Floating on a Dead Sea Catherine Young Dance
DDF commission in association with Backstage Theatre. Presented in partnership with the Abbey Theatre.
Premiere
Ireland
A rare and immersive glimpse into life in Palestine, interweaving dance, film, music and text.
26 Nov—27 Nov
This new piece is a visceral reflection on one of the most complex conflicts in the world; interweaving dance, film, music and text to offer a rare insight into life amidst conflict in Palestine.
↓ Read morePrice
€16 full price / €14 conc.
How long?
60 mins approx. (no interval)
[BUS SOLD OUT] Tickets for Sat 27 Nov include a complimentary bus (Dublin-Longford-Dublin). Limited places available.
From the show
★★★★ “A powerfully visceral experience, and one of the most compelling depictions of the refugee crisis to date.”
The Arts Review (on State of Exception)
“This is Irish dance making at its best; political, urgent and intelligent. Book it for your festival. Fund it. And if you ever get the chance, go and see it.”
RTÉ (on State of Exception)
Originally due to premiere at Dublin Dance Festival in 2020, this work has been long in the making. In 2017, Catherine Young took her dance company to Palestine to perform her critically acclaimed work Welcoming the Stranger. Compelled by the experience, she returned in 2019 to find a way to share this overwhelming feeling of being lifted and held by the generosity and kindness of a people, in a place where nothing is normal. A place where everyday life, dreams and aspirations are stifled, basic rights denied, and lives lived unfulfilled.
With a cast of international dancers and stunning visuals by filmmaker Luca Truffarelli, this moving performance places us in the footsteps of ordinary Palestinians, allowing us to feel their enduring sense of injustice, urgency and need for action. A chance to look and listen more deeply, especially to those whose voices are often unheard.
Credits
- Created by Catherine Young in collaboration with:
- Filmmaker Luca Truffarelli
- Dramaturg Hanna Slattne
- Dancers (live) Salma Ataya, Vanessa Guevara, Amir Sabra
- Dancers (filmed) Yousef Areh Sbeih, Abdallah Damra, Abdalwahab Hmidan, Ahmed Kullab, Ameed Sayeh, Mohammed Smahneh
- Musicians Martin Schaerer (Music Director/Percussion), Jade O’Connor (Voice/Spoken Word), Jon Sanders (Mandola) & Colm Ó Snodaigh (Flute & Whistle)
- Irish Language Poetry & Coach Mícheál Ó Dubhghaill
- Lx Design Sarah Jane Shiels
- Sound Engineer & Sound Design Alan Kelly
- Text & Sound Design Fiona Sheil
- Set Design Luca Truffarelli, Catherine Young
- Costumes Catherine Young
- Production Manager Mikee Lonergan
- Line Producer Kristyn Fontanella
- QLab Programmer Michael Stapleton
- Chief Lx June Gonzalez Iriarte
- Photography Luca Truffarelli, Alaa Aliabdallah
- Marketing Conall Ó Riain, DDF, Backstage Theatre
Commissioned by Dublin Dance Festival. Co-presented by Dublin Dance Festival and the Abbey Theatre in association with Backstage Theatre. Funded by The Arts Council of Ireland | An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Backstage Theatre, Kerry County Council, Siamsa Tíre, and supported by Shawbrook Dance, Dance Limerick, University of Limerick & A.M. Qattan Foundation.
