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Russian ballet dancer and the first director of the Irish National Ballet School.

Patricia Durcan (née Cochrane) was born in Belfast and attended the Jim Johnson School of Dance in that city.

Dublin Youth Dance Company was founded in 2000 by Dance Theatre of Ireland’s artistic directors, Robert Connor and Loretta Yurick to give young people the opportunity to engage in training, creating, and performing dance. The company in its early years was run under the leadership of J. J. Formento. In 2001, the company hosted the first Irish Youth Dance Festival at the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, which has since become an annual event. It has also participated in a number of high-profile dance events in Ireland and abroad. In 2003, Mariam Ribón replaced Formento as the company’s artistic director. She continues to lead Dublin Youth Dance Company and to expand the scope and vision of the Irish Youth Dance Festival.

International Dance Festival Ireland was inaugurated in 2002 under the guidance of Catherine Nunes to pioneer the promotion of contemporary dance in Ireland. Originally a biennial event, the Festival was an immediate success, attracting international work from highly respected artists. In September 2007, Laurie Uprichard replaced Nunes as Artistic Director, and the festival name was changed to Dublin Dance Festival. From 2008, the Festival has been an annual event and continues to feature a breadth of international artists while also showcasing the best of Irish contemporary dance. More information about the festival and its history can be found at www.dublindancefestival.ie.

In September 1977, Karen Callaghan and Joan Davis co-founded the Dublin Contemporary Dance Studio in Harold’s Cross, Dublin to pioneer modern dance in Ireland. Two years later, they established the studio’s performing company, the Dublin Contemporary Dance Theatre, which rapidly built up a varied repertoire of both original and guest choreographers’ work. Many of Ireland’s key choreographers and dancers began their professional careers with this company. In spite of its distinguished track record, the Dublin Contemporary Dance Theatre was forced to fold in 1989, when the Arts Council cut its funding. Its spirit lives on in Dance Theatre of Ireland, founded by the company’s former co-Artistic Directors Robert Connor and Loretta Yurick.

Dublin City Ballet, originally named the Oscar Theatre Ballet Company, was founded in 1979 under the directorship of Louis O'Sullivan. The company performed a wide repertoire of classical and jazz ballet productions until 1989, when its funding was withdrawn by the Arts Council and the company was forced to disband.