Longford Dance Fest (LDF)
The first weekend after Easter a dance festival takes place in Longford and Shawbrook.
Longford Dance fest 2008
Want to see some of the quirkiest, most skillful and creative young dancers in Ireland today? Longford Dance Fest (27th-29th March), is a three-day festival of dance performances, competitions and awards. Undeniable proof that the Midlands are no longer a cultural Siberia. There will be a dawn dance in Shawbrook forest, a screening of the best international dance movies, performances by renowned international dancers and master-classes with famous Jazz, ballet and contemporary performers.
This is a unique opportunity to sample and support the very best of young dance talent in Ireland. Come on, surprise yourselves! Have you ever witnessed a dawn dance performance in a midland forest? Or the intensity of a dance competition with Ireland’s most talented young dancers competing for funds to develop their careers. You owe yourself the experience of checking out Longford Dance Fest in Backstage Theatre and Shawbrook Dance School, celebrating thirty years of dance in Longford.
SCHEDULE
Thurs 27th & Fri 28th March 2008 - Backstage Theatre, Longford.
10am Irish National Dance Awards
Judges: Stuart Beckett, Olivia Pickford, and Catherine Guerin.
7pm both evenings The Irish National Youth Dance Company will perform FlamingoFeather: PASSAGE, (conceived and directed by Ilana Gorban and Simon Rice), followed by FlamingoFeather: POMEGRANATE, performed by Simon Rice (also directed by Ilana Gorban and Simon Rice).
The best INDA competitors will get a chance to reshow their work before prize-giving.
Sat 29th March – Shawbrook Dance School.
5.15am!!!! A silent dawn performance "Dancers walk smitten with silence & nature" by Armelle Devinon & Compagne LLE in Shawbrook forest. (Bring your own mug as a free French breakfast will follow).
9.30am Stuart Beckett Master class (ex-Royal Ballet, currently teaching at Rambert),
11am Olivia Pickford Master class (teaching jazz at Doreen Bird and Bodyworks studio).
1pm lunch Philip's famous veggie soup and bread,
2pm Catherine Guerin Contemporary/Feldencrais Master class (Heidelberg/Vienna)
7.30pm The Shawbrook Dance Awards commence in the Big Studio. This is a unique opportunity for serious young dancers of the future to compete for money prizes (last year's winner, Cliodhna Hoey, now dances in "James" for The Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre Company).
The Irish Modern Dance Theatre will perform while the judges retire to make their decision.
Dance Films from dance companies in Ireland and abroad will be shown in Shawbrook's Theatre throughout the day.
All Backstage bookings: 04357888 www.backstagetheatre.ie
More Info and All Shawbrook bookings: 0449357570 www.shawbrook.org | 
