Discover our Winter/Spring 2026 Programme

Download a PDF of the programme here.

Dance Cork Firkin Crane presents its Winter/Spring season with an enticing programme of public performances and festivals, artist residencies, and professional development opportunities. We hope this programme resonates with you and we invite you to discover and interact with dance in our unique building in Shandon.

The Winter/Spring season of performances opens on Friday 16 January with Crystal Cloud by Fiona Quilligan, a compelling, impassioned, and joyous dance show featuring a superb cast of dancers Olwen Grindley, Yves Lorrhan and Eoin Mac Donncha.

Following the cloud theme, Irish Modern Dance Theatre presents Cloud Study choreographed by John Scott on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January. Part dance, part dream, part theatre, part athletics – Two compelling dancers (Mufutau Yusuf and Salma Ataya) attempt to run 1,000 kilometres in circles and lines through the space, chasing dreams, memories, and home. If you would like to see both January performances, you can avail of a Cloud Discount Ticket for just €20.

From 18-20 February, Take Off Festival returns for its fourth edition presenting two programmes of thrilling contemporary dance from Irish artists alongside international performers. Expect performances from Mufutau Yusuf (Ireland/Belgium), Alex Vostokova (Ireland) and The Parsley Collective – Mary Nunan, Isabella Oberländer, Angie Smalis, Rachel Sheil and Salma Ataya – (Ireland), along with Aerowaves Artists Ekin Tunçeli (Turkey/Germany) and gergő farkas (Hungary/Sweden). The festival also offers Professional Classes, and a Roundtable Discussion for local artists to engage with, facilitated by Laurie Uprichard, Executive Artistic Director of Dance Cork Firkin Crane.

Two outstanding peformances close out the season with Ciseach: An embodied Manifesto by Catherine Young Dance on Friday 1 May followed by The Act of Existing by Croí Glan on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July.

Our monthly Cine Club: Dance on Film curated by Cork City Dance Artist in Residence Luke Murphy | Attic Projects kicks off with a screening of Dancing Dreams by Pina Bausch on Thursday 5 February. This informal club is free to attend, pre-booking requested.

The season’s creative residencies support a broad spectrum of artists and movement. The resident artists are; Cormac Mohally (Ireland), Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín (Ireland), Kathy Westwater (USA), Fearghus Ó Conchúir (Ireland), Dalila Belaza (France) and Helga Deasy (Ireland). Many artists will offer free work-in-progress showings, inviting the public into the creative process, and lead professional classes for the local dance community.

Upcoming Crane Visual exhibitions include Rotate(R): 1000 Works That Need To Be Seen (January-March), and Fragments of Becoming by Yuan-Wen Wang (April-May). Crane Visual is curated by Dermot Browne.

Dance Cork Firkin Crane remains committed to fostering professional dance skills through a regular and full schedule of workshops and classes led by visiting and local artists. The full schedule of opportunities can be found in our What’s On section.

Image: Ciseach: An embodied manifesto by Catherine Young Dance. Credit Patricio Cassinoni.