LuailDance

Trojans, Reviewed by Bethany Waterhouse Bradley Entering the theatre for Luail’s revival of Philip Connaughton’s ‘Trojans’, the audience is asked to stand in the centre of the stage, a perfect square surrounded on each side by a single row of chairs and boxed in by four enormous screens. There is palpable nervous energy in the crowd, and already they have achieved their mission of making us a part of this production. The crowd parts like the Red Sea as the dancers, aligned in a chariot like formation push through without contact. Veteran dancer Joanna Banks is at the helm, playing her part as the goddess Juno. Every movement she makes, even a slight shift of her chin, is regal and commanding. We wait in perfect stillness as she leans in and whispers to the first dancer: “die”. The dancer collapses, then another, until the ensemble are on the floor and the screens command us to go closer. To look them in the eyes. When we are invited to sit, it is a relief, but the music gives little reprieve – it pulses at full volume, the beat of it reverberating in the pit of the stomach. The dancers use minimal props and costuming to extraordinary effect, doing things with orange plastic mesh that should have looked ridiculous but instead was mesmeric. Each dancer was a featured soloist, each solo singular and evocative. Each member of the company dances with their full bodies, with an attention to detail extending to their eyebrows and fingertips. The scenes projected on the screens complement the performance without distracting us from the dancers; a symbiotic partnership keeping the audience in step with the themes of the piece as they exist in the modern world. For just over an hour, we move through battles, death, longing, displacement. Every sense is pulled into the experience. By the final scenes, when we are asked to perform the most demanding act of participation, I am so invested that it feels impossible not to play this final part. ‘Trojans’ devastated and excited me, made me want to dance, to keep watching, to write, to read the Aeneid, to hold the dancers as they wept. In short, it was everything I could have wanted from a piece of immersive art.

What a beautiful performance of The Arc of a Heart Shaped Curve today at the Enniscorthy presentation arts centre as a part of SpringMoves Dance Festival 2026. Performed by Cindy Cummings, Sighile Hennessy, and Dave Boyd, and directed by Steve Batts, this tender and deeply human work invited us to slow down and connect. Presented by Luail as part of the festival, we’re hugely grateful to everyone who came and shared the experience with us. Looking forward to the rest of an inspiring weekend of dance. Photo: @sasha_bratkovaphotography

Congratulations to team Moonlight Dream on an amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review in today's @irishtimesnews for their performances at @thearkdublin as part of @dublindancefestival ! The show continues until this Sunday - catch it if you can 🌛🦊🐻👧! Ticket and review links are in our bio. Choreography: Georgia Tegou Composition and live music: Ursula Burns @luaildance @artscouncilni

To celebrate the world premiere of Mufutau Yusuf’s The Fifth Sun, @luaildance - Ireland’s National Dance Company, has paired up with Allta na Farraige to offer you the chance to win tickets to The Fifth Sun, as well as a night out on them. The exciting new dance show responds to our planetary crisis through dance, taking inspiration from ancient Irish grieving rituals. Before the show, winners will also get to enjoy dinner and cocktails for two. To be in with the chance of winning, tag a friend and like this post. Good luck! #AD.

Feel like moving? This is your space to try it! Dance Corner is an open, welcoming space where anyone can step in, move and explore dance in their own way. No experience needed. No pressure. Where: Con Smith Park When: Saturday 16th May, 12PM - 4PM Free Created by choreographer @dylanquinndance and part of @luaildance ’s all-island project 'To This I Belong', this is all about curiosity, connection and seeing where the music takes you. Drop in, join for a moment or stay as long as you like. #CavanArtsFestival #CAF2026 #Dance #CavanEvents #LiveArt

This morning we kicked off @dublindancefestival with fantastic groups in to see Moonlight Dream from @maidenvoyageni and @luaildance 🌈 Don’t miss your chance to see this beautiful show - there are limited tickets left for the weekend! 🔗 https://ark.ie/events/view/moonlight-dream-a-babys-cosmic-odyssey

@dancelimerick is delighted to announce the five participants who will take part in the 16th edition of @stepupdanceproject Aine kidney @ainekidney Alison O’Shea @alisonoshea_dance Mayara Pessanha @itsmayarapessanha_ Jyoti Soni Martha Tribe @martha_tribe02 The five dancers will participate in a performance project with choreographer Mufutau Yusuf, developing new work to be presented at different locations nationally, including Limerick and Dublin. Curated by Director of Dance Limerick @marywycherleydance and delivered under the guidance of Rehearsal Director, @luciakickhamdanceartist , the programme features a host of guest teachers and artists and is focused on developing artists as performers while recognising the creativity necessary in the performer’s work. This year, the Step Up dancers will once again enjoy a placement with Luail during the autumn, giving them the chance to delve deeper into the company’s work, approaches to performance, choreography and creative process. Watch this space for more on the #Stepup2026 participants & team. Read more at dancelimerick.ie (link in bio) Step Up Dance Project is a partnership between the @artscouncilireland , @dancelimerick , the @irishworldacademy at the @universityoflimerick and @danceireland_di . Step Up’s participation in the placement programme is possible thanks to a partnership with @luaildance - Ireland’s National Dance Company

📢 Happening now! @luaildance is taking over our stories! Go behind the scenes with Mufutau Yusuf | @luaildance and get a sneak peek at what they’re bringing to DDF2026 with The Fifth Sun. Trust us, this is one you don’t want to miss 👀 ℹ️ Missed it live? Catch up anytime in our highlights.

Had a great week of rehearsals at Dance Ireland with @siobhannidhuinnin , @oberlanderisabella and @ashchen4 ahead of sharing of work in progress at Originate at @dublindancefestival 2026 ! __with associate composer @lionel.kasparian Looking forward to the sharing ! Supported by @artscouncilireland , @dancecorkfirkincrane , @danceireland_di , @dancelimerick and @luaildance

Moonlight Dream continues its touring journey!⚡️⚡️⚡️ This week, May 2nd, catch us @springmovesdancefestival for two performances @nationaloperahouse in the ancient Viking town of Wexford! 🌒✨ Commissioned and produced by @maidenvoyageni x co-commissioned by @luaildance Ireland’s National Dance Company ✨ Moonlight Dream 🗓️ 2 May 2026 🕰️ 11am & 1pm 📍National Opera House 🔗 Click the link in bio and/or visit the @springmovesdancefestival website to find out more and book your tickets 📸 @ciaranbagnalldesign #MoonlightDream #MaidenVoyage #Luail #georgiategou #springmovesdancefestival

SENSATIONAL LINE-UP OF PERFORMANCES!! 📆 30 April – 16 May We’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again: this year is going to be something special. 🎭 10 live performances across multiple stages in Dublin, featuring Irish + international artists, with Irish and world premieres. 👉 Swipe through the shows & save the post for later. It’s time to lock in your plans for DDF’s 2026 Edition. Which show are you most looking forward to? Let us know below ⬇️ ℹ️ More information + tickets in bio and website #DDF2026 #lineup #festivallineup #dublinevents #festivalseason

Day 3 D2C Lab Dublin 2026 Major push and structuring the piece for this Fridays showing. Group is growing in confidence and skill. Stronger together. Learning @om.rasa Way This program is supported by @artscouncilireland