TEAC DAMSA RESIDENCY
DINGLE
Artist Residency with Teac Damsa/ Michael Keegan Dolan
Dingle, West Kerry, Ireland
November 2025
I was fortunate enough to visit Teac Damsa, founded by dancer and choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan. I first came across Michael’s work relatively recently when I saw ‘Nododaddy’ at the waterfront, Belfast, last summer (2024). During the performance, I was drawing. It was the first time I’d drawn for months since I had been unwell, but I felt compelled to. It was difficult as the lights were going up and down, and probably not ideal for the person sitting next to me as they tried to focus on the show. I knew I’d seen something special, but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with that information. Below are drawings from the performance;
As I flicked back through my sketchbook a few months later, I realised how much more I wanted to capture. I wanted to see the movement from alternative angles, not just the parts that were designed to look good from where the audience was sitting. I wanted to see the dancers in their own clothes, without stage hair and make-up. I wanted to see where the movements rose from and how the choreography came to be amongst a working group of people. I couldn’t wrap my head around how a show like this gets made, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for months after.
So, I reached out to Michael at the beginning of the year and asked if I could come and visit the studio and draw the dancers during rehearsal…
To my surprise, he said yes!
As you walk into the Teac Damsa building, you are greeted with the most beautiful communal areas, tomatos vining up the walls, old show posters, props and pieces of set - I felt right at home with a table full of food and a pot of coffee. During my residency, all the meals were prepared by Harry in the kitchen, who owns his own Nut Butter company. I was able to join everyone for breakfast and lunch. Everyone eats together, it feels welcoming, and I knew this week was going to be good.
I was able to sit in for a week’s worth of rehearsals. They spend around six hours in the studio each day, the dancers work hard, but it looked so fun, I wish i’d seen dance like this when I was a kid.
It was such a fascinating experience, seeing how sequences are born and problems are resolved, I enjoyed hearing movement and dance spoken about in a conceptual way, getting to hear the translation of what a particular movement meant or why it was important.
The group was in the final stages of a piece called ‘Marking Time’, which is one of three works commissioned by Sadler’s Wells theatre, performed to music by contemporary composer Nico Muhly.
‘The Only Tune’ was written for folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Sam Amidon, who sings and plays throughout the piece, and joined them for rehearsal for two days - it’s a beautiful thing to watch develop - oh, and all the dancers are dressed as skeletons.
You can find a selection of drawings that were made that week, most of which were given to the dancers or donated to the company.
It was an incredible experience and so much more than a week spent drawing. For me, getting to know the company, dancers, and associated artists was the true magic, I am sure I will find myself in Dingle again soon.
