INTERNATIONALLY renowned artists Junk Ensemble have been announced as the new Cork City ‘dancers in residence’ at the Firkin Crane Theatre in Shandon.

Junk Ensemble are identical twin sisters Megan and Jessica Kennedy who have previously been artists in residence at Tate Britain in London.

They have won several awards and have toured extensively in the UK, Europe and the US.

They work with artists from other disciplines to create diverse shows that revolve around visual stimulation and performance and are known to involve audiences in their shows.

The sisters said: “We are delighted to take the position of Cork City Dance Artists in Residence at the Firkin Crane. We are particularly excited by the prospect of becoming intrinsic to the thriving Cork arts sector. We will create a new site-responsive work, working with professional and non-professional Cork-based performers. We plan to programme interesting and challenging workshops, master classes, and professional morning classes by a variety of high-calibre practitioners and teachers.”

Jessica trained in the United States, Dublin and London, completing her degree in dance and English Literature at Middlesex University, London.

She has lectured at various universities and also performs in the band Everything Shook. She was awarded Best Female Performer at Dublin Fringe Festival in 2006.

Megan trained at Alvin Ailey Dance Center in New York City and received an Honours from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Megan was Dance Artist-in-Residence in Limerick in 2014/15. She is a Fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar and the chair of Dance Travels.

The duo are critically acclaimed and have won several awards. The British Sunday Times said Junk Ensemble “has created some of the most impressive contemporary dance in Ireland of recent years.