Nóra Ní Anluain Fay is a contemporary choreographer and dancer educated at Fontys University Tilburg, the Netherlands, and artistic director of NAF Dance.
Her work focuses on the bridge between dance and theatre, incorporating slapstick comedy and physical theatre as well as dance. Choreographers she has worked with across Europe include Oona Doherty, Liz Roche, John Scott and Keren Rosenburg; her own international choreographic debut, a duet titled Let Them Eat Cake, was selected to represent the Netherlands in the Szoloduo Festival in Hungary in 2022.
Her latest work, Usual Programming, explores the mad world of reality and dating shows, and premieres at this year's Scene And Heard festival of new work at Dublin's Smock Alley Theatre.
We asked Nora for her choice cultural picks...
BOOKS
I'm currently reading The Most of Nora Ephron which is a gorgeous collection of one of my favourite writer’s work. Her wit and observations are simply unmatched, all while being the most sublimely romantic. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton has quickly become my guide to adulthood as I navigate my early twenties. She is furiously funny, full of life and the perfect agony aunt. I always reread it when I embark on a new piece as her joyous and mad outlook on life is similar to what I try to capture in my own work. The pages are bursting with notes and lines being underlined, and it’s become a communal copy amongst all my friends. To top it all off, it has now been made into a glorious television series as well.
FILM
There was much anticipation around the Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion in our house and it definitely did not disappoint. We were all immediately hooked on the mystery and instinctively took on the role of Daniel Craig's detective, Benoit Blanc. There was something in the air last year as there were two nail-biting restaurant dramas released, The Menu and Boiling Point. They were both full of such great tension and, of course, great food. The Dance by Pat Collins follows the making of the sensational Mám by Michael Keegan Dolan. It gives us an insight into Keegan Dolan’s incredible mind and work and is an utter celebration of creating.
MUSIC
Beyonce released arguably her greatest album last summer, Renaissance; it is so incredibly joyous, fabulous and just compels you to dance. I've also found it to be a great soundtrack when I’m up against a deadline. I always try to bring as fun as possible into the studio when I’m creating and often revert to the classics from Blondie, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer and ABBA. Harry Styles will also always be a firm favourite of mine. and I have gotten into the habit of listening to his song Treat People with Kindness, when flying on take-off and landing to really enhance that sense of adventure.
THEATRE
I got to see The Seagull in the Harold Pinter Theatre in London last summer, in a production starring Emilia Clarke. It was so simple and stripped back, yet still undoubtedly packed a punch. I acted for years with the Gaiety School of Acting and have always loved it as an artform, but have gotten out of the habit of going as I'm mainly based in the Netherlands. But this production reminded me how magical the theatre can be.
TV
I stumbled across a new gem recently, Startstruck, a sitcom by Rose Matafeo and have been raving about it ever since. It walks the lovely line between tragedy and comedy that I adore. A series that slipped through the cracks is Big Boys, which is such a beautiful story of the woes of the university years and manages to make you cry and laugh in equal amounts. Taskmaster has really established its place on my mantel of TV gold and I'm dying for the next season of nonsense.
GIG
I went to see Joanne McNally in Vicar Street back in October and she really is the perfect mix of insanely relatable and nuts all at once. She had the crowd in the palm of her hand, and if you're not listening to her podcast with Vogue Williams, My Therapist Ghosted Me, sure what are you doing?
ART
I'm thoroughly enjoying working at the moment with the wonderful Clea van der Grijn on her upcoming film that has such a marvellous cast and crew. Her solo show The Disembodied Adventures of Clea runs in the Solomon Gallery for the month of February. She has such a fabulous command of colour and imagination; it really is a must-see.
RADIO/PODCAST
I'm hooked every Wednesday to the Off Menu podcast with James Acaster and Ed Gamble. It’s truly the recipe for the perfect podcast; food, comedy and a dream comedy duo. They had Paul Mescal on one of their latest episodes and the surprising insights you learn about someone based on their dream starter, main course and desert is phenomenal. Another hit is Goes Without Saying. which has a very simple format of two young women discussing the world and yet offers the loveliest comfort listen. I’m a huge reality TV fanatic and completely dissected the genre for my latest work, Usual Programming, Unreal by Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kaleis is a goldmine to understanding the realm of trashy TV.
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TECH
Vinted is the perfect app for buying and selling second hand clothes, books and all sorts. All my housemates, friends and I utilise it fully and live the experience! It's also a prime spot for sourcing costumes for performances.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
The young Irish singer Anna Leah is really an up-and-coming star. She is a masterful songwriter and a gorgeous performer; she really has it all.
The choreographer John-William Watson is one of my ultimate inspirations. The way he combines narrative, characters with pure fun and joy in movement is completely wondrous. He makes art that everyone can both enjoy and marvel at. I had the honour of working with him on his latest production Hang in There Baby for Sadlers Wells, London, which was utterly magical. I urge everyone to go and see his fantastical creations.
Usual Programming is at Smock Alley Theatre on February 21st and 22nd 2023, as part of the Scene and Heard Festival - find out more here.
