Plurabelle
A Hope it Rains commission for Galway 2020, European Capital of Culture
What is the relationship between traditional Irish dance and traditional Irish weather? Kristyn Fontanella draws from her knowledge of traditional dance to make new rhythmical patterns and shapes inspired by the fall of rain on her body and the South Galway landscape. Listening to the raindrops, to the wind. Listening to what is happening around to hear what is happening within. Finding new movement patterns from playing in puddles where raindrops fell. |
IN LiMBO
2020 IRISH NATIONAL TOUR
Hear what the audience was saying about IN LiMBOIt is a strong and diverse piece that deserves to be seen by a wide audience -Morgan Quinn, No More Workhorse An Award-winning Arts Website
Another Riverdance... a modern Riverdance A historical moment for Irish Dance |
Sitting in-between the two worlds of traditional and contemporary, IN LiMBO takes a journey where few have gone within Irish step dancing. Four live musicians and an ensemble of six dancers have taken the basics of what makes this tradition so attractive and translated it into a new but still recognizable language of music and dance. This production introduces the audience to another possibility within a dance form that they thought they already knew. Duration 50 minutes, no interval. "IN LiMBO seeks to answer the question 'What Is Irish Dance?' and Kristyn Fontanella Dance present a compelling answer in their engaging performance that sits perfectly between moods and genres. Never straying into the alienating effect sometimes created by contemporary dance, and maintaining flexibility in their interpretation of traditional Irish dance, the company have created a unique space within their medium. They have found a way to extract recognisable elements from genres and blend them harmoniously. The result is a sequence of often seemingly instinctual movements that blend seamlessly into highly choreographed (but never rigid) dance."
- Laura Cummins, Limerick Fringe 2017 |
Kristyn Fontanella Dance
As a dance artist, producer, educator and recipient of the 2018 Traditional Arts Project Award, Kristyn Fontanella has toured with Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and as the lead female role in Gaelforce Dance. She has trained in many forms of dance which have lead to her unique expression as a choreographer.
As a choreographer, her work uses her knowledge of Irish traditional dance in a partnership with contemporary dance. This integration uses the strength and technical skills of her past with the new elements of her forward momentum in the contemporary dance world.