The 2019 Edition An exhilarating, inclusive programme that celebrated DDF’s 15th Edition 01 May—19 May
3 weeks, 12 500 attendees, 14 venues, 95 artists and 29 events. Our 15th Edition was a roaring success, showcasing exceptional dance and reaching a wide and diverse audience.
Collective release, worlds collide, every body moves. From 1-19 May 2019, over 12,500 people joined us to celebrate our 15th Edition - a world of party, politics and power. An exhilarating and inclusive programme of events played to packed houses and reached a wide and diverse audience, with breathtaking performances from local challengers and international superstars in Dublin's top venues.
THISISPOPBABY's smash-hit RIOT opened the Festival with a WOW, packing out 6 performances at Vicar Street. At the Abbey Theatre, we marvelled at iconic choreography from international dance giants, including the legendary Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and witnessed star choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Colin Dunne performing their new collaboration Session, a DDF commission. We considered the end of the world, connected live with artists in Gaza and explored human connection and relationships at Project Arts Centre and Beckett Theatre.
We celebrated dance for all ages with a gorgeous, multi-cultural family show at O’Reilly Theatre, in partnership with The Ark. At Meeting House Square, we saw gender stereotypes turned upside-down with Princesses Can be Pirates and were blown away by street dance heroes at the hugely popular Top 8 Street Dance Battle. At The Button Factory, we boogied the night away at That’s Life’s Bounce Club Night for adults with intellectual disabilities. Meanwhile, The Digital Hub played host to The Missy Elliott Project, an innovative programme of creative workshops for young women of colour.
We supported Irish dance artists with residency, showcase and networking opportunities, with the acclaimed Liz Roche Company completing its final year as DDF Company-in Residence 2017-2019.
All this, plus workshops, screenings, in-development sharings, audience discussions and lots more, made the 15th Edition one to remember. HUGE THANKS to all who made it happen and all those who joined us to share extraordinary dance experiences in Dublin.
See the 2019 Edition come alive
Watch footage from festival events, hear from audiences, get a glimpse into the rehearsal room and more in the DDF2019 Video Library.
Snapshots from the 15th Edition
Spot some familiar faces at the DDF2019 Launch Party, Opening Night and Festival events.
© Matthew McConnell
© Matthew McConnell
© Jon Riordan
© Jon Riordan
Inside the 2019 Edition
Interviews, podcasts, news and views… get the inside scoop on DDF2019 with the DDF Blog
DDF2019 in the press
Media and press features from the 15th Edition.
Dublin Dance Festival 2019: stunningly artistic and utterly uplifting
Seona Mac Reamoinn, The Irish Times
What shines through is the power of communality, most simply of just being together.”
Michael Seaver, The Irish Times
A thrilling night of dance innovation, experiment and general delight.
The Irish Independent
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Poetry about the big picture can be epic… Similar is the ambition of Virgilio Sieni’s 2008 dance masterpiece, staged here for Dublin Dance Festival.
Musings In Intermissions
A very sophisticated piece… a fitting end to an impressive and wide-ranging Festival
No More Workshorse
#DDF2019
With over 1000 mentions and 330K impressions during May, our Instagram, Facebook & Twitter feeds were buzzing with #DDF2019.
#DDF2019 - 2019 Edition on SocialDDF Extended in 2019
Our 15th Edition extended far beyond the stage with The Missy Elliott Project, DDF Company in Residence Liz Roche Company, Bounce Club Night, First Looks, Master Classes, Screenings, Fast Track to Dance and more.