Luail bring inaugural dance show to Leeside

Luail takes its name from an ancient Irish word that evokes movement, energy, and impulse. Soft in sound — pronounced ‘loo-il’ — it also carries a deeper resonance, describing an internal, almost anatomical motion, much like the movement of the nervous system.

We embrace these layers of meaning and draw from our rich cultural heritage to shape our vision: which is for dance to be known and celebrated across the island of Ireland and to strengthen our dance ecosystem, bringing stability, connection, and the support needed for it to thrive.

The company was established in 2024 with funding from The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, whose Advancing Dance 2022-2025 Policy called for a national, all-island dance company to create stable careers for dance artists, present ambitious work, revive key repertoire, and strengthen connections across the dance community.

Liz Roche Company and foundational partners at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, and Maiden Voyage Dance in Belfast, were awarded the opportunity and honour to create Luail — Ireland’s national dance company.

In just 18 months, Luail has already begun making waves. We are building on the incredible work already being done in the sector, forging strong connections between traditions, artists, and communities, while deepening engagement with the art form.

We create bold, high-quality, collaborative works across various disciplines, scales, languages, and performance spaces. Our work brings people together locally and internationally, driven by a fearless, inventive spirit, deep artist connection, and shared joy.

We employ eight full-time dancers, plus a core team of nine, and we have engaged with over 120 artists in our first 18 months. With our foundational partners, we are establishing clear career pathways for dancers, and now for the first time, dancers on the island can follow a path from undergraduate to postgraduate studies in contemporary dance at the Irish World Academy, UL, into a professional national company through two MA dance placements with the Luail ensemble.

With the scale and reach of our programme, core company of dancers, and development initiatives, the level of ambition that we are pursuing for a dance company on this island is unprecedented. Achieving this vision requires a fundamental shift in how dance is valued and supported by all. Stability is essential for dance to grow, gain visibility, and flourish.

We have just premiered our first major production for the stage. Chora, created in collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, marked a significant milestone in our journey. Presented at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre as the opening event of Dublin Dance Festival, the performance received an extraordinary response from audiences and critics alike.

It was a moment of shared celebration and creative impact - one that has filled us with pride and momentum as we now prepare to bring Chora to Cork Opera House on May 28, the culmination of a limited tour across the island.

Chora draws inspiration from the ancient Greek word describing a space of becoming—shared, real, and imagined. The work features three new dance creations: I Contain Multitudes by Maria Campos and Guy Nader, Constellations by Liz Roche, and Invocation by Mufutau Yusuf. This dynamic triple bill brings together Luail’s exceptional ensemble with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in a powerful interplay of movement and live orchestral music. The themes of physical and emotional space resonate deeply and reflect Luail’s commitment to creating relevant, timely, and thought-provoking dance.

Our inaugural season doesn’t end there. In the coming months, we are thrilled to present two more groundbreaking productions. Reverb, choreographed by Sarah Golding and featuring the musical talents of Lisa Canny, will bring an exhilarating blend of sound, rhythm, and movement to the stage. Meanwhile, Dancehall—a revival of Emma Martin’s critically acclaimed work—will return with Crash Ensemble performing Andrew Hamilton’s original score. Both pieces promise to expand the scope of our repertoire and further highlight the strength of collaboration between choreographers, musicians, and dancers.

All of these productions are in conversation with contemporary Ireland—works that celebrate our diversity, transcend language, and engage with the emotional and social fabric of our communities. They explore what it means to share space, to connect, and to imagine new possibilities together.

We hope that audiences will see Chora—and all of Luail’s work—not simply as performance, but as a conversation in motion. We’re committed to building an environment where artists and audiences can meet, question, reflect, and grow.