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The cast of ‘It Takes A Village’ at rehearsals for ‘It Takes a Village’ performance at Culture Night in Siamsa Tireback in September. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE Arts Services of Kerry, Kildare, and Tipperary County Councils along with Dance Ireland are working on an exciting initiative that will support the work of dance artists in Kerry.
To this end a Dance and Health Professional Development Series will take place at Siamsa Tíre in April next year and they are looking for interested parties to take part.
Dance is good for your physical and mental health and well being and is a form of expression that offers opportunities for creativity and collaboration.
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A researcher has been appointed to produce a training framework for dance artists working in healthcare contexts.
Parallel to this work will be three events which will gather together best practices and expertise nationally and internationally in the area of dance and healthcare which will feed the research for the training framework.
“Kerry will be at the core of this groundbreaking research and will also be hosting a Dance and Health Professional Development Series at Siamsa Tíre in April next year,” said Kate Kennelly.
The series will afford dancers, healthcare practitioners and anyone interested in dance and health opportunities to collaborate and exchange information about the benefits of dance on health.
The series will explore the many facets of dance and health work on a theoretical and practical level through discussion and movement.
National and international dance and health expertise will be brought to Kerry. The project is funded under the Arts Council’s Invitation to Collaboration Scheme.
Kerry County Council has for many years been a leading national example of a County that has embraced dance provision through its Dancer in Residence Programme.
A result of this residency was the recent performance of ‘It Takes A Village’ at Siamsa Tire on Culture Night.
The piece was choreographed by dance artist Catherine Young and attended by 350 people who witnessed an intercultural dance collaboration with some of Ireland’s new communities who live under direct provision.
It all makes for exciting times for dance and interested parties should contact the Arts Office at Kerry County Council by emailing arts@kerrycoco.ie or by contacting Dance Ireland’s Programme Manager athazel.hodgins@danceireland.ie.
