KERRY YOUTH DANCE THEATRE (KYDT)
Dance Company in Residence @ the Carnegie Arts Centre


COMPANY BACKGROUND
Kerry Youth Dance Theatre emerged as a direct spin off from Kerry County Council’s Dance Residency with Catherine Young. After engaging with youths from South Kerry in a number of on-going dance workshops and research explorations during her time as Dancer in Residence, Catherine choreographed the contemporary dance work “Body Count” with the group which premiered at Siamsa Tire Tralee in May 2008. The ensemble has gone from strength to strength performing at St. Johns Arts Centre Listowel as part of Mamuska Kerry (June 2008), at the Sonraigh Youth Dance festival in the new Wexford Opera House (Nov 2008), at the National Child Wellbeing Conference (Dec 2008) and more recently at the Irish Youth Dance Festival in Dublin at the Pavillion Theatre (July 2009).


Photography : Princeton Lee

Catherine formally established KYTD, Kerry’s first contemporary dance company for young people (aged 16-26) in 2009, to be a creative and artistic voice for young people, using movement and dance as their primary form of expression. The mission of KYDT is to develop and create new dance works for performance that showcase themes and ideas important to youths, showing their world view of things. The company embraces all cultures and backgrounds and is committed to making high quality dance works that have the power to transform both those who engage in creative process as well as those that witness the performances.

Catherine is currently working with the company on a new dance work to be premiered at the Carnegie in November 2009. She is committed to training the company members in contemporary dance, yoga as well as in general performance technique. The company will also be receiving workshops in West African Dance and Drumming as well as workshops with other guest artists. Dancers that continue their training with KYDT may eventually be selected to perform with Catherine’s professional dance company.


Dancers/youths (16-26) interested in working with KYDT (either as a performer or as a volunteer: costuming, PR, lighting, sound etc) should contact Catherine @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Catherine Young

Photography : - Staś Bernasiński

Catherine Young was Dancer in Residence w/ Kerry County Council from 2005-2009 working in collaboration with Siamsa Tire. Catherine has a Masters in Contemporary Dance from the University of Limerick and completed her undergrad in dance at City College of San Francisco. Catherine spent 8 years in the US training and performing in Dance and Theatre. She has worked with PURe Dance SF, City College Repertory Dance, The American Conservatory Theatre, Printz Dance Project, Kongo Ba Teria Dance Co/Lacina Coulibaly among others. In 2007 she received Ireland’s first Per Cent for Arts Dance Commission which featured at the Dublin Fringe Festival, in 2008 she was selected to partake in the Irish Choreographer’s New Work Platform and has recently completed a residency at the Firkin Crane as part of their 2009 Blank Canvas Initiative. Catherine is a founding member of D.A.R.I (Dance Artists in Regional Ireland), she is on the Board of Dance Research Forum Ireland and is an active member of Dance Ireland. She currently teaches yoga, contemporary dance, Urban hip hop & African dance and has been funded by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon to continue her choreographic pursuits in both contemporary & African dance.


COMPOSER
Ryan Langley

Ryan Langley has been involved in music composition for over 15 years. His work reflects a diverse range of influences from classical music to early electronica and more recently contemporary music. Continually pushing new boudaries, Ryan strikes a balance between emotional simplicity and rich harmonic content.

PARTNERS
KYDT is very grateful to its partners for all their support: 

-  Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare
-  Kerry County Council
-  KES Kerry Education Centre / Adult Education Centre, Kenmare

Supported by the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon