Created on Retouramont company’s initiative in 2014, the Vertical Dance Forum is a network of 7 vertical dance companies working in Europe and Canada. Il Posto (Italy), – Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre (Ireland) – Gravity & Levity (UK) – Histeria Nova (Croatia)- Aeriosa (Canada) – Retouramont (France). Vertical Dance Kate Lawrence VDKL (Wales).
The Vertical Dance Forum gathers to exchange and reflect on its practice in all its artistic, teaching and technical diversity. Our approach aims to increase the appreciation and recognition of this art form, while respecting the safety it requires, in order to share it with everyone: artists, institutions and the public.
The group organises an annual general meeting, each time hosted by a different VDF member and local partners. These encounters are essential not only to establish and plan new projects but also to discover the local context and partners of each VDF member. Along with the internal discussions, the group always organises public events to share the reflections and projects with the audience, local professionals, students, press, etc.
Blank Canvas
Following the first two meetings in Wales and Italy, VDF announces that Fidget Feet will host the third meeting in the Creative Europe project:
Blank Canvas Lab – 13th – 18th June 2018 at the Irish Aerial Creation Centre, Limerick, Ireland.
Fidget Feet Blank Canvas Lab will include collaboration between the 7 VDF choreographers to learn more about each other’s practice, around the theme of collaboration.
Applications are now closed. See other opportunities below.
About the Workshop
Dates 14th – 17th June 2018. Arrive To Limerick, Ireland on Wednesday 13th June and return Mon 18th June. Fly into Dublin and bus to Limerick or fly into Shannon. Accommodation at University of Limerick.
Workshop offers you an insight into the creative process and how to respond to different sites. Dancers will work both at the IACC and outdoor sites with VDF choreographers.
Thursday 14th – In Irish Aerial Creation Centre with Kat Cooley
Fri & Sat 15/16th – 4 dancers per outdoor city site working with VDF choreographers and Rigger and 3 understudies from IWAMD at UL will join.
Sunday 17th – Natural landscape site visit with VDF choreographers, public event and BEST Fidget Feet party to close event in IACC.
We will provide food during the workshop; veggie and vegan lunch and dinners. If you are accepted to the workshop, you will have one week to pay the full amount or forfeit your place. You will need to pay your own flights, travel and accommodation. Accommodation has been arranged in Cappavilla Village on the University of Limerick campus. It’s €30 per night per person (€150). Each room is ensuite, and includes Linen, Wi-Fi, Towels & Toiletries on arrival. Each apartment has 6 bedrooms, and a self-catering kitchen and living room. Coin-operated laundry is available nearby. If accepted you’ll be given the details to pay for the accommodation directly.
Workshop cost is: €85
Deadline for applications: Applications now closed.
Other Opportunities
Mon 18th June – Interdisciplinary seminar – 10.30 – 13.00
Between VDF members and University of Limerick academics. Fidget Feet is resident company at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in University of Limerick. We will be working in partnership with Dr. Niamh NicGhabhann head of MA in Festival Arts on round table discussions.
Opportunities for undergraduate students
IACC teaches aerial dance to students of the IWAMD. During the Jan-May module we will offer Vertical dance and select 3 students to be part of the Blank Canvas Lab event to understudy the professional VD artists on the course.
Sunday 17th – Public Conversation Limerick – 18.30
A public informal conversation hosted at IACC around the topic of ‘Festivals’ to discuss the possibility of introducing a curated vertical dance program as part of one of Limerick’s existing festivals. There will also be opportunities to discuss the VDF project.
Saturday 30th June – Public Vertical Dance Symposium – Donegal
As part of the Irish Aerial Dance Festival (24th June – 10th July 2018) in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal – www.irishaerialdancefest.com – “Background and Challenges of vertical dance” with Wanda Moretti. A synopsis of her research “The routes and first generation – 30 years of vertical dance”. Wanda will also will announce the EU funded e-book “Vertical Dance Pathways”.
Funding
The Project is co-financed by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme.
« Creative Europe supports transnational cooperation projects involving cultural and creative organisations from different countries taking part in the programme.
It aims to improve access to European culture and creative works and to promote innovation and creativity. »
« Cross-border cooperation projects between cultural and creative organisations within the EU and beyond. Projects can cover one or more cultural and creative sectors and can be interdisciplinary. »