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Ireland's first dance archive to open

The University of Limerick recently announced the establishment of Ireland 's first national dance archive to be based at the Glucksman Library. By Shelley Marsden - 18/12/09

The Dance Archive of Ireland will be established through seed funding of €40,000 from the Arts Council and came about through initiatives carried out by Dance Research Forum Ireland, a body set up in 2003 by Dr Catherine Foley, Director of the MA Ethnochoreology and MA Irish Traditional Dance Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick.

Dance Research Forum Ireland received an award from the Arts Council in 2008 to carry out a feasibility report in connection with the establishment of a national dance archive in Ireland .

Dr Catherine Foley, Chair of Dance Research Forum Ireland said "Following years of effort, the National Dance Archive of Ireland is now becoming a reality; it is a historic moment for all dance in Ireland . Dance Research Forum Ireland owes an enormous debt of gratitude to the Arts Council for the awarding of this seed funding"

The report, written by dance historian, Dr Victoria O'Brien, established the existence of a wealth of dance archival material, which to date has been difficult to access.

Since the completion of the feasibility report, Dance Research Forum Ireland together with the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, the Glucksman Library at the University of Limerick, and the Arts Council have worked together towards the establishment of an accessible dance archive.

Commenting on the announcement, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Professor of Music and Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University said:

'The establishment of the Dance Archive of Ireland at the University of Limerick, is a direct follow on from the inspired and inclusive vision of Dance Research Forum Ireland, across ballet, contemporary, traditional, popular and world dance genres."

www.irishworldacademy.ie

www.danceresearchforumireland.org