Emma O’Kane
Emma was a freelance dance artist and choreographer. She trained at the Perm State Choreographic Academy, Russia. Emma worked closely with CoisCéim Dance Theatre from 2001 until her untimely death in 2021, featuring in many works for the company. Her last show for CoisCéim was FRANCIS FOOTWORK, she also performed in BODY LANGUAGE at the RHA and toured Australia with THE WOLF AND PETER. Dance Europe voted Emma Outstanding Dancer Of The Year for her performance in CoisCéim’s production of FAUN. She was a regular collaborator with ANU Productions including on THE SIN EATERS, Dublin Theatre Festival. Other performance/choreographic credits included The Abbey Theatre, Fishamble, Prime Cut Productions. She had an MA in Dance from the University of Limerick.
IN MEMORIAM
Emma O'Kane was an exceptionally gifted artist who moved effortlessly across artforms and media as a performer, a choreographer and a participation project leader. She was passionate, professional and highly articulate about interdisciplinary performance, holding a first-class honours degree in Contemporary Dance Performance (MA) from the University of Limerick.
Emma brought joy to all those with whom she worked No matter how difficult or dark the material she could introduce light. A consummate team player, as evidenced by her core contributions to CoisCéim and ANU, she was also fiercely independent. Before her untimely death Emma had embarked on a new phase of discovery and development in her practice, concentrating on self-authored work.
Following her death, CoisCéim led the initiative to honour her exceptional ethos and artistic practice through an award for independent artists who want to think beyond the boundaries of their art form and practice and to explore dance or a physical language in their work. Find out more about the EMMA O'KANE BURSARY at https://www.emmaokanebursary.ie/