The Grand Canal Theatre Dublin opened its doors in March 2010. At a twenty-minute stroll from O’Connell Street, it is the newest and biggest addition to Dublin’s vibrant cultural life. With a 2000 seating capacity, within a year after its inauguration, it represents Dublin’s primary venue for theatrical productions. Therefore, the decision by Dublin Dance Festival to host the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan at the Grand Canal Theatre was extremely significant. In this wonderful setting, I was enticed by Songs of the wanderers (1994), which was presented by “Asia’s leading contemporary dance companies” (The Irish Times) and hailed as the centrepiece performance of DDF 2011.

The Dublin Dance Festival organizers have envisaged Re-presenting Ireland as an annual cultural venture with a very concrete purpose. Featuring as a solid festival component, Re-presenting Ireland presents rising choreographers with the opportunity of presenting their completed and unfinished works to Irish audiences. The project celebrates the diversity of the Irish modern dance scene. And indeed, all the works presented in Re-presenting Ireland 2011, highlight the versatility of modern dance in contemporary Ireland.

In anticipation of tonight’s performances Fanfare and Bell, I sit down in the Great Hall at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, scrutinising the 17th century portraits of Kings and Queens. Queen Anne is staring back at me intently.