Alexandre Iseli leads Tipperary Dance Festival with international and Irish performances
This October, Tipperary Dance Festival will welcome internationally acclaimed choreographers, leading Irish artists, and local communities for a vibrant programme of performances, workshops, and creative encounters.
From Thurles’ The Source Arts Centre to Clonmel’s STAC Chapel and Nenagh Arts Centre, audiences across the county will experience world-class dance in intimate, welcoming settings.
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Artistic Director Alexandre Iseli has curated a programme where international creation meets Irish artistry, inviting audiences not just to watch but to take part in dance. The festival opens in Thurles with Satiri by Italian choreographer Virgilio Sieni, performed with live cello, and later presents Impasse by Nigeria-born Irish choreographer Mufutau Yusuf, a powerful exploration of race, identity, and belonging.
In Clonmel, Alexandre Iseli’s new work Replicas shares the stage with Junk Ensemble’s Dances Like a Bomb, a tender duet celebrating the ageing body. Audiences will also see works-in-progress from Tipperary Dance’s international residency programme, featuring artists from Munich and the Canary Islands.
Families are invited to enjoy a Triple Bill at Nenagh Arts Centre, while children across the county will be introduced to live performance through the Dance in Schools programme, featuring ROLLING! by choreographer Mónica Muñoz.
Workshops and masterclasses provide opportunities for dancers of all levels to learn from world-class artists, and professional development sessions bring curators, programmers, and artists together to reflect on creativity and sustainability in the arts.
Since its founding in 2008 by Alexandre Iseli and Jazmín Chiodi, Tipperary Dance has grown into one of Ireland’s leading contemporary dance organisations, connecting local communities with international artists while supporting creative practice year-round.
Iseli describes the festival’s ethos: “Dance can help us cultivate ways to live together. This starts with seeing differences, embracing them, and maintaining curiosity and dialogue.”
Funded by the Arts Council and Tipperary County Council, and supported by national and international partners, Tipperary Dance Festival continues to transform the county each autumn into a hub for contemporary dance.
