Visiting Artist Programme at Dublin Dance Festival 2025
In May 2025, Dublin became a meeting point for creativity and conversation and connection as Dublin Dance Festival welcomed six international artists to take part in the Visiting Artist Programme.
Over the course of three action-packed days, these artists immersed themselves in performances, workshops, talks and exchanges that reflected the energy and diversity of the festival itself.
Diving in and delving deeper
The programme kicked off with a warm Meet & Greet with DDF’s Artistic Director Jazmin Chiodi, setting the tone for three days of open exchange.
One of the highlights was Qudus Onikeku’s Re:INCARNATION – a vibrant, rhythm-filled work rooted in Afro-urban movement and the rich and bustling culture of Lagos. The performance was paired with a powerful Lunchtime Talk, where Onikeku shared insights into his creative practice, community-driven work, and the wider context of Nigerian contemporary dance.
From attending Matthew Bourne’s iconic and groundbreaking Swan Lake to the hard-hitting performance of MOSH by Rachel Ní Bhraonáin, the visiting artists were also offered a curated snapshot of award-winning Irish and international dance.
Off stage, and into the city
Crucially, the programme wasn’t just about observing – it was about taking part and sharing. The Visiting Artist Sharing sessions gave each participant space to present their own practice in dialogue with peers and with Chiodi. It was a chance to reflect, challenge and inspire one another in a relaxed yet focused environment.
The festival’s own DDF Artist Pass programme (an initiative that gives Ireland-based artists deeper access to the festival) took place at the same time, offering the local and international artists an invaluable moment of cross-cultural exchange.
The artists also stepped into their own bodies during a somatic workshop with Irish dance artist Laura Murphy, a space that offered embodied grounding and personal exploration amidst the fast pace of the programme.
Whether through structured talks or spontaneous post-show drinks and club nights including Backstory Dance and Disco Neurotico, connection was at the heart of every encounter.
Looking forward
For many of the participants, the Visiting Artist Programme offered something rare: a chance to be fully present in a new context, welcomed into a space of creative exchange and dialogue without expectation or pressure.
Azucena Momo, one of the participants of the Visiting Artist Programme explains the experience best:
As a partner of the Visiting Artist Programme, DDF was delighted to have hosted one of the first encounters which will stand as a reminder of what happens when time, space and care are given to exchange.
And we looking forward to seeing the conversations that began in Dublin this May ripple outward – into new works, collaborations and friendships.
Participating artists in the Visiting Artist Programme at DDF2025 and the partner organisations supporting their visit:
Agnija Šeiko (New Baltic Dance)
Azucena Momo (Sismógraf Festival)
Femke Gyselinck (December Dance)
Giorgia Lolli (Torinodanza Festival)
Ixchel Mendoza Hernández (Tanz im August)
Khamlane Halsackda (Danscentrum Sverige)