B-Hybrid Dance presents ‘Of Simple Stone’ - a short dance film that highlights the umbilical connection one has to their home-land.
Past meets present, and contemporary movement meets history as 3 dancers explore the grand and idyllic stone fort Grianán of Aileach in Co. Donegal, Ireland. The tranquil energy within the fort’s walls contrasts with the energetic pull of the buzzing world outside. Whether at home or further afield, this feast for the eyes will always bring you home.
Note from Brian Gillespie
“As someone who left my homeland many moons ago, I felt a draw towards making this work when I had the opportunity. Many expats will at some point share the dilemma of wanting to retain the character their homeland helped sculpt, whilst also needing to conform to the ways of their new surroundings to an extent. Roots and wings are two separate things, but both can coexist.
During a trip home to Donegal to premiere one of my dance theatre works with B-Hybrid Dance to Irish audiences, I took full advantage of the beauty of my home along with the beautiful talent I was accompanied by. The images from this film came to me whilst trying to sleep one night a few months before the trip, and I made it my mission to recreate them.
Hours of footage later, I had the mega task of making sense of the images I had captured. Finding Liam Porters poem ‘home’, and calling on my good musician friend Méabh Kinsella helped me make sense of this footage and create what I now call ‘Of Simple Stone’.
I hope this work brings fond memories to anyone missing their homeland at a time when travel isn’t always possible.”
CREDITS
Cast - Goele Michaux, Liam Duffy, Jumar Aben.
Director/Choreography/Voice/Edit - Brian Gillespie
Poem - ‘Home’ by Liam Porter
Music - Méabh Kinsella
Grade/Post-Production Assistant - Philippa Carson
Camera - DNK Productions - Kieran Kelly, Camilla Meegan
Drone - Martin Gallagher