Changes afoot at institute of dance

Cork 2005: The success of the Institute for Choreography and Dance programme for "Fête de la Danse" in February led to the two-week closure of the institute's premises at the Firkin Crane to allow time off to over-extended staff.

Re-opening today, the institute is re-shaping itself under artistic director Mary Brady and acting managing director Mowbray Bates; its role as a performance venue is diminishing to accommodate a emphasis on residency and research work in the development of modern dance.

As ICD wins further international recognition with an invitation to join the network of dance houses established through the EU Culture 2000 programme, a review of strategy and progress is also being undertaken as part of a 10-year assessment.

While continuing to facilitate rental clients such as city dance schools and companies along with local community services, the institute's immediate developmental commitment is part of an exchange for Liverpool's term as European City of Culture in 2008, and another collaboration is planned with the Centre Choreographique National in Rennes. The ICD link to the dance and theatre studies programme run by Alan Foley for Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa will be maintained, and in September choreographer Jane Kelleghan and her Crux Dance Theatre collaborates with Echo Echo Dance Company from Derry (among others) in a north-south exchange.

"ICD is a resource, a service centre," says Mary Brady, "but we also have to try to bridge the gap caused by the lack of infrastructure for contemporary dance practice and professional opportunities for the working artist; in the absence of a critical mass of full-time engagements, our role is to create the best possible conditions in which artists can work."

A former member of the Arts Council, Mary Brady also sees ICD as committed to offering the highest quality experience for audiences, although dance performances are now more likely to take place at the Opera House (where venue charges are €8,000 per performance) or at the Everyman (which charges from €2,500 to €3,000 for its much smaller stage).

ICD is also involved in the Jack Lynch House residency schedule, managing the neighbouring property on behalf of the City Council as accommodation for visiting artists.

As part of a planned - and overdue - refurbishment of the whole Shandon area in which the Firkin Crane is a landmark building (close to the iconic Shandon steeple itself where the church of St Anne is also being redecorated), the City Council has taken over control of the Shandon Craft Centre where, with the exception of the café, most of the shops have closed down.

Still open and always worth a visit, however, is the Butter Museum in the old Butter Exchange premises.