As part of the Public Art Programme of Commissions, Cavan County Council Arts Office has appointed Breandán de Gallaí as Dance Artist in Residence 2011 – 2012. Breandán is a dancer and choreographer who has toured the world as Principal Dancer with Riverdance and has since created a number of his own successful productions such as Balor and Noctú.

Download or view Press Release

 Breandán rehearsing with dancers at The Backyard Studio. Photo: Declan English

The aim of the Residency in County Cavan is two fold: to raise the profile of Dance in the county and to create a new body of work with emerging dance artists. To this end Breandán staged an open rehearsal and masterclasses in choreography at the Backyard Studios recently targeting dancers across the county. Breandán is very impressed with the level of skill and talent in the county, most notably from the Pascal Lyons School of Dance which has a very strong presence in his rehearsals and masterclasses.

‘The dancers who attend have really exceeded my expectations’ said Breandán ‘…and masterclasses have quickly become a creative experience’.

James Greenan from Cootehill came to a choreography masterclass at The Backyard in Moynehall recently and was instantly snapped up as a dancer in Noctú and Riverdance.

About the Dance Artist in Residence
Breandán studied modern jazz, ballet and tap in addition to Irish dance at the Gus Giodrano Dance Academy in Chicago, for which he won a scholarship. He has won numerous dancing awards, including National, Provisional and British Championships.To add to his array of achievements, Breandán has completed Balor, a 90 minute contemporary Irish dance show to music composed by Joe Csibi. He regularly presents TV programmes for RTE and TG4 and was external examiner for the MA in Irish dance performance in the University of Limerick.

In 1994, he joined Michael Flatley and Jean Butler in the Dublin production of Riverdance. He was appointed Dance Captain when Riverdance began its first run of performances in Dublin that same year. In the meantime, he set up his own dance company called Dualta with a few friends and went onto become the lead dancer for the Liffey Company of Riverdance. Breandán is currently studying for a PhD in Dance at the University of Limerick and he has recently toured a successful self-Directed and Produced dance theatre work, Noctú. He has met and performed for the King of Jordan, the Emperor of Japan, the Crown Prince of Japan, and Diana, Princess of Wales to name but a few.
Watch this space for updates on the progress of the Residency! 

Join the Fleadh Flashmobs!
To launch the Residency Breandán proposes to stage Flashmobs during the Fleadh Cheoil in August this year in which the whole community can participate, regardless of skill level...

Flashmob rehearsals are due to take place on three consecutive Saturdays from the 30th of July 2011 at the Backyard Studios and Cavan town. Participants must be age 12+ and have an interest in dance. Adults and group leaders are encouraged to come forward and join in the fun! It’s important to register your interest so please call (049) 4378548 during office hours or email rtidy@cavancoco.ie

Breandán is also using the Flashmobs to identify new and emerging talent in local dancers. Following the Fleadh Breandán will be providing Cavan Dancers with the unique experience of rehearsing for his latest show Noctu for an ‘Off Broadway’ run at the Irish Repertory Theatre in Manhattan this September.

This opens doors for Cavan dancers by presenting them with an opportunity to hone their skills performing an internationally significant Irish production. After this Breandán will be actively talent-scouting for a new dance performance called ‘Rite of Spring’, and is keen for dancers in the county to inform this work. Many of the dancers he has engaged with so far have signed up to participate in this new dance production planned for completion in late Spring 2012.

For information contact +353 (0)49 4378547 during office hours or email rtidy@cavancoco.ie