In our new Summer 2021 issue, we were pleased to have a conversation with acclaimed choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan about dance and the creative process. Enjoy the full feature below!
Our first guest is the acclaimed choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan. We will be chatting to Michael on Thursday March 11th at 7.30 p.m. Irish time (GMT). If you live outside the GMT zone, do check what this will be in your local time zone. The link and login details will be sent to all ticket holders the day beforehand, and a replay will be sent the following morning, so don’t worry if you can’t make it live.
Michael is currently an associate at Sadler’s Wells London. He founded Tea? Da?sa in 2016 as a means to forge stronger connections with the native traditions, language and music of Ireland. The name Tea? Da?sa, ‘House of the Dance,’ in Classical Irish, supports this process and was exemplified in the company’s first two productions, Swan Lake / Loch na hEala (2016) and MÁM (2019).
Michael was the artistic director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre (1997-2015), creating three Olivier Award-nominated productions: Giselle (2003), The Bull (2005), and The Rite of Spring (2009).
In 2012 he directed and choreographed a new production of Handel’s Julius Caesar at the London Coliseum, for English National Opera. In 2015 he created an original piece, The Big Noise, for the GoteborgOperans DansKompani. As Guest Artistic Director of the National Youth Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells London for their 2015 – 2016 season, he created In-Nocentes. In March 2017, he choreographed a new work to Dvorak’s 8th Symphony for the Dance Company at the Gärtnerplatztheater, Munich.
Michael has extensive teaching experience. He has led workshops for different companies around the world, including Macnas Theatre Company, Hofesh Schechter Company, Cedar Lake Ballet, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company and the Ballet Junior de Geneva.
Positive Life publisher Paul Congdon says, “It is my great pleasure to chat to Michael. I’ve seen a lot of his work, including pieces by his company Fabulous Beast. When I saw ‘Giselle’ a few years back, its beauty was heart opening.”
Our evening with Michael will take place at 7.30 p.m. GMT on Thursday March 11th. The link and login details will be sent to all ticket holders the day beforehand, and a replay will be sent the following morning.
We are thrilled to announce the beginning of our special Positive Nights series: The Creativity Series. During this sequence of art-themed events, we will be speaking to directors, actors, artists and other creative luminaries about their artistic process.
Our first guest is the acclaimed choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan. We will be chatting to Michael on Thursday March 11th at 7.30 p.m. Irish time (GMT). If you live outside the GMT zone, do check what this will be in your local time zone. The link and login details will be sent to all ticket holders the day beforehand, and a replay will be sent the following morning, so don’t worry if you can’t make it live.
Looking for an immersive concert experience with soul and heart? Look no further…
Harmony Gathering is a St Patrick’s Day celebration with a difference, brought to you by the folks behind Conscious Concert Ireland.
Ewelina Wu is a Dublin-based photographer and graphic designer whose pictures contain an unmistakable touch of magic. We interviewed her to find out more about her work and the passion that drives her to produce her wonderful, heartfelt images.
Ewelina Wu’s attitude towards her photography and design work can best be described as an attitude of open-minded curiosity. Like many artists, her work is driven by a desire to access a deeper sense of truth that is not always available to us in our everyday lives. She aims to highlight the true essences of those who appear within her photographs.
‘For me, one of the most rewarding things about my job is when someone sees something in my pictures that they don’t normally see in themselves,’ she explains, ‘like a hidden beauty they had never realised was there.’
Ewelina approaches her work with great care and sensitivity, and she has a gift for illuminating the joy, the complexity and the deep humanity of her subjects. One clear example of this was her work on the Dublin leg of the World’s Biggest Eye Contact Experiment Day, which took place in Dublin city centre on September 23rd.
This day aimed to answer the question: where has human connection gone? Ewelina explored the profound nuances of this question in many different ways.
Her photographs offer viewers a sense of the heartfelt experiences that participants had during the day. ‘It was such a powerful experience,’ she shares. ‘I was sometimes on the outside of it, taking pictures, and sometimes right in the middle of the group, sharing a moment of connection with somebody. I loved that: I loved playing an active role in the scene I was trying to capture.’
Gentle moments of connection and understanding are honoured in Ewelina’s gorgeous images.
Ewelina’s photographic prowess was also very much in evidence during the recent Vitality Expo in Dublin’s RDS, when she brought the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of the day to life.
‘Another event I worked on recently was an amazing dance event run by Zouk Retreat,’ she says, ‘and I really enjoyed it. Working on a wide variety of different events helps me to explore life from a lot of different angles.’
In her Zouk Retreat photographs, the simple yet far-reaching joy of human connection was once again to the fore.
The vibrant atmosphere of the retreat is powerfully brought to life in the mind’s eye of the viewer.
Ewelina pours great devotion and love into her craft … and the stunning results of this are plain to see! To learn more about Ewelina and her work, visit her website or Facebook page.
The clocks have moved forward, the temperatures are rising, and spring is making its presence felt. If you’re in the mood to try some delicious food or drink, practice the art of conscious dating, or even learn exciting new yoga techniques, this month’s edition of our Positive Vibes newsletter has got you covered. Read on to learn more about the best events, products and fun happenings we’ve picked out for you for this month. If you haven’t seen our Spring issue yet, fear not: it is available at stockists throughout the country. You can also subscribe here to get a copy delivered right to your door.
Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter if you haven’t already. And now, without further ado, let’s get into our latest line-up of positive events, destinations and tasty treats to get stuck into!
This Friday the 6th of April, we are running a special Positive Nights speed dating event, where the emphasis will be placed on deeply honouring and respecting the person in front of you. At 7.30 p.m., we will gather at Yin and Tonic, the Elbowroom’s vibrant new space located at No. 32 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, for an evening of fun, conversation and conscious connection. Click on our Eventbrite link here to learn more and book your tickets.
We are thrilled to invite the renowned Tantra expert and teacher Dawn Cartwright back to Positive Nights on Wednesday the 25th of April at 7.30 p.m. The venue is to be confirmed. Dawn will discuss the ancient Tantric rituals – the Pancha Upacaras – that form the foundation of modern dating practices, and how we can bring the magic of these sacred rituals into our lives today. The Eventbrite link for this event is here.
We highly recommend the work of Kitty Maguire, a yoga, dance and movement teacher with years of experience with instructing clients in modalities such as Pilates, Ballates, Barre, and her own unique style of Yocella: a type of yoga practice that is performed to the accompaniment of soothing cello music. Check out Kitty’s Facebook page to learn more about her regular courses, workshops, retreats and special events!
Chaga Tea is a unique type of tea widely renowned for its health benefits. Its flavour is similar to the earthy taste of coffee, but drinking Chaga Tea does not lead to the energy crash associated with coffee consumption. Chaga Tea Ireland founder Philip credits it for helping him to improve his health. He says: “I discovered Chaga after years of experimenting with different diets due to a Crohn’s condition. My first cup of Chaga had quite an impact. An hour later I felt energised yet calm, with a clarity similar to the effects of coffee, but without the buzz.”
If you’re looking for a cool spot to try out some delicious plant-based cuisine, look no further than The Planted Bean, located at No. 16 Baggot Road, Ashtown, Dublin 7. This wonderful coffee shop is owned by Kevin Odgers, and specialises in tasty vegan desserts free of refined sugar, as well as savoury vegan food options with an American twist. The picture above shows off their mouth-watering homemade Twix bars – we feel hungry just looking at them!
As hints of summer’s arrival begin to creep into the air, what better way to celebrate than attending a heart-expanding dance and movement retreat for the Summer Solstice weekend? Dance teacher Carol McInerney is on hand to provide you with that magical experience with her special event, Solstice – Receiving the Light: an Open Floor residential dance retreat in Slí na Bande, Kilmurry, Co. Wicklow. The retreat will take place from June the 15th to the 17th 2018. For more information, click here or email Carol at info@themovingbody.ie.
Interested in enjoying some heart-opening movement and dance, while also partaking in a sacred Cacao ceremony? Then you will want to check out The Cacao Sanctuary’s latest event, ‘Sacred Cacao Ceremony: Movement Of Love.’ It will take place in the Lantern Centre, Dublin 8, from 6.00 to 9.00 p.m. this Friday the 16th of February. You can book tickets by sending a payment of €25 to info@glennsullivan.ie via PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account, just email info@glennsullivan.ie and Glenn can send you a payment request.
The Cacao Sanctuary has become a strong presence within Ireland’s conscious dance community over the past few years. The Sanctuary was founded by Glenn Sullivan and Bebe Gardner. It offers a unique fusion of amazing dance music events and ceremonial grade Cacao ceremonies in Dublin and Wicklow. Glenn and Bebe’s goal is to inspire a whole new level of heart-to heart relating on the dance floor, aided by the naturally uplifting effects of Cacao.
If this combination of joyous dancing and Cacoa appeals to you, you will be happy to hear the Glenn and Bebe’s next event – ‘Sacred Cacao Ceremony: Movement Of Love’ – is taking place this Friday, the 16th of February, in Dublin.
‘The Ceremony falls just after St Valentine’s day and Lunar Imbolc (the first dark moon following Imbolc) so the invitation is to work with the themes associated with both,’ Glenn and Bebe explain. ‘St Valentine’s Day is predominantly thought of as being about Love and Partnership, but we’ll be asking: how do we experience ourselves as Love? To what extent are we in partnership with our tender Human selves as well as our Divine selves and Life as Love? To what degree are we in partnership with our beloved Planet, She that holds and sustains us? Imbolc marks a time of transition and is also celebrated as Brigit’s Day. She is the Goddess of Maidens and rules over the movement outward from winter to springtime. This time of transformation takes place in all of us as we move from darkness and inner contemplation towards an outer focus of conscious manifestation.’
The ‘Sacred Cacao Ceremony: Movement Of Love’ will take place in the Lantern Centre, Dublin 8, from 6.00 to 9.00 p.m. this Friday the 16th of February. You can book tickets by sending a payment of €25 to info@glennsullivan.ie via PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account, just email info@glennsullivan.ie and Glenn can send you a payment request. You can view the event’s Facebook page here. To learn more about The Cacoa Sanctuary, click here.
Facebook Event Page | About the Buddha Bag Meeting | Meetup Page
Jos Galdermans (from The Netherlands) is a professional facilitator in Sacred dance since 1991 and being also a practitioner in natural medicine, he is especially interested in the healing effect these dances can have, not only on the participants, but also on the environment and the wellbeing of all. Most of the choreographies are circle dances on peaceful music and will be fairly simple, somedances will be more complex or more lively, to keep the balance. Special dance qualities or experience are not required.
The combination of spirituality and dance is timeless. In all cultures and through all the ages people have danced to express their relationship with the mysteries of life and death, the gods, the inner source. In temple dances and in some old folkloristic dances this can still be found, but also in more recent, special choreographies. In the Buddha Bag workshop we will experience the effect that these dances can have: they help us to connect to our most inner source, where there is stillness and peace.
Sacred Dance is meditation in movement. And of course, the theme of Easter forms a wonderful centre around we will perform the dances that express the endless cycle of life and death, of being reborn, of resurrection, of transformation of Life constantly changing shape and still remaining the One.
The most important element in all the workshops is: it is all about opening, stimulating, cleansing and refining the energy of the heart!
Please wear the clothes you feel comfortable in. You should be able to move freely. As we sometimes are very still and moving very little and sometime quite active, it is advised to have ‘layers’ of clothes so you can easily adapt to changes in temperature. The assembly rooms have a reputation of not being very warm, so bring enough warm clothes to wear if necessary. Some people like to dance on bare feet, some on special dancing shoes, some on socks, some on normal shoes. In any case: low heels and no anti slip soles (because it makes it almost impossible to do sudden turns on the spot and might cause knee damage). Do not hesitate to bring various options with you, so you can see for yourself what works best for you.
The combination of spirituality and dance is timeless. In all cultures and through all the ages people have danced to express their relationship with the mysteries of life and death, the gods, the inner source. In temple dances and in some old folkloristic dances this can still be found, but also in more recent, special choreographies. The ‘founding father’ of this contemporary form of dance meditation is Bernhard Wosien (Germany 1908-1986).
Jos was a professional ballet dancer and later in his life later became a dance pedagogue and choreograph. He had a great interest in the relationship between dance and spirituality. He made an intensive study of traditional European (mostly Balkan, Greek and Russian)dance traditions and their background and started to give workshops in various European countries, offering a mix of old folklore dances (sometimes adapted by himself) and new choreographies that he made. Two of his top pupils, after being thoroughly trained by him, set up an institute in Holland, according to Bernhard’s ideas, to train students to become professional sacred dance facilitators. Jos (Dutch: short for Joseph)received his diploma in 1991, after an intensive three year study. Since then, he gives workshops, retreats and dance holidays throughout Europe.
From the participants he often gets back that they love the beautiful music, the gracious movements, the often mandala like patterns danced, the experience of togetherness in the moving circle and of course the joy of dancing, but mostly that they love to practice sacred dancing because it brings them into contact with their deepest layers, where their deepest strings are touched and where they can experience oneness and stillness.
Jos on his first experience of sacred dance, back in 1980, “ It was like being struck by lightning; something resonated deeply in me. It was as if I had always known this, but had somehow forgotten….something ancient and at the same time timeless. It felt like coming home and I knew..I want to have much more of this”.
As any teacher can’t help colouring with his own being and energy the thing he teaches, Jos is mainly triggered by the healing qualities Sacred Dance can have. He focuses especially on body awareness and energy patters to help to transform energy. His ‘goal’ is not so much to become perfect technical ‘performers’ but to become as best we can a moving vessel for healing energies, for ourselves, for others, for the world, for the earth, for all that is…
“I think that in other times I might have become (and probably have been…) a priest, but in this life becoming a therapist in natural medicine and a facilitator in Sacred Dance seemed the proper way to contribute to the healing of body and soul and to help develop our finest and most subtle energies”.
Monday 2nd December, 8pm-9.30
Vedas, 19 Lower Georges Street, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
€20
Call 0878147248 to book but you might need to be quick, the Sunday class sold out fast!
Even if you don’t go, it’s worth watching the interview with him below.
Yogabeats™ has remained totally free, experimental and spontaneous, just like jazz or any other free form art. It openly encourages you to deeply explore your physical and psychological boundaries and what is understood within this practice will directly impact upon the individual’s perception of life itself. The magic of Yogabeats™ can never be fully understood in any way other than in its participation, because then the lines between the idea and the experience dissolves into a mind blowing feast of all the senses.
It’s more than just Yoga, it is pure fun, a practice driven by music and rhythms. Unapologetically sexy, empowering and provocative, leaving you higher than a kite and flying for the rest of the week!
Find out more about Yogabeats here > yogabeats.com
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