Dancers join musicians in rian unplugged
Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre brings 'Rian Unplugged' on a nationwide Irish tour this September, beginning on Wednesday night, 17th September in the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan. Featuring eight hugely talented dancers from around the world, they will share the stage with five of Ireland’s top musicians in a joyful pairing of dance and traditional Irish music.
Rian is directed and choreographed by Michael Keegan-Dolan with musical direction from Liam Ó Maonlaí. It is an expressive cultural hybrid, tapping into Irish traditions with influences from faraway places.
Winner of a 2013 Bessie (New York Dance and Performance Award) for Outstanding Production, Rian premiered in the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2011. It has toured to the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Italy, USA, Austria, France, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. Rian has been seen and loved by more than 45,000 people across the world.
This ‘unplugged’ version is performed away from the traditional stage bringing the audience up close to the performance, creating an intimate and magical experience.
Fabulous Beats Dance Theatre
Described as “one of the most daring and highly original dance theatre companies in the world,” (Times) Fabulous Beast is an international ensemble based in County Longford, led by artistic director Michael Keegan-Dolan.
The company is best known for several ground-breaking and controversial productions, delivered in a unique style blending narrative and physical theatre, dance, speech and song. These include two Olivier award-nominated productions: Giselle (2003) and The Bull (2005), and also James, Son of James (2007). The Rite of Spring (2009), a co-production with English National Opera also nominated for an Olivier Award.
Michael Keegan-Dolan
Director and Choreographer
Born in 1969, Michael Keegan-Dolan lives in his family ancestral home in County Longford and he is the founder and Artistic Director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre.
Productions for Fabulous Beast include: Sunday Lunch (1997), Fragile (1999), The Flowerbed (2000), The Christmas Show(2001), Giselle (2003), The Bull (2005), James, Son of James (2007), The Rite of Spring (2009) ,a co-production with English National Opera (ENO), Rian (2011) and a Stravinky Double Bill, Rite of Spring & Petroushka. .
In 2012, he directed and choreographed a new production of Handel’s masterpiece Julius Caesar at the London Coliseum, for English National Opera.
Rian won a Bessie (New York Dance and Performance Award) for best production in 2013 was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre award in 2011. Giselle, The Bull and The Rite of Spring were all nominated for Olivier awards and in 2008 Keegan-Dolan won the UK Critics’ Circle award for best modern choreography (The Bull).
Keegan-Dolan’s other choreographic work includes: Ariodante, Manon and Alcina (ENO); The Rake’s Progress (La Monnaie, Royal Opera House Covent Garden); Faust and Macbeth (Royal Opera House); The Duchess of Malfi, Carousel and The Oedipus Plays (National Theatre, London); Idomeneo (De Vlaamse Opera); The Love for Three Oranges (Cologne Opera); Pique Dame and Ariodante (Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich); as well as Ariodante and Manon (Houston Grand Opera).
Michael is an associate artist with Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
Liam Ó Maonlaí
Musical Director
Born in Dublin, Liam is best-known as a founding member of Hothouse Flowers who formed in 1985 and have been producing music consistently ever since, including Glastonbury Festival this year. Liam released his debut solo album Rian in 2005, mixing Irish music with music from all over the world, and more recently released a new album, “To Be Touched”, on his own label. In July 2011 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Fiddler’s Green International Festival.
Liam’s musical life started with his parents, both passionate musicians, and his father taught him to sing in his native tongue. He has been a finalist on the tin whistle, piano and as a singer many years over, and in 1981 he won the all Ireland final as a bódhran player under 18.
Liam has travelled extensively in Mali, where he played the renowned Desert Festival, Australia, Japan, America, Europe, Scandinavia, Morocco and India. As he has travelled, he has met and played with the traditional players of these places. “I believe the style known as ‘séan nos’ carries a sense of the soul of the land and the people who are awake in that land. I feel, when in the company of other cultures, the singing of this style opens a window into what it is that connects us.”