Northern Ireland

Contemporary dance in Belfast to explore Brexit impact

'The Here Trio', co-produced by Liz Roche Dance, will be performed as part of the Maiden Voyage dance double-bill at The Mac
'The Here Trio', co-produced by Liz Roche Dance, will be performed as part of the Maiden Voyage dance double-bill at The Mac 'The Here Trio', co-produced by Liz Roche Dance, will be performed as part of the Maiden Voyage dance double-bill at The Mac

THE impact of Brexit is to be explored in Belfast – through the art of contemporary dance.

While calls for Big Ben to bong for Brexit are exercising some Westminster MPs, a dance showcase in Northern Ireland is to examine "boundaries and belonging in a post-Brexit world".

The double-bill of performances will take place at The Mac in the week after the UK is due to officially leave the European Union on January 31.

The first is called Brink and will be performed entirely on a high platform measuring almost five feet.

It involves Belfast dancer Ryan O'Neill and Greek-born Vasiliki Stasinaki who will "negotiate the fragile battle for survival when our future is entrusted to someone – or something – else".

The second, The Here Trio, includes dancers from Northern Ireland, France and Spain, and "challenges preconceptions about site, history and the right to belong in a place".

Read More: Irish government announces €28m Brexit mitigation funding for border region

Nicola Curry of Maiden Voyage, which is presenting the works, said: "The political process in Northern Ireland has often seemed to me to be like a dance, with a range of choreographed gestures going back and forth between the players.

"The current political landscape of Brexit and Stormont throws up a huge range of questions for people in Northern Ireland around belonging, boundaries and trust which can be difficult to articulate verbally – although many political pundits have tried – and this is where I think the language of dance can play a very useful role in helping us to better understand the situation we are in."

'Brink', which will be performed at The Mac on as part of the Maiden Voyage dance double-bill
'Brink', which will be performed at The Mac on as part of the Maiden Voyage dance double-bill 'Brink', which will be performed at The Mac on as part of the Maiden Voyage dance double-bill

Caoileann Curry-Thompson of the Arts Council, which funds dance commissioning company Maiden Voyage, said they were "delighted" to be supporting the project.

"As ever, Maiden Voyage will be penetrating the important questions of our time, and doing so in a thrilling, dynamic way which is sure to stay with those lucky enough to see this double-bill for a long time to come," she said.

The Maiden Voyage dance showcase will be performed at The Mac at 8pm on February 7 and 8. Visit themaclive.com or phone 028 9023 5053 for tickets. It will also be performed at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh on February 12 at 8pm. Visit marketplacearmagh.com for details.