I’ve just returned to Dublin from a weekend in Derry but that didn’t mean my time with Derry folk was over for the weekend just yet. I was asked to take some photos for the Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company from Derry who where on the final night of their latest production ‘Ripple Affect‘. They’ve been all over Ireland with this show but the last night of the tour had arrived and a good crowd turned up at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght to see what it was all about.
Steve Batts, Co-Artistic Director looks on during rehearsals
Well, it was about the ripple effect, surprisingly enough, of human interaction. The tag line used is ‘What do you do after you have been hugged, or hugged someone?’. The dancers where excellent, blending a mixture of well choreographed dance and improvision. At times funny, at other times moving. Oh, and some cracking music from Lorna, Karen and Joleen McLaughlin – otherwise known as The Henry Girls.
As mentioned, the tour is over now, but you may want to keep an eye on Echo Echo’s website for future shows. Good stuff.
Click to see more from last nights performance.
I’ve just returned home from shooting the beautiful wedding of Cheryl and Sean in Donabate and what happened at their reception tonight was one of the most original things I’ve seen at any wedding I’ve been at.
They launched over 70 paper lanterns into the sky which not only looked beautiful but provided plenty of laughs and a more than a few gasps as I and several others thought it was only a matter of time before the combination of hairspray, alcohol, silk dresses and lots of naked flames would result in one of those all too famous wedding day calamity’s that’d be made famous on youtube for years to come.
I’ve created a little mini slideshow to you give you an idea of the magical display.
Click to see more
If you happened to be down around the docklands at Grand Canal Square around 8pm tonight you’d have probably seen the oddest of displays. For those of you who weren’t, I’ll try and explain….
It started with people climbing poles in the dark to the sound of – what I can only describe as mating whales. After fastening themselves to the top of the poles they then slowly pulled up large hollow black balls, or spheres, from the ground until they where inside the spheres at the top of the poles. Oh, and the poles where incredibly flexible, like giant fishing rods almost.
After a few minutes of what seemed to be undressing inside the balls, the things lit up from the inside to create a brilliant display. They gently swayed from side to side as a robotic voice read out safety instructions “please keep your arms inside the capsule – don’t make any sudden movements” etc…
At the end of this little segment a voice said – “let’s dance!” The music kicked in at the balls changed colours quickly according to the beat. They swayed more violently, the people inside peeped out and waved their arms as if they where almost being born. It really was quite entertaining.
Anyway…. enough waffle.
Photos.
Click to see more
Oh, and by the way, for anyone who wants to see this in the flesh for themselves, there are 2 shows on tomorrow, Saturday the 14th at 6:30 and 8pm. Both free. Info here.