Leitrim Dance Festival highlights include ‘Dance Dialects’ at The Dock

Carrick-on-Shannon will come alive with rhythm, music and movement next month as the Leitrim Dance Festival returns with a packed four-day programme from April 9 to 12.

Centred around The Dock Arts Centre and venues across the town, the festival will feature performances, workshops and free public events celebrating Irish dance and traditional arts.

Festivities begin on Thursday, April 9 with a free Meitheal at the Market from 10.30am to 12pm, bringing musicians and dancers together in an informal setting. That evening continues with a traditional dance session at Cryan’s Teach Ceoil at 9pm.

On Friday, April 10, the streets of Carrick-on-Shannon will host open-air music and dance performances from 2pm to 8pm, with the public invited to join in. The highlight of the evening will be Dance Dialects at The Dock at 8pm — a major showcase featuring sixteen dancers and musicians performing newly developed collaborative works rooted in Irish percussive dance.

The festival continues on Saturday, April 11 with a diverse range of workshops and performances. A unique hands-on workshop with artist and carpenter Charlie Perpoil in Drumcoura will give participants the chance to create their own wooden dance taps.

At The Dock, Joe McGuiggan will lead an Old Style Irish Step Dance workshop from 10am to 12.30pm, followed by Christy Mac Gearailt’s West Kerry Set Dancing workshop from 1.30pm to 4pm.

Throughout the day, the streets will once again host open performances, while the Market Yard will feature free events including Miss Mary, an evocative solo dance performance by Kristyn Fontanella exploring Irish dance heritage, and a community dance workshop led by Áirc Damhsa.

Saturday night will see Ball Nights take to the stage at The Dock at 8pm — a new multi-disciplinary production celebrating the tradition of house dancing in West Kerry. Featuring the band Cuas, dancers from Seit Chorca Dhuibhne, poet Dairena Ní Chinnéide and artist Domhnall Ó Bric, the performance blends music, dance, poetry and visual art in an immersive cultural experience.

The festival will close on Sunday, April 12 with Kitty’s Gone A Milkin’, a special outdoor event at a secret location in Co Leitrim. The finale will feature collaborations between leading musicians and dancers including Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, Becky Ní Éalaithe and Cathal Ó Curráin, and Edwina Guckian with David Munnelly.

Several free events will run throughout the weekend, including nightly dance sessions at Cryan’s Teach Ceoil.

With a mix of traditional and contemporary performance, hands-on workshops and community participation, the Leitrim Dance Festival promises a lively celebration of Irish culture for all ages.