Dylan to quickstep it to Cavan

Many lasting relationships have been sparked on the dancefloor, and Luail hope to build a rapport with the Cavan public by asking them out for a boogie.

Luail is the Irish National Dance Company, which formed last year. Announcing their arrival in style they recruited professional dance artists to catch the public’s imagination in each of the four provinces.

Dylan Quinn is the face of Luail in Ulster for a ‘Dance Corner’ community engagement project.

“Due to the complicated history of the province of Ulster I decided rather than do something in one place - Fermanagh - I would go around the province and meet and dance with people where they are at. We’re out for 32 days between June and August from beaches to fields to town centres to street corners,” he enthuses.

Dylan had a portable ‘Dance Corner’ specially constructed by John Kelly of Fermanagh which includes a dancefloor and benches which can be plonked anywhere. Passers-by will then be invited to dance along with Dylan to music.

“I’m just boogying away,” says Dylan of the simplicity of the idea. “I boogie away from 11am to 4pm.”

That’s some epic boogying the Celt marvels.

“There is a bit of a lunch break sometimes,” he concedes, “but if people keep me going - then I’ll keep going.”

Dylan is eager for people of all ages and abilities to join in, in whatever way they can, and he will happily bop along.

“It’s all about supporting or helping people to engage with dance in any way at all.”

A dance card offers various options to act as a prompt if people wish.

“We’re kind of following that Irish tradition of old time dances in the community halls and church halls,” he explains.

‘Dance Corner’ will come to Swanlinbar and Cavan Town on June 23 and 24 respectively, and again in Cavan Town on June 27 and finishes up in Belturbet on June 28.

A renowned dancer and choreographer, Dylan is unusual in that he has sustained a career while living outside one of the main cities. Anyone who caught his incredible project in Swanlibar last summer ‘Anything to Declare’ will know the calibre of the Fermanagh man’s work. Dylan hopes the Dance Corner will feed into encouraging others to see they too can pursue dance.

“It’s about demonstrating it is possible,” he says. “It’s not easy, it’s not without its challenges but it is possible and we want to encourage more people to do it.

“I wanted to meet people in smaller locations and demonstrate that dance happening in those places is as interesting and as exciting and engaging as anywhere else.”

He views the ‘Dance Corner’ project as a chance to for Luail get “a foot in the door” of Ulster.

“It’s really about introducing each other to each other and spreading a bit of joy through dance.

“It’s a long term idea to build up relationships, opportunities and networks for dance artists to live and work in rural Ireland across the island.

“We have a dearth of artists who are delivering projects in rural areas, and a dearth of opportunities, and yet there are still communities who want to engage and there are still communities who would benefit from engaging in dance in all its forms.”

Given Michael Keegan-Dolan’s group Teac Damsa staged wonderful performances in both Mullahoran and Killinkere GAA halls in recent years, and of course Dylan’s own ‘Anything to Declare’ in Swanlinbar, he suspects the public is generally more open to contemporary dance than ever before.

“Yes I do, I think it’s about getting out into the communities and delivering it in those areas - and that’s a challenge.”