Breandán de Gallaí

Dancer, choreographer and dance academic Breandán de Gallaí’s involvement with dance is multifaceted.

Dancer, choreographer and dance academic Breandán de Gallaí’s involvement with dance is multifaceted.

As a choreographer he has created several works, most notably Noċtú, Rite of Spring and Lïnger. In 2011, Noċtú completely a 5-week residency at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York. On the back of this run the show was nominated for 2 Drama Desk awards, “Outstanding Choreography” and “Unique Theatrical Event”. His second work, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring premiered at the opening of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in August 2012 attracting 14,000 spectators. The work received a nomination for the coveted Allianz Business to Arts Awards (Dublin 2012). His new duet Lïnger, which sees de Gallaí return to the stage after a 12-year hiatus, premiered in Dublin in January 2016. In August 2016 Lïnger took part in the Edinburgh Fringe and was shortlisted for a Total Theatre and The Place Award for Dance. De Gallaí also toured with Riverdance from 1994 – 2003, 7 of which in the position of principal dancer.

As a dance scholar his interest lies in the contemporisation of Irish dance. He completed a performance-based doctorate in 2013, the first of its kind in the world. He earned an MA in Ethnochoreology in 2009, and was external examiner for the MA in Traditional Irish Dance Performance at the University of Limerick from 2004 – 2008. Breandán was acting Course Director of the Arts Practice PhD programme at the University of Limerick for 2012. He also holds a B.Sc.(Hons) in Physics.

Breandán’s training is predominately in Irish step dancing, but is passionate about many dance genres and in 1988 he graduated from the Gus Giordano Dance Academy, Chicago, having been awarded a scholarship to study Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Tap dance.
Biography – Breandán de Gallaí

“De Gallaí is pushing and playing with his inherited language in ways I’ve never seen
before in Irish dance, and in the process exposing aspects of himself and his dance career
with a seriousness that feels both tender and brave.”

– Judith Mackrell, The Guardian 19th Aug 2016 – Edinburgh Fringe

“Powerful, tender and achingly beautiful”

– Chris O’Rourke Irish Examiner 22nd Jan 2016

“When the men move, be it intelligent and moving contemporary dance or energietic and
precise Irish dance, it’s a sight to behold.”

– Kelly Apter, Scotsman 9th Aug 2016 – Edinburgh Fringe

“I rarely used the overused word but here it is, “mesmerizing” … I was taken along as the
dancers turned the world of Irish dance upside down.”

– Patricia Harty, IrishCentral.com, New York

“A superb blending of dance and human emotions … one of the best shows of the 2011-
2012 season and one that should definitely be seen by all – and as many times as possible.”

– Judd Hollander Stagebuzz, New York

One-act ballet evening