The stunning dance performance features live music by the esteemed jazz drummer Conor Guilfoyle.
Lovers of jazz music and dance are in for a treat as one of Ireland's best known dance companies, CoisCéim, prepare to embark on a national tour of their critically acclaimed show, “The Piece with The Drums”.
Described as “pulsating with theatrical magic,” this exceptional production combines live music performances by pioneering jazz percussionist Conor Guilfoyle with explosive dance routines directed by visionary choreographer David Bolger.
After receiving rave reviews, following its world premiere in January 2023, this dynamic and high-energy Jazz-era show is set to enchant audiences throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the launch of the tour, director David Bolger commented:
“With this show we want to really push the boundaries of how audiences experience these two artforms. It’s a witty, uplifting, fifty-minutes of escapism that will chase away the winter blues and celebrate the connections between music and movement as well as our relationship to life and the cosmos! Audience members will embark on a journey, ranging from nuanced dance routines to explosive solo performances by some of the country’s finest dancers and all set to the rhythm of expertly crafted live drum arrangements and incredible looping sequences.”
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}The Piece with the Drums is the dance company’s first collaboration with legendary Jazz percussionist Conor Guilfoyle. One of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians, Guilfoyle’s recording credits include a collaboration with the late Larry Coryell, the celebrated American guitarist, regarded as one of the founding fathers of jazz-rock fusion in the 1960s. He has lectured in many of the leading colleges worldwide including Berklee College of Music, Boston.
Describing the experience of creating the show, Guilfoyle remarked:
“One of the genuine joys of being a drummer is seeing how the audience physically reacts to the rhythms I produce, whether it's the joyful movement of bodies dancing or a foot tapping along. But to witness how the all star cast of professional dancers interpret, respond, sync and groove to the beats is a truly mesmerising experience. We cannot wait to take this show on the road”.
The Piece with the Drums features an ensemble cast of leading contemporary dancers, including Justine Cooper, Ivonne Kalter, Jonathan Mitchell, Alex O’Neill, and Donking Rongavilla, who each perform stunning solo dance routines throughout the show.
The forthcoming tour is part of a special programme of events in celebration of CoisCéim Dance Theatre’s 30th anniversary year. Established in January 1995, the company has played a pivotal role in fostering the expansion of contemporary dance as an artform in Ireland, receiving numerous accolades for their national and international touring shows.
The Piece with the Drums will be touring Ireland, with performances at
The Mac as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival on October 18 and 19;
The Everyman in Cork, presented in collaboration with Firkin Crane on October 23;
Draíocht in Blanchardstown on October 26;
An Grianán in Letterkenny on November 7;
Town Hall Theatre in Galway on November 12;
The Civic Theatre in Tallaght on November 15 and 16
and Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire on November 20.
CoisCéim has been leading the way in accessible ticket pricing in recent years, and this production continues to offer pay-what-you-can options at participating venues. See https://coisceim.com/
