Aoibhell performed by Kate Spanos at the Local Old Style Concert at the Institute of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park, MD, April 14, 2013.
Local Old Style – Sean Nós Dance Intensive
Local Old Style is an intensive to jump-start a study of Irish sean nós (old style) dance and related forms including classes in Irish set dance and battering, old style solo set dances, Northern Ireland Festival Style, and sean nós for improvisation and musicality, featuring local Irish dance teachers Shannon Dunne, Megan Downes, Kate Spanos, […]
Choreography by Kate Spanos. Performed at Keeping Dance Alive! 2010 in Chico, CA. Photo credit: Derek Ralston.
Video: Waiting for Conrad
“Waiting for Conrad” video is finally here! Performed at Keeping Dance Alive! 2010 in Chico, CA. Choreography by Kate Spanos Music: “Waiting for Conrad” by Shooglenifty (Venus in Tweeds, 1995) Performers: Maria Oliver, Kate Spanos, Shannon Sullivan, Rose Trulin, Kelsey Wilson, Abby Zuppan View all of my videos on YouTube
Reactions: Keeping Dance Alive 2010
I have been blown away by the reactions to our Irish dance piece “Waiting for Conrad” at this year’s Keeping Dance Alive. People really seemed to enjoy it! But this just about takes the cake: anonymous from “Tell It to the E-R” in the Chico Enterprise Record, 2 April 2010: Irish dancers stole the show […]
Choreography by Kate Spanos. Performed at Keeping Dance Alive! 2010 in Chico, CA.
Photo by Derek Ralston.
Review: Keeping Dance Alive! 2010
The Chico Enterprise Record published a review of this year’s Keeping Dance Alive today, with the following snippet about my piece: “Waiting for Conrad,” choreographed by Kate Spanos, was a delightful Irish step performance featuring six talented dancers, including Chico Community Ballet alumna Kelsey Wilson. The performers’ talent was so big that, despite their small […]
Choreography by Kate Spanos. Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick, Ireland. May 2008.
Photo by Maurice Gunning.
Rhythm Synesthesia in Irish Dance
I have said that I experience rhythm-induced synesthesia, but I’ve never been able to elaborate on this experience. In Irish dance, for me hornpipes are dark brown earthy colors, light jigs are bright green and yellow, slip jigs are purple and pink pastels, reels are bright primary colors (treble reels are the same, but with […]
Samhain 2008 in Chico, CA
Last month I performed with Maria Oliver and Oliver Wong at the Blue Room Theatre’s second annual Samhain celebration. I performed a solo Aoibhell the Fairy Queen, and Maria and Oliver and I danced a treble reel together, with live music provided by the brilliant Ha’Penny Bridge. It was reviewed by The Orion!
Photo credit: Maurice Gunning
Sound Play
Theatrical solo choreography by Kate Spanos for MA in Traditional Irish Dance Performance, University of Limerick. Performance at the Performing Arts Center at the University of Limerick on 27 November 2007. Music is “The Eccentric” from “Troots” by Shooglenifty, with sound manipulation by John Greewood. View all of my videos on YouTube
Performing Arts Center, Foundation Building, University of Limerick, Ireland. November 2007.
Photo by Maurice Gunning.
Soggy’s Slip Jig
Modern slip jig dance performance by Kate Spanos (choreography by Michael Ryan) for MA in Traditional Irish Dance Performance, University of Limerick. Performance at the Performing Arts Centre at the University of Limerick on 27 November 2007. Music is “Soggy’s/Waterboogie” from “A Lovely Madness” by Beoga. View all of my videos on YouTube
Color Play (September 2008, McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario Canada; photo by Carter Jones)
Color Play at ASA 2008 (video)
Contemporary Irish dance choreography by Kate Spanos presented at the 7th Annual Conference of the American Synesthesia Association (ASA) (original blog post). Performed at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario on 28 September 2008. Music is “Pulses” from Steve Reich’s “Music for 18 Musicians” with voice-over text by Kate Spanos. More information about the ASA can […]