The Art of Abstract Storytelling: inclusive dance intensive with Kim Epifano

The Art of Abstract Storytelling: 4-day inclusive dance intensive with Kim Epifano presented by Inclusive Dance Cork.

Inclusive Dance Cork(IDC) is delighted to announce a 4-day intensive with internationally acclaimed choreographer, performer, and cross-disciplinary dance artist Kim Epifano (US), co-facilitated by Rhona Coughlan, IDC’s Artistic Director.

Book here for individual days >>>

Using interdisciplinary improvisation techniques, Kim Epifano will guide participants with incorporating physicality-sourcing, partnering, distillation, imagery, vocalisation, theatre, and text and share how to apply these techniques to inclusive dance methods and choreography.

The 4-day intensive is open to all people, 18 and over, with and without disabilities, and from all levels of experience in movement, dance, and inclusive practice.

Each day will start with a grounding and energising warm-up components pulled from Yoga, Chi Gung, Capoeira, Contact Improvisation, Post-Modern Dance, Chakra singing, and rhythmic and lyrical call and response. The group will move from inside to outside spaces to ideate and improvise movement and adapt it for location and accessibility. Aspects of visual art exploration will be introduced, including a process called body mapping that explores and reveals what you did and did not know was in your own body. The last day will include a low-key showing of our investigations from the workshop.

All participants will be asked to bring one object that they identify with now in their work or life, and any equipment they feel they may need for a movement and dance workshop.

Participants can expect to leave this workshop with more skills to investigate movement, theatre, improvisation and dance, and with a strengthened understanding of how to work in an inclusive and collaborative way.

We have 5 bursaries available to fully cover the €100 participant registration fee.

Complete the Bursary Application Form: https://forms.gle/463bCPczuHnQodQ47 by Wednesday 15 April at 9pm (extended deadline).

For any questions please email IDC project coordinator louisa@firkincrane.ie

Kim Epifano is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, performer, and educator with a 40-year career spanning dance, theatre, and community activism. She engages artists of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds through interdisciplinary workshops that foster learning, creativity, and collaboration. She was Artistic Director of Epiphany Dance Theater in San Francisco for 30 years. Kim earned multiple Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (IZZIES) and nominations, collaborated with Contraband, The Dance Brigade, Axis Dance Company, Croí Glan Integrated Dance Company, and Antoine Hunter’s Urban Jazz Dance Company.

A dedicated movement artist, Kim has trained in Contact Improvisation, modern dance, ballet, aerial arts, Samba and Capoeira, winning first place in Brazil’s women's Capoeira division. She holds an MFA in Choreography from UC Davis and founded the San Francisco Trolley Dances, which ran for 21 years. Kim’s work has reached communities worldwide, including Mexico, Tunisia, China, Vietnam, India, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and Ethiopia.

Find out more about Kim Epifano here: https://epiphanydance.org/

Inclusive Dance Cork (IDC)is a training programme for people with and without disabilities who are interested in learning inclusive dance methods. Designed to foster expressive movement, it provides dancers with the opportunity to explore different ways of dancing, facilitating, and supporting dancers of all abilities.

Originally conceived by Yvonne Coughlan, Chairperson of Dance Cork Firkin Crane, this ambitious programme is made possible through the dedication of its collaborators, with its home at Dance Cork Firkin Crane. The Inclusive Dance Cork team is led by IDC Artistic Director Rhona Coughlan and Project Coordinator Louisa Sloan.

The programme is generously funded by the Rethink Ireland Resilient Cork Fund 2025 and the Community Foundation for Ireland, supported by a donation from an anonymous donor, The Ireland Funds, alongside donor and business contributions, including Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle's 2024 Christmas Charity Gala Concert, ward funding through Cllr Brian McCarthy, and a Stryker Anngrove GQO donation.

Our programme partners include Cork Education and Training Board and Horizon Cork | Suisha Inclusive Arts, which provide essential support for participants and accreditation opportunities. We are also grateful to our growing network of supporters dedicated to advancing Inclusive Dance Cork and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of previous partners, including University College Cork, who have helped shape and sustain the IDC programme to date.

Inclusive Dance Cork is a project initiative of Dance Cork Firkin Crane. Read more about IDC here.