Dublin Dance Festival marked a major milestone in 2025 with its 21st Edition, bringing two exhilarating weeks of dance that pushed boundaries, sparked connection, and celebrated movement in all its forms.
We opened with the spellbinding Chora at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, where Ireland’s National Dance Company, Luail, joined forces with the Irish Chamber Orchestra to deliver a performance that was both fierce and tender – an opening night to remember.
From there, the city came alive with sold-out shows at iconic venues, powerful new Irish works, and a bold commitment to accessibility and inclusion woven throughout the programme. From midday talks to midnight DJ sets, somatic workshops to high-energy cyphers, this Edition pulsed with life, curiosity and community.
Take a scroll through this year’s gallery and relive the highlights of a festival that honoured the past, celebrated the present, and looked boldly toward the future of dance.
Opening Night at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
A breathtaking opener at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre: Chora brought together Luail – Ireland’s National Dance Company and the Irish Chamber Orchestra in a stunning fusion of music and movement. It was powerful. It was poetic. It was the kind of night that reminds us why we dance.
Moyra D'Arcy, Tara Mackin, Miranda Driscoll, Emer McMahon, Alisson Rocha, Liz Roche, Niamh Mongey, Michelle Cahill @ Brian McEvoy
Liz Roche, Carina McGrail, Jazmin Chiodi © Brian McEvoy
Maureen Kennelly, Liz Roche, Lisa McLoughlin @ Brian McEvoy
Jazmin Chiodi, Benjamin Perchet @ Brian McEvoy
Inna Mazurenko @ Brian McEvoy
Carina McGrail, Jazmin Chiodi, Karen Howley, Anna Walsh, Alessandra Azeviche, Anne-Marie Smith, Tobi Omoteso @ Brian McEvoy
Guinlon Wang, Sean Crescenzi and members of the Dunne & Crescenzi family @ Brian McEvoy
Jessie Thompson, Robyn Byrne, Alex Vostovo and Rocio Dominguez © Brian McEvoy
Guy Nader, Maria Campos @ Brian McEvoy
Maeve Staunton, Bill Oshafi @ Brian McEvoy
Niamh Mongey, Caroline Kennedy @ Brian McEvoy
Miranda Driscoll, Liz Roche, Gerard Keenan, Catriona Murphy, Moyra D'Arcy @ Brian McEvoy
Katie Davenport @ Brian McEvoy
Ciara McGowan, Cat Robertson @ Brian McEvoy
Roberta Nolr, Adele Kirwan, Elaine Connolly, Lisa McLoughlin, Victoria O'Brien @ Brian McEvoy
Gail McCabe, David Spears @ Brian McEvoy
Wang Yeu-Kwn, Jazmin Chiodi, Elaine Liu @ Brian McEvoy
Catriona McLaughlin, Jazmin Chiodi, Mark O'Brien @ Brian McEvoy
Alessandra Azeviche, Jazmin Chiodi, Yves Lorrhan @ Brian McEvoy
Jazmin Chiodi, Ambassador of France in Ireland Celine Place @ Brian McEvoy
Interspaces: Lunchtime Talks
Hosted in a relaxed new format with ISL interpretation throughout, Interspaces brought audiences closer to the minds behind the movement, featuring engaging talks with Oona Doherty, Boris Charmatz, and Qudus Onikeku that explored the pulse of contemporary dance and the ideas shaping its future.
Dr Aoife McGrath © Ben O'Neill
Tomi Omoteso, Qudus Onikeku © Ben O'Neill
Tobi Omoteso © Ben O'Neill
Mary Nunan © Ben O'Neill
Oona Doherty © Ben O'Neill
Boris Charmatz © Ben O'Neill
Qudus Onikeku © Ben O'Neill
Boris Charmatz, Mary Nunan, Elzbieta Cichocka © Ben O'Neill
Oona Doherty, Dr Aoife McGrath, Elzbieta Cichocka © Ben O'Neill
Hip Hop Jam
This high-energy workshop brought the dance floor at Project Arts Centre to life with DJ Onai, open jamming and cyphers led by unstoppable Irish hip hop artist Jessie Thompson and France’s fierce freestyle force, Erine.
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
DJ Set with Qudus Onikeku
What a vibe. Following his dynamic performance Re:INCARNATION at the Abbey Theatre, Qudus took to the decks for an Afrobeats DJ set that pulsed with Yoruba rhythms, soul, funk and raw energy. A true celebration of Nigerian culture, on and off the stage.
© Jonas Puidokas
© Jonas Puidokas
© Jonas Puidokas
© Jonas Puidokas
© Jonas Puidokas
© Jonas Puidokas
© Jonas Puidokas
© Jonas Puidokas
Disco Neurotico
Not just a party but a sensory playground from the UK, with eclectic DJs, a silent disco, immersive UV art, gaming by NeuroGamers Ireland, and cozy chill zones. A night to remember at Project Arts Centre.
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Ben O'Neill
© Kasha Green
Scorched Earth Premiere
The long-awaited premiere of Scorched Earth lit up the Abbey Theatre. A gripping blend of crime drama and dance theatre by Luke Murphy, our our DDF Artist in Residence 2023 – 2025, and his company Attic Projects. Intense, cinematic and unforgettable.
Cathy Levy, Jazmin Chiodi, Luke Murphy, Paul Fahy, Paul Norton @ Mark Stedman
Sarah Dowling, Will Thompson, Ryan O’Neill, Jazmin Chiodi, Tyler Carney-Faleatua, Luke Murphy, Caitríona McLaughlin, Carina McGrail @ Mark Stedman
Luke Murphy and Patrick Murphy @ Mark Stedman
Greta Bourke, Laura Murphy @ Mark Stedman
Mary Wycherley, Grant McLay, Jenny Roche, Lisa McLoughlin @ Mark Stedman
Caitríona McLaughlin, Maura O'Keeffe @ Mark Stedman
Liz Meaney, Barry Dignam @ Mark Stedman
Anna Walsh, Liz Pettitt @ Mark Stedman
Anne-Marie Smith, Anna Walsh @ Mark Stedman
Carina McGrail, Laura Murphy, Catherine Young, Mary Wycherley, Jazmin Chiodi @ Mark Stedman
Dan Colley, Nigel Connor @ Mark Stedman
Caroline Kennedy, Kasha Green @ Mark Stedman
Sebastian Pizarro, Hazel Scully, Charlotte Bruce, Tara Dunne, Jose Peppe @ Mark Stedman
Joanna Sloan, Rhona Coughlan, Louisa Sloan @ Mark Stedman
Alessandra Azeviche, Selma Daniel @ Mark Stedman
Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, Jazmin Chiodi @ Mark Stedman
Gwen Van Spijk, Jazmin Chiodi and Lisa McLoughlin @ Mark Stedman
Lisa McLoughlin, Katherine O'Malley @ Mark Stedman
Patrick Murphy, Emily Terndrup, Maxine Baker @ Mark Stedman
Tyler Carney-Faleatua, Ryan O’Neill, Will Thompson, Luke Murphy, Sarah Dowling @ Mark Stedman
Workshops & Masterclasses
From somatic flow to explosive freestyle, our workshops and masterclasses invited audiences to learn, move, and dive deep. They were led by some of the most exciting names in dance, including Luail – Ireland’s National Dance Company joined by guest choreographers Guy Nader and Maria Campos, as well as Oona Doherty, Qudus Onikeku, Laura Murphy and Paul Donnelly.
Somatic workshop with Laura Murphy © Inna Mazurenko
Somatic yoga workshop with Paul Donnelly © Inna Mazurenko
Somatic yoga workshop with Paul Donnelly © Inna Mazurenko
Masterclass with Qudus Onikeku © Inna Mazurenko
Masterclass with Qudus Onikeku © Inna Mazurenko
Masterclass with Oona Doherty © Inna Mazurenko
Masterclass with Oona Doherty © Inna Mazurenko
Masterclass with Guy Nader and Maria Campos © Inna Mazurenko