Integrated Dance

Limerick County Council with Dancer Mary Hartney has established an innovative dance programme.  This programme involves transition year students from various schools creating and performing dance with the residents of Rathfredagh Cheshire Home.  Integrated Dance is about people with and without disabilities creating and performing dance together.  The dance movement is derived from the participants answering improvisational tasks using their own range of movement.  The comfort and safety of all participants is a key concern in all dance sessions. 

Integrated Dance Schools Programme: 

From September 2010 to May 2011 the residents of Rathfredagh Cheshire Home will engage in twice weekly dance workshops with Transition year students from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Abbeyfeale, Scoil Mhuire agus Íde Newcastle West and Coláiste na Trocáire, Rathkeale and Hazelwood College Dromcollogher.  The students are transported by bus provided by West Limerick Resources to Rathfredagh. 

Ongoing Dance Partnership with Young People of the Irish Wheelchair Association and students of the University of Limerick continues over the autumn and spring months with weekly integrated dance sessions based at UL. 

New Development: 
Limerick County Council is delighted to announce that a new programme of integrated dance which includes service users of Enable Ireland and young people from Shanagolden Youth Reach Centre will be ongoing throughout the autumn.  The sessions happen each Wednesday with 15 young people from Shanagolden travelling by bus (provided by West Limerick Resources) into Enable Ireland Resource Centre, Mungret. 

All the above programmes of integrated dance are organised and funded by Limerick County Council supported by the Arts Council.  The integrated dance programme is offered free of charge to post primary schools, youth reach, and the various agencies working with people with disabilities