Echo Echo and Dan Shipsides
Echo Echo Dance collaborate with artist Dan Shipsides for unique coastal arts project
Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company, known as Northern Ireland's leading Dance Company is collaborating with respected fine artist and Belfast-based climber Dan Shipsides for an unusual residential art project starting on the Donegal coast in September.
Vertical. Nature. Base. (or V.N.B.) will see Echo Echo's Artistic Director Steve Batts and Dan Shipsides set up camp at a beautiful cove near Shroove beach in County Donegal for two weeks. There they will explore climbing not just as a sport but also as a creative activity and how dance and movement relates to climbing and the landscape.
Echo Echo invites interested and intrepid people to join the camp for two weekends of public events at the cove starting 2nd September. These include discussions, film screenings, climbing, and movement investigation. Overnight camping is optional.
After the two-week residential, Steve and Dan will recreate the camp in Echo Echo's new premises in Bishop Street as an installation exhibition with performances.
The project is part of Echo Echo's Into Contact and is funded by Legacy Trust UK's Connections programme in Northern Ireland. Legacy Trust UK is an independent charity set up to help build a cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Connections is managed by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Echo Echo collaborator and fine artist, Dan Shipsides said:
"It's really an experimental process to see what comes out of exploring crossovers and boundaries around dance, climbing, sport and art within a particular environment - neither of these fields have fixed boundaries and with all of them it's important to think of where they happen and what that location brings to the equation - so here it's important to experience an environment creatively and with the environment in many ways leading the activity."
Dugald Mackie, Chair of Legacy Trust UK, said:
"The games are about more than just sport. They are a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland to millions of people across the world. We believe that these projects will inspire and encourage people throughout Northern Ireland to get involved and will leave a lasting legacy for the region."
Vertical. Nature. Base. weekend events will take place on Friday 2nd- Sunday 4th and Friday 9th- Sunday 11th September followed by the exhibition opening on Saturday 24th September finishing on 1st October.
More info here.
Visit the project blog here.
If you'd like to participate, please contact us to be added to the interest list and be kept up to date with details - info@echoechodance.com or 028 7130 8883.
Echo Echo is moving!
1st July 2011
Echo Echo is moving!!
Please accept our apologies for any disruption in communication with us over the next week. Echo Echo is moving to a new home at 13 Bishop Street, Derry-Londonderry.
We will change phone number to 028 7130 8883 from 6th July (hopefully!)
Until then, you can contact us via email at info@echoechodance.com or use our facebook page and we will try our best to get back to you as soon as we can.
We appreciate your patience and support as we move and look forward to welcoming you at our new premises over the summer and beyond.
Best Wishes,
Echo Echo DTC
Ursula's Memorial Weekend 1st-3rd July
Dear Friend,
I am writing to let you know that Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company is hosting a series of public events to remember and to celebrate the life of our colleague and friend Ursula Laeubli, who died on the 14th April. (See memorial website)
The events will take place over the weekend of the 1st-3rd July in The Foyle Arts Building, University of Ulster in Derry. It will be relaxed and friendly and you are welcome to join us for all or part of the weekend.
We are organising several events so that we can celebrate and say goodbye in all the ways appropriate to our various relationships with Ursula.
If you feel you'd just like to gather for a while to hear people remember and speak about Ursula you can come to the Saturday morning session, which will be the "formal" bit of the weekend. If you would like to say a few words please let me know so we can programme you in.
If you'd like to share some dancing come to Saturday afternoon. The class is open to anyone, young or old, male or female, experienced or beginner and is led by our wonderful colleagues Ayesha Mailey, who danced with Ursula from her very first visit to Derry in 1996, and Emily Welther who has been a constant presence in the Echo Echo ensemble for many years.
If you have a performance of a song, a dance, a poem, or a video to show, let us know and you can do that on Saturday evening. We know that there are several performances planned already so you could also just come along to watch.
And then, the beach. Ursula loved Kinnegoe Bay. She took all her visitors from far and wide, for a walk on that beautiful beach. We will walk together there on Sunday morning. Join us if you wish.
Please do consider joining us for all or part of the weekend. If you have pictures, memories, videos, writing, ideas for rituals or activities that you would like to suggest or share, please bring them along.
We are not sure how many people to expect at these events so if those of you who are sure that you will be there could let us know, it may give us some idea of numbers.
Steve Batts
Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company
Programme of Events
Friday 1st July
20.00 - 21.00: Sitting Meditation
(Please arrive on time for sitting to begin at 20.10)
Saturday 2nd July
10.30: Buffet breakfast gathering
11.00 - 12.30: An appreciation of Ursula's life. Speakers, and opportunity to share memories.
14.00- 15.30: Movement Workshop open to all celebrating Ursula's work led by Ayesha Mailey and Emily Welther.
19.00 - 21.00: Informal performance, showings, projections, offerings.
21.00- 22.00: Dance, talk, share...
Sunday 3rd July
11.00: Gathering at Kinnegoe Bay, Inishowen, Co Donegal for a group walk together on Ursula's favourite beach.
Please note that Friday and Saturday's events will be held in the dance studio at:
FOYLE ARTS BUILDING
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER
MAGEE CAMPUS
DERRY/LONDONDERRY
See Map
(Entrance via Lawrence Hill or Strand Road and parking is free of charge)
For any further information, please contact the Echo Echo office on +44(0)28 7134 2266
or email info@echoechodance.com
:: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 :: 
