Jean Butler

New York-based dancer and choreographer, Jean Butler, will be creating a new site-specific work with a cast of contemporary and traditional dancers that spans five decades. Premiering in the Dublin Theatre Festival 2022, the work grows out of Our Steps, a not-for-profit organisation founded by Butler that celebrates Ireland's traditional dance and the stories of its people through a range of innovative archival, performance and multidisciplinary projects.

Dancer, choreographer Butler is a leading figure in the world of Irish dance performance, best known for co-choreographing and originating the female principal roles in Riverdance: The Show and Dancing on Dangerous Ground. For over thirty years, she has toured the world bringing new expression to traditional dance, leading the field and bridging the gap between a culturally specific form and a contemporary approach to dance-making. Her work has been presented internationally, including Dublin Dance Festival, Irish Arts Center and Baryshnikov Arts Center, she has taught internationally and is an adjunct professor at Glucksman Ireland House, New York University. She is the recipient of many prestigious awards and honours.