Ireland

Legitimate Bodies Dance Company was founded in the Irish Midlands in 2007 by Nick Bryson and Cristina Goletti which coincided with the birth of the ground-breaking comedy contact improvisation ‘Hanging in There’ performed by Nick with Damian Punch. This work led us to become a Studiotrade founding member in 2010 when we were performing in Tanzmesse, Düsseldorf. The profile of the company changed to running small international dance festivals for Ireland (‘If Only’ four times, followed by ‘Encompass’ in Bray, Wicklow in 2015), and then evolved as we look to become a community of dancers. We support each other’s practice in the Wicklow and Kildare counties, offering space in the area at the Croi Anu space.

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We work towards three goals, which are in line with our Studiotrade membership. We support, research and develop our dance art practice as well as other artists from outside our two counties (Erica Borges, Ohr Dance Company, in Portlaoise). We are now in the phase of opening out to connect with dance groups nationally,  particularly through youth dance, as well as in Europe and USA (Jane Hawley www.movementfundamentals.org).  In 2015 Legitimate Bodies Dance Company performed in the Studiotrade Platform in Cannes with the award-winning integrated work ‘The Point at Which It Last Made Sense’. The current last goal is to create a permanent base for dance in the Wicklow/Kildare.