Round Table Discussion Sustainable Connections – a Collaborative Exploration

This conversation aims to deepen our understanding of the ecology of the world around, and within, us. What does it mean to “find your place on the planet; to dig in, and take responsibility from there”* ? Through facilitated discussion which invites participation from the audience we will open avenues for dialogue and create space to share knowledge and wisdom.

This event is curated by Feimatta Conteh, Environmental Sustainability Manager of Factory International. Panelists include: Emma Blake Morsi (Multi-disciplinary arts producer), Liz Roche (choreographer), Máire Scully (Corporate Brand & Strategic Marketing Manager, ESB), Robbie Synge (choreographer) and Taneli Törma (choreographer).

Attendees are also invited to see the Kindred digital dance installation by choreographer Liz Roche and projection, motion and interaction design specialists, Lightscape. Exploring sustainability and human connection, this innovative new work will be open to the public at ESB’s new sustainable headquarters on Fitzwilliam Street from 19 – 28 May.

Alongside the discussion, DDF commissioned Feimatta Conteh to curate a series of three Digital Essays on the topic of sustainability:
1. Carbon Footprint, Queer Compost by Fearghus Ó Conchúir
2. Ecology of Entanglements by Karishma Rafferty
3. A Ceilidh of Moths by Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan

The Sustainable Connections discussion and Digital Essay series is supported by Capacity Building Arts Funding from The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and is part of Dublin Dance Festival's Moving Futures project, commissioned by the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts.

Round Table Panelist Biographies:

Emma Blake Morsi
With over a decade in the creative industry, Emma Blake Morsi is an award-winning Multi-Disciplinary Arts Producer, Production & Partnerships Manager of Enviral, Non-Exec Director of Rising Arts Agency and former Bristol City Council’s Culture Board member. A prolific storyteller, she predominantly works across film, photography, writing, design, events and sound, and has been training as a creative intersectional environmentalist following years in STEM. Her research consisted of developing a sustainable circular system repurposing waste substances to experimental hybrid tools for inclusive nature-inspired experiences and producing inspiring environmentally-conscious AdGreen & Albert productions. With international projects and creative public engagement activations across the Middle East, the US, Africa and Europe, she challenges approaches to inclusion and innovation in the spaces she works, producing work that can be experienced by all but most importantly gives visibility to and engages those from marginalised groups.z

Liz Roche
Liz is the choreographer and Artistic Director of Dublin based dance company Liz Roche Company. The company has produced and toured her works performing throughout Ireland and internationally, most notably at the Baryshnikov Arts Centre, New York, The Abbey Theatre, The South Bank Centre, London, Meet in Beijing Festival and Powerhouse Brisbane. As part of her company’s residency at the Irish World Academy, UL she co-curates the annual Modes of Capture Symposium. Her work has been commissioned by The Abbey Theatre, Dublin Dance Festival, Cork Opera House, The National Ballet of China, Goethe Institut Irland, Maiden Voyage Dance NI, Arcane Collective, Croi Glan Integrated Dance, Scottish Dance Theatre, DTI and Cois Ceim. She has choreographed extensively in theatre and opera at The Gate Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, Landmark Productions, Lyric Theatre Belfast, Irish National Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, National Opera of Korea, Rossini Opera Festival, Opernhaus Zurich, Opera de Nice and Opera Ireland. In 2020 Liz was elected to Aosdána in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland.

Robbie Synge
Robbie Synge lives in Strathspey in the Scottish Highlands where he works slowly with the people, landscape and contexts of the place. He originally studied biology before working in care and education. His work playfully explores connections with materials, objects and human/non-human bodies of our world. Investigating parallels around land restoration and human wellbeing, his on-going residency in partnership with Cairngorms Connect and the European Endangered Landscapes Programme was highly commended in 2022. Other on-going work includes performance and film collaboration with Julie Cleves, exploring an embodied, cooperative approach to physical access. To Earth was recently premiered at Nottingham Contemporary (Nottdance) and BALTIC Gateshead (2022). Stage works include Ensemble (2018), a series of physical interactions between a group of diverse ages 30s – 80s, and Douglas (2014) is a solo of interactions with objects, both presented and touring via the Aerowaves network. Robbie’s priorities lie in developing encounters between local people and artists in his rural context.

Taneli Törma
Taneli Törmä is an award-winning choreographer and performing artist and artistic director of LOCATION X. As an international choreographer, performer, fundraiser, idea maker and curator he focuses on developing the performing arts towards a more diverse, intercultural, multi-perspectial and innovative form. Taneli Törmä's/LOCATION X's works have been shown in more than 20 countries. They have been selected twice for the Aerowaves - Dance Across Europe priority list. The goal of LOCATION X is to create new bridges for contemporary dance and to find new audiences and collaboration partners for it - a platform for curating new perspectives and views about dance. Taneli Törmä’s works are often immersive. He is driven by the interest to create situations and experiences, that will carry a specific feeling and movement towards the public - always moved by the question on who is dancing and how and where we can dance today in our everyday lives?

*Gary Snyder, Turtle Island