SEE, TOUCH, FEEL, DANCE in this 180° virtual reality presentation of FRANCIS FOOTWORK which was filmed live at The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre.

David Bolger’s vibrant production has been loved by audiences and critics alike since it premiered in 2019. It is a magical, empowering tale that celebrates individuality and encourages everyone to dance their own dance. Now we’re transforming the experience to bring it up close and unique to you, wherever you might live – where everyone’s seat is front row centre!  

A typical presentation includes CREATIVE DANCE TALES – where younger audiences will take part in a workshop programme that bookends the VR screening for primary school-aged children to engage, explore, and create dance through kinaesthetic and collaborative learning.  

---

Gallery

AVAILABLE FOR TOURING

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 7+

To book please contact Bridget at bridget@coisceim.com

WHAT AUDIENCES SAID…

“It felt so real – you see things you don’t get to see in a theatre close up, it’s like your own personal show.”

“The dancing was brilliant!”

“It was so cool!”

“I didn’t know what to expect, I want to see more shows like that.”

“It really felt like they were right in the room with me – it made me want to dance!”

WHAT TO EXPECT

When FRANCIS FOOTWORK was filmed, the two eyes of the 180º stereoscopic camera were sitting in the middle of the front row of the theatre – so when you watch through the VR headset, you will feel like you are in the front row too, watching the performance in 3D! You can move your head and choose where you look, just like you would in a theatre. You will be seated in a circle, about a metre from the person next to you. You will receive a sanitised Pico 4k VR headset and CoisCéim’s team will help you so that it fits comfortably.  

The VR presentation is about 35 minutes long. It is followed by a short snack break when chairs are cleared away to make space for CREATIVE DANCE TALES – a physical creative dance workshop with Olwyn Lyons! At this point, parents and carers will leave the space during the 40 – 45 minute dance workshop.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS: Younger audiences aged 7-10 are invited to take part in CREATIVE DANCE TALES. This is a 2-part programme for children who want to dance and are interested in performance. Over the course of 2 sessions – with a workshop before the VR presentation, and one immediately after – children will learn about the key themes and main characters in FRANCIS FOOTWORK. They will be guided through a series of lively exercises and movement tasks to devise and dance their own unique story. Find out more here.

WHAT TO WEAR: If you are taking part in the workshops, please wear trainers and loose, comfortable clothes that you can move in.

WHAT TO BRING: Workshop participants – please bring a bottle of water and a healthy snack for the short break after the VR presentation.

CAST CRISTIAN ENMANUEL DIROCIE, STEPHANIE DUFRESNE, IVONNE KALTER, JONATHAN MITCHELL

WRITER, DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER DAVID BOLGER
MUSIC & SOUND DENIS CLOHESSY
SCENIC, LIGHTING & PROJECTION DESIGN CHRISTOPHER ASH
COSTUME MAREE KEARNS
HAIR & MAKEUP VAL SHERLOCK

virtual reality
DIRECTION Enya Belak
FILMING AND POST-PRODUCTION Igor Crnković
PRODUCER FOR AEROWAVES Anna Arthur
AEROWAVES COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Clàudia Brufau
AEROWAVES DIRECTOR John Ashford
creative dance tales workshop leaders Olwyn lyons, mia dichiaro, Emily Kilkenny Roddy
touring VR technicians Igor Crnković, sheila Murphy, John norton, Laura Rainsford, Alexandra Rosenberger, michael stapleton, John Wildgoose

PRODUCTION MANAGER EAMON FOX
STAGE MANAGER STEPHANIE RYAN
CHIEF LX EOIN WINNING
SOUND ENGINEER and recordist MICHAEL STAPLETON
AV ENGINEER LAURA RAINSFORD

PROPS DYLAN FARRELL
COSTUME SUPERVISOR NICOLA BURKE
COSTUME DESIGN ASSISTANT PAI TREERATT 
PROP MAKER CRAIG STARKIE 
PHOTOGRAPHER HUGO GLENDINNING, ROS KAVANAGH 
GRAPHIC DESIGN ALPHABET SOUP 

PRODUCERS Sarah Latty and Bridget Webster

Produced by CoisCéim Dance Theatre
A Springback Production
Filmed live in Virtual Reality in May 2022 at The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre, Dublin 2, Ireland

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND CREATORS OF FRANCIS FOOTWORK CLICK HERE

About the Creative Dance Tales Workshop Leaders

Olwyn Lyons

Mia DiChiaro

Emily Kilkenny Roddy

About the Cast and Creative Team

Cristian Enmanuel Dirocie

Stephanie Dufresne

Ivonne Kalter

Jonathan Mitchell

David Bolger

Denis Clohessy

Christopher Ash

Maree Kearns

Val Sherlock

Enya Belak

Igor Crnković

Eamon Fox

Stephanie Ryan

Michael Stapleton

Laura Rainsford

HKD - Hrvatski kulturni dom na Sušaku

Founded in 2018, HKD is firmly established in the culture of Rijeka. It is a public institution for performing and visual arts, with the tasks of coordinating, preparing and conducting cultural programs in the field of performing and visual arts, artistic creativity and related activities. HKD has always been open for work with the community, through the numerous projects; its space and programs are open to diverse audience and organizers of various cultural programs. HKD is a member of Pan Adria, Aerowaves, EDN and MOST international networks.

Main activities

• organizing annual Port of Dance contemporary dance festival
• international and local collaborations and co-productions throughout the year
• residential programs for the dance artists
• educational programs for dancers and choreographers
• Production centre for virtual reality (VR) project in dance/performing arts
  (Springback Ringside project)
• promoting dance to young audiences in elementary schools through virtual reality performances and dance workshops in cooperation with CoisCéim Dance Theatre from Ireland and Croatian Ministry of Culture
• fostering inclusivity as one of its fundamental values, through its accessibility as a venue and programs, dance education and activities for people with different physical abilities
• promoting volunteerism through its Volunteering in Culture programme among the organizers of cultural programs and encouraging citizens to actively participate in the implementation and organization of dance programs in the community
• organizing annual meetings and conferences with partners from various networks

Infrastructure
HKD consist of a large hall with 520 seats, where numerous cultural, educational, conference and entertainment programs are held throughout the year, in the field of dance, drama, music, film, multimedia and visual arts. Another presenting venue is the Atrium, which can accommodate up to 200 visitors. This space is mainly intended for concerts, lectures, round tables and smaller scene forms. For exhibition purposes there is a gallery space, Kortil Gallery, with occasional stage programs also being held there. HKD has three rehearsing studios sized from 85 to 95 m2, two of them with dance floors, used by various dance and theatrical local groups, and also for residencies. The building also includes various size changing rooms and offices.

https://hkd-rijeka.hr/

ORIGINAL STAGE PRODUCTION