Shakram Productions

Stone and Form presents the body’s internal architecture and its relationship to its environment. Hidden narratives are embodied within this sensory engagement, responding to the energetic residue inhabiting ancient spaces.

Being Nowhere Else (2008)

Composer/Live Voice: Dara O’Brien/Regan O’Brien
Funding: Dublin City Council, Dance Ireland, International Dance Festival

This solo was researched and conceived as part of Dance Ireland’s Choreographic Initiative. Mairead was funded to spend ten weeks researching, exploring and absorbing information after having attended a variety of ethnic dance workshops in Borneo, Malaysia, Peru and Ecuador over the previous two years. This solo was selected to be performed at the International Dance Festival 2008.

 

Film: Frozen (2007) 26mins

Choreographer: Mairead Vaughan
Composer: Dara O’Brien
Dancers: Olwen Grindley, Becky Reily, Eloy Casanova and Mairead Vaughan
Funding: Arts Council and Dubln City Council

Frozen is a site-specific dance film set in the streets of Dublin and in the Garden of Remembrance. Frozen juxtaposes Ireland’s iconic and historical past with today’s rapidly evolving culture questioning the relationship between myth and modernity and posturing a dilemma in the contemporary Irish psyche struggling to reconcile Ireland old and new. Premiered at Vibrate Dance Festival, 2007. Described as a dance highlight of the year, 2008 in The Irish Times by Michael Seaver.

The Anima and Animus (2007)

Composer: Dara O’Brien
Dancers: Olwen Grindley, Jennifer Fleenor and Mariam Ribon
Performance Venue: Project, Temple Bar
Funding: Arts Council and Dublin City Council

A flash of brilliant light. A shot like an explosion in the head shifting perceptions of time and space. When crossed wires fuse and the memory filing system falls into disarray, the basic language of shapes and colours emerges from our unconscious reservoir. This work presents an ethereal journey into a sinister and surreal world of mystery, eloqence and confusion. A myriad of jarring moving sculpture influenced by classical Indian dance forms.

Turbulence (2005)

Choreographer: Mairead Vaughan
Composer: Dara O’Brien
Live Musicians: Dara O’Brien, David Lacey
Dancers: Jennifer Fleenor, Olwen Grindley, Thomas Butler, Avril Murphy
Performance Venues: Project, Temple Bar, Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda                                             Funding: Arts Council and Dublin City Council

Turbulence is a collaborative production presenting unique relationships and interplay between live music and dance, with four dancers and two musicians. Turbulence reveals the chaotic nature of the human brain. Looking beyond the exterior to a more profound quality of movement, we can observe the dancer moving in a deeply personal manner, at moments almost entering into the minds of the performers.

Cylinder (2005)

Choreographer: Mairead Vaughan
Dancers: Mairead Vaughan and Thomas Butler
Funding: Arts Council and Drogheda Borough Council
Performance Venue: Martello Tower, Drogheda

This site-specific dance installation was created specifically for the unique and historic setting of the Martello Tower in Millmount, Drogheda. It was premiered as part of the Drogheda Arts Festival, May 2005. Inspired by the architecture of the building and the surrounding historical landscape, this duet is a truly evocative piece of dance presenting ghost like images of our past, present and future.

The Anima and the Animus / Promises Promises (2003)

Choreographer: Mairead Vaughan
Dancers: Jennifer Fleenor, Lucy Dundon, Megan Kennedy and Lisa Mc Loughlin
Music: Various, including music by Dara O’Brien
Project, Temple Bar and Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray

This piece was presented as part of a triple bill called ‘Promises Promises’ by three Irish - based choreographers and was supported by Project Arts Centre. 

 

It Was All About the Truth(2003)

Choreographer: Mairead Vaughan
Dancers: Tom Butler and Olwen Grindley
Dublin Fringe Festival

Looking beyond a calm exterior to a more profound quality of movement through the immediate emotion of the performer, we may observe the dancer as a real life person moving, communicating, expressing and feeling in a deeply personal way.

Matra (2002)

Choreographer: Mairead Vaughan
Dancer: Mairead Vaughan
Live Musician and Composer: Dara O'Brien
National Irish tour, Ilios Festival Norway

Matra is a collaborative piece of dance and live music. Dancer and musician worked closely dissecting and interpreting the complex rhythmic nature and gestural qualities of classical Indian dance and music forms. The result is an intoxicating fusion of ancient and modern cultures. This piece was toured throughout Ireland and invited by Fringe festival to be performed at “Disclosures”, a platform presenting Irish choreographers in Firkin Crane Cork. ‘Matra’ was also supported by The Arts Council to be performed at the Ilios Festival in Norway, 2004.