Mission

Shannon Dunne Dance is an intergenerational dance company, committed to the preservation and performance of sean-nos dancing. Literally meaning "old style" in Irish, the style is an exciting, improvised battering style dance, characterized by a loose, playful upper body, close to the floor steps and a strong musicality.  Up until recently, sean-nós dance has been kept alive in the remote areas of Connemara Gaeltacht, passed along through family/community lines.

The company has expanded to explore other regional, community-based forms of Irish dancing as means to create community and build context and skills, including set (social/figure) dancing, and old style step dancing.  

Under the artistic direction of Shannon Dunne, their performances and classes explore musicality, community, tradition, spontanaeity, joy, improvisation and entertainment. The company is comprised of dancers from the community as well as All-Ireland medalists.    The youth performance group are defending 3-time champions in U12 set dancing at the MidAtlantic Fleadh, and have placed multiple years in a row in sean-nós dance, both at the MidAtlantic and at the All-Ireland.   

Past Performances Include: 

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Barns at Wolf Trap

Montgomery College Arts Center

National Theater

EU Delegation

Smithsonian Discovery Theater

Irish Ambassador's St. Patrick's Day Celebration

CCE North American Convention

Eurokids Festival

Potomac Celtic Festival

Glen Echo Irish Festival

La Maison Francaise

Jack Guidone Theater