Michael Keegan-Dolan . Teaċ Daṁsa

What happens when the raw sounds of Irish folklore meet modern rhythms and moving bodies? With MÁM, Michael Keegan-Dolan presents a unique fusion of dance, music and storytelling. The title - Gaelic for “yoke” or “mountain pass” - symbolizes the transition between worlds and the piece itself becomes a place of encounter between soloists and ensembles, classical music and Irish tradition, the local and the global. Award-winning choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan, known as a storyteller, was inspired by the landscape, traditions, atmosphere and mythical magic of the Irish peninsula of Corca Dhuibhne. The virtuoso concertina player Cormac Begley and the music collective s t a r g a z e, together with twelve dancers from the Teaċ Daṁsa company, create a captivating gathering that delves deep into folklore inspired by the rhythms of Irish tradition. Between wedding dance and wake, the dancers whirl across the stage, sometimes energetically, sometimes light-footedly, to melancholy drones, accordions and contemporary rhythms.
Premiered in 2019, this collaborative work has been delighting audiences ever since: the company took the piece on tour in 2024 and continues to fascinate with its brutal and dark, but also wild and humorous moments: “Mám is full of engrossing dancing, fantastic music, subtle meanings and real humanity.“ (The Guardian)