact apply@theatreanddanceni.org
With support from D’Oyly Carte Foundation and in studio partnership with the MAC, Belfast
Oona Doherty Bio
Oona is a Northern-Irish dance artist who studied at London School Of Contemporary Dance, University of Ulster and LABAN London
Oona has been performing internationally since 2010 with companies such as TRASH (Netherlands), Abattoir Ferme (Belgium), Veronika Riz (Italy), Emma Martin/United Fall (Ireland), Enda Walsh and Landmark Productions (Ireland).
Her work Hope Hunt & the Ascension into Lazarus in its 9th year of international touring. It has won best performer at Dublin fringe, best dance show at the Edinburgh fringe, judges first places and audience first places Grenoble re coinassance competition.
Hard to be Soft a Belfast prayer was voted top UK dance show of 2019 by the Guardian.
In 2019, Lady Magma was created. In 2022, Navy Blue premiered and has since toured the world. In 2021, she was awarded the La Biennale Di Venezia’s Silver Lion award for dance. In 2023, she became an associate artist at Sadler’s Wells in London. From 2024 to 2025, she is the associate artist of Pavilion Noir Ballet Preljocaj.
Oona’s newest show Specky Clark follows the story of her Great Great Grandfather and his arrival in Belfast. It unravels as a series of theatrical images and is brought to life by an international cast of nine dancers. With music by Lankum, it is currently on tour across Europe.
2026 O.D.Works – Oona Doherty is planning a new group piece première – Leather Jacket.
Michael Keegan-Dolan Bio
Michael Keegan-Dolan is 56 years old and was the artistic director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre (1997-2015), creating three Olivier Award-nominated productions: Giselle (2003), The Bull (2005), and The Rite of Spring (2009). Giselle won an Irish Times Theatre Award 2004, and The Bull received a UK Critic’s Circle National Dance Award 2008.
Michael founded Teaċ Daṁsa in 2016 when he moved from the Irish midlands to the West Kerry Gaeltacht on the Southwest coast of Ireland. In 2016 he made Swan Lake/ Loch na hEala, and won the Best New Production Irish Times Theatre Award 2017 and the Best Production UK Critics’ Circle National Dance Award 2018. MÁM (2019) was conceived, rehearsed, and produced in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. It was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Production (2020) and two UK Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards (2022). MÁM has now toured to four continents. How to be a Dancer in Seventy-two Thousand Easy Lessons opened at The Gate Theatre, Dublin in 2022 and has toured widely. It will be at Sadlers Wells East in September later this year
His latest work NOBODADDY, premiered at the Waterfront Studio Theatre in Belfast and opened the 2024 Dublin Theatre Festival.
Teaċ Daṁsa moved into their own workspace on March 1st, 2024, and working in this new space will be Michael’s focus for the next few years.
