UP-CLOSE

UP-CLOSE by Monica Muñoz is a dance performance, discussion, and workshop all in one. It has been specially developed to bring dance to schools in an accessible way and to stimulate an appetite for dance. The hour-long program takes place at your school.

UP-CLOSE is a DANCE EXPERIENCE that leaves you wanting more
At the heart of this programme is UP-CLOSE: An energetic dance piece where two strangers meet, connect, and celebrate their new friendship. Together they look to the future with hope, optimism, and an appetite for life. UP-CLOSE is about trusting each other, building resilience together and letting go of the past. Designed for two dancers and a car tyre, blending contemporary, street dance styles with circus skills, peppered with good humour and raw energy UP-CLOSE appeals to the liveness of children and ignites our yearning for physical contact. (25 mins)

➔The performance is followed by a conversation to capture what the audiences have seen and an opportunity to ask questions. (15 mins)

➔Finally, with ease of transition the creative team facilitate a movement workshop and almost without realising it, children can explore ideas from the show and experience the piece physically. (15 mins)

Suitable for 2nd to 6th class

Monica Muñoz
Monica Muñoz is a dancer, performance-maker, and educator originally from Barcelona and based in Dublin since 2014. She is interested in making exciting new performances for early years and young audiences. Recent productions include Fall & Float, Irish Spring Tour; UP-CLOSE, commissioned and presented at Tipperary Dance International Festival, Ireland (2021). Previous work includes the acclaimed Princesses Can Be Pirates, funded by Business to Arts that toured Nationally and Internationally with support from The Irish Arts Council and Culture Ireland.

She is currently The Ark’s John Coolahan Early Years Artist in Residence 2021/22 and a recent GROW Pathways to Production Participant, an initiative from Baboró International Children's Festival in partnership with Druid, the Mick Lally Theatre, Branar Téatar do Phaistí, The Irish Theatre Institute (ITI) and Galway Theatre Festival.

UP-CLOSE credits
Choreography: Monica Muñoz in collaboration with the dancers

Dancers: Cristian Emmanuel Dirocie and Matteusz Szczerek

Technician: Paul LenihanDramaturgical

Support: Claire MullanePhotography: Alexandre Iseli

Practicalities
→ Set-up and warm-up take us 1.5 hours

→ The minimum playing area to perform is 8m x 6m

→ The dancers need access to a changing area