Dance artist Rob Heaslip, is reviving the cultural tradition of 'The Strawboys' with a modern twist, as he unveils his vibrant pop-up work, across Galway this summer.
Strawboys which is an energetic outdoor performance blurs the lines between traditional and contemporary dance and music and pays homage to the traditions and costumes of the Wren Boys who once paraded through the streets, towns and fields of Ireland.
From July 25 to July 30, pop-up performances of Strawboys will take place all over County Galway and from August 2 to August 13, Strawboys will be performed across Galway City. Performances will take place in streets, carparks, community centres, greens and parks.
Strawboys will be performed in the following locations in County Galway.
25 July
Canon Quin Park, Gort (12pm )
Ballindereen Community Centre, Ballindereen, Kilcolgan (2.30pm )
27 July
Fairgreen, Townparks, Ballinasloe (12pm )
Lawrencetown, Ballinasloe (2.30pm )
28 July
Connemara West Centre, Letterfrack (12pm )
Keoghs Ballyconneely, Ballyconneely (2.30pm )
29 July
Roundstown Town Hall, Roundstown (12pm )
30 July
Peacock’s Hotel, Maams Cross, Connemara (12pm )
Corribdale Park, Oughterard, Co Galway (2.30pm )
Unsuspecting audiences will see a strawboy enter a location, before being joined by the rest of the cast to perform a highly percussive and visual work where lively Balkan musical vibes match their colour popping costumes.
Rob Heaslip works internationally as a dance artist, choreographer, dancer, movement director and dance teacher.
Strawboys is the second work in Rob Heaslip's trilogy, exploring rituals of death, life and birth amongst the Gaels, the people on the north-western edge of Europe. Strawboys is produced by Galway based leading international choreographer, former dancer with Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and lead female dancer in Gaelforce Dance, Kristyn Fontenella.
Strawboys features professional dancers Sophie Hutchinson, Favour Odusola, Aneta Dortová and Salma Ataya. Composers Zoe Katsilerou and Eilon Morris infuse lively Balkan vibes to match the colour popping costumes and woven masks of Scottish Costume Designer Alison Brown.
Supported by the Arts Council and in partnership with Town Hall Theatre Galway, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Siamsa Tíre- The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, Kerry County Council, Glór Ennis and Clare County Council.
