FORMER principal Riverdance star Breandán de Gallaí examines identity, sexuality and ageing in his new critically acclaimed contemporary Irish dance work Lïnger.
Galway native De Gallaí, who choreographs and directs the piece, is joined on stage by young Irish dancer Nick O’Connell, against a backdrop of music, life drawing, photography (Declan English), and film (Terry O’Leary).
The show enjoyed sell-out success at last year's Edinburgh Fringe and is now touring Ireland. Although Irish dance is a choreographic starting point for Lïnger, de Gallaí is influenced by many dance genres.
"I wanted to see what the dance could do in terms of evoking emotions, and use its expressive potential to address issues and themes rarely explored in traditional dance," he says.
The soundtrack ranges from classical music to trad, tango and jazz.
:: Lïnger, the Millennium Forum, Derry, March 14 and 15 (millenniumforum.co.uk); the Mac, Belfast, March 31 (themaclive.com).
