'Francis Footwork is about doing what you love and staying true to who you are...' CoisCéim founder David Bolger introduces his latest dance piece, currently playing at The Ark, Dublin.
Francis Footwork is my second show for younger audiences.
My first was The Wolf and Peter which went on to tour extensively – from Sligo to Sydney and back again. I saw the impact that it had on young people: the excitement and joy it brought was contagious. I felt the need to create more work for children. The ideas for Francis Footwork began to germinate from the idea of: what the world would be like without dancing and what would be the consequences?
An uplifting tale about finding the courage to dance your own dance began to take shape. The story centres around Francis Footwork, a girl who was born to dance – for her dancing is dreaming with her feet. Her kingdom is a dance floor. And in this kingdom, everybody dances. That is, until dancing is banned when she and her friends come together to make enable all to move to their own tune.
The creation period not only focused on the story line but the development of the characters all would be captivated by, they could see themselves in, movement by dancers that wowed and inspired. I like to layer my work so it can play to a 6-year-old and hopefully an 80-year-old.
To me it is important to facilitate dance to youngsters as much as possible.
I was lucky with Francis Footwork to have multiple development opportunities – firstly, through a week long residency at Baboró International Arts Festival for Children (where the show went on to premiere) - and then at The Ark, working with the Children's Council that lead to some in-progress development to youths, both at The Ark’s Still Loading Festival and the later as part of the final rehearsals in CoisCéim’s studio - where I was able to get direct feedback. It is important to listen to youths. They are very smart and have a lot to say in the world.
To me it is important to facilitate dance to youngsters as much as possible. Dancing is a natural feeling, makes you feel stronger, happier and is hugely important for our development as adults. There is so much research recently about the benefits of dance for everybody. I think it is very important to allow children to dance. It improves communication skills and has only positive benefits in every aspect of our growing bodies and lives.
We were to perform Francis Footwork two years ago following the 2019 production. Like many - our 2020 plans were closed down due to Covid-19. I thought that I would never get to work on the show again and it was lost forever. So, my happiness and honour to have the opportunity to bring it to the audiences – and finally make our debut at the Ark in 2022 is a joy. I am three years older and perhaps wiser since the original staging - so many things within the show seem to speak more clearly now creating even more opportunities for young audiences to connect to the many aspects of this production.
There are a few messages in this production that hold truth for all, regardless of age. For me, Francis Footwork is about doing what you love and staying true to who you are – and it’s through the coming together of the energetic music and exceptional dance performed that we feel this.
Francis Footwork by David Bolger is at The Ark until April 30th 2022 - find out more here.
