This Is It | 8 Dance Portraits

'...textured, understated.' ★★★★ The Irish Times

'A mesmerising collaboration, each individual and diverse segment expounds uniquely and distinctly.' ★★★★ thereviewshub

Traditionally, the worth of a dancer’s career has been measured by time spent in the limelight. Yet a dancer’s experience of their career extends beyond the stage – influencing the personal, the mundane and the philosophical. Collaborating with filmmaker Pato Cassinoni, animator Alan Early and composer Irene Buckley, Murphy presents an innovative and multifaceted exploration of eight women in dance in Ireland: Jean Butler, Alicia Christofi Walshe, Lisa Cliffe, Finola Cronin, Joan Davis, Katherine O’Malley, Mary Nunan and Angie Smalis.

Challenging conventional views on dance and success, the portraits reveal the unspoken values that are often difficult to articulate and easy to forget, creating a unique living archive of untold stories of dance. This collection of multimedia portraits expand our understanding of dance beyond traditional structures into the personal realm.

Director & Choreographer Laura Murphy
Filmmaker Pato Cassinoni
Animator Alan Early
Music & Sound Irene Buckley
Sound Mix Cormac O’Connor
Text Editor Laura Murphy with Stephen Collins, Niamh Prior
Portrait Subjects & Performers Jean Butler, Alicia Christofi Walshe, Lisa Cliffe, Finola Cronin, Joan Davis, Mary Nunan, Kathrine O'Malley and Angie Smalis
Additional Voices Orestis Smalis Ludwig Smalis, Melios Smalis, Elli Smalis, Thiseas Smalis
Dancers Marion Cronin, Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín and Sarah Ryan
Research Dancer Robyn Byrne
Advisors Colin Dunne, Jools Gilson, Stephen O'Connell
Costume Toni Bailey
Lighting Design Hanan Sheedy
PR / Communications Consultant Stephanie Dickenson
Producer Kristyn Fontanella|Little Fountain Productions, Laura Murphy
Associate Producer Once Off Productions

Co-presented by Cork Midsummer Festival and Cork Dance Firkin Crane. Funded by The Arts Council | An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Created in association with Dance Ireland, Dance Cork Firkin Crane, Galway Dance, Mermaid Arts Centre, CoisCéim Dance Theatre, Dance Limerick and Joan Davis | Gorse Hill. Special thanks to all the artists, friends and family for their time and commitment to this project.