Dance United

In the year 2000, following nearly a decade of dance development work in Ethiopia, Mags Byrne and Royston Maldoom, together with independent television producer, Andrew Coggins. founded Dance United.

In April 2007 Dance United Northern Ireland was established as an entirely separate and independent company with Mags as Artistic Director and Royston as Consultant Director.

Dance can be experienced through a diversity of cultures and forms, yet is universal.

It is a potent tool for the development of both the individual and the community.

It is the profound belief in these propositions, endorsed over many years of experience by respected dance practitioners – Mags Byrne and Royston Maldoom – that underpins the work of Dance United NI. As individuals, and in collaboration, they have shared their passionate belief in the power and joy of contemporary dance, with people in communities, throughout Northern Ireland and in many other parts of the world. They have worked extensively to deliver projects and programmes, using dance as a means of bringing about positive individual and community transformation, raising self-esteem, facilitating integration, and promoting attitudes based on tolerance and respect. The approach is distinctive. Through a well-tested process of teaching, rehearsal and performance, participants are able, often for the first time, to reach a high level of focus, discipline and motivation. The search for creative solutions to artistic challenges encourages sophisticated social interaction and team work. The results can go way beyond the expectations of participants, their audience and their peers.

Dance is a performance art and the goal-oriented approach is essential to the success of the work. As a celebration, a public and peer group acknowledgement of achievement, performance is an integral part of the Dance United NI programme.

• Building Bridges
• Crossing the Divide
• Closing the Gap
• Opening the Spectrum

Dance United Northern Ireland has formulated its approach into four separate but interconnected programmes of work using these generic titles.