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Bio

Niamh is a queer, Irish dance artist with a passion for creating performances with the audience at its heart. Her work takes a hybrid approach across live and digital platforms.

Niamh was recently interviewed on TG4s Imeall. It is available to view here: https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/play/?pid=6318399505112&title=Imeall&series=Imeall&pcode=639953&genre=Siamsaiocht

Niamh’s work has been performed at festivals in Ireland, Scotland and Denmark. Her work has been supported by Creative Scotland, The Work Room, CityMoves, Dance Base, Hospitalfield, Scottish Youth Theatre, Stellar Quines, Liz Roche Company, Dance Ireland Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre.

Niamh's most recent work "A Changeling Wife" is inspired by Tipperary woman Bridget Cleary who was burnt to death for not eating a third piece of toast. This was a collaboration with dancer Agnieszka Mencel, lighting designer Michael Rathbun, costume designer Alison Brown, dramaturg Clive Andrews and composers Zoe Katsilerou and Eilon Morris. It is currently available for bookings.

“How to deserve a mountain?” (2021), another recent work was commissioned by Dawn Hartley for What Moves You?, to develop an outdoor solo around the theme of landscape in partnership with The Brunton in Scotland. It has been performed at further events in Dublin, Dundee and Musselburgh.

Niamh has performed professionally in works by Dawn Hartley, Elizabeth Schilling, Hannah Tuuliki and The Bureau of Silly Ideas.

Niamh’s projects for young people include Fort Building Challenge with Edinburgh International Children's Festival (2020) and Tramway (2021), Teddy Bears Picnic Adventures with Starcatchers (2020), Feel like Dancing with Dance Base (2020), and Trick or Treat with The Irish Consulate General in Edinburgh (2020). Niamh was also an Artist for Sea Path by Quee MacArthur and Dawn Hartley in partnership with The Byre Theatre (2020). Why does the Sea Rush to Shore? was created in 2021 in collaboration with Michael Rathbun as Part of Lighting Design for Dance 2021 with The Lir, Dance Limerick, Liz Roche Company and Dance Ireland.

Niamh has taught for companies including Scottish Dance Theatre, CityMoves, The Space and Byre Youth and Community arts, designing classes for all ages and levels with a focus on fun and creativity. This has taken place in person and more recently, online and outdoors. She has also lead specially designed dance sessions for people with MS.

Niamh graduated from the Scottish School of Contemporary dance in 2018. She was a part of Dance Base DEBS program 2019-2021 mentored by Angus Balbernie.

Photo credit: Brian Hartley

Artistic Statement

My work starts with the listening.
Listening to the moment,
To the body,
And to the story that needs to be told.

Dance is an artform that challenges and leaves space.

I instil my work with improvisational elements to include the performer as they come as they are,
where they are;
with their power, autonomy and spirit.

Authenticity, play and aliveness are at the heart of what I make.

I aim to create performance that delves into the everyday nonsense, embracing the unknown and engaging with the complexities of being human that engulf us all.

I often begin by investigating tales, myths, legends and notions from the near and far past bringing them to liberation in human movements.

I further embrace the unknown by collaborating with artists from all disciplines and backgrounds so that we may challenge and be challenged.