Jane Kellaghan graduated from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, UK with a BA in Performing Arts (dance) in 1995. In 2000, she was awarded a master’s degree with first class honours in Dance Performance from the University of Limerick. As an independent artist, Jane has worked with Daghdha Dance Company, Wayne McGregor (Random), Mná Rua, Half/ Angel Visual Theatre, Rebus, Isabelle Meerstein Film Company & Tina Horan Films. Her commissions include works for Firkin Crane’s New Works Series 1996, Solo Independence 1998, A Sense of Cork 1998, Trading Places with Charlotte Darbyshire 1999, and choreographic work for theatre companies including Everyman Palace under the direction of Tim Murphy (1996-1999) and for New Moon Youth Dance Company under the direction of Tina Horan. She also choreographed and performed for Cork City Ballet annually from 1997 to 2004.
In 2000, Kellaghan founded CruX Dance Theatre to provide greater access to the art of dance. Through its repertoire, the company has also succeeded in stimulating awareness of the possibilities of dance integrating as it does multi-media elements, particularly video, photography, and film. Kellaghan has created work annually for the company and continues to act as its Artistic Director.
Jane Kellagahan’s other significant role is that of a teacher. Since 1995, she has taught Contemporary Dance Technique, Choreography Craft & improvisation on the Vocational Education Committee (VEC) Diploma in Dance course run by Coláiste Stíofáin Naofa based at The Firkin Crane, Cork. She is also the director of CruX Youth Dance, which since 2002 has provided contemporary and creative dance training for children, through weekly classes and annual performances. Between 2008 and 2011 she was employed by The Firkin Crane to set up and manage Blank Canvas – Professional Dance Residency Programme while also acting as professional dance advisor to Paul McCarthy. In 2006, Kellaghan qualified as a yoga instructor and teaches weekly classes in Cork City and County.
Junk Ensemble was co-founded in 2004 by its current Artistic Directors Megan and Jessica Kennedy to create works of brave and innovative dance theatre. Its productions have toured nationally and internationally and are the recipients of many awards, including Jane Snow Award for Excellence and Innovation 2007 for The Rain Party; Culture Ireland Touring Award 2008 for Drinking Dust, and Absolut Fringe Festival Best Production Award 2011 for Bird with Boy. In addition, Jessica Kennedy was honoured with Best Female Performer Award at the 2006 Dublin Fringe Festival. In 2012, Junk Ensemble became artists in residence for Tate Modern in Britain.
Irish novelist and poet regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His best-known works include Dubliners (1914), A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), Ulysses (1922) and Finnegans Wake (1939).
Irish Theatre Ballet was founded by Joan Denise Moriarty in 1959 with Marie Rambert as its patron. The company's first performance took place in December 1959. The company received modest funding from the Arts Council, but depended heavily on private sponsors for its survival. In 1963, to resolve the company's financial problems, the Arts Council insisted on its amalgamation with Patricia Ryan's National Ballet Company in Dublin.