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Congratulations to Michael Seaver and Silken Thomas Players
Michael Seaver
Irish Times dance critic Michael Seaver has been awarded a fellowship from the New York Times and is one of eight international dance critics chosen to work within the Institute of Dance Criticism at this year's American Dance Festival.
The National Endowment of the Arts is providing $1 million for the first two years of the programme of three institutes, which includes an institute for classical music and opera critics at Columbia University and theatre critics at the University of Southern California.
"We consider this Institute to be the most important of activities in communicating the value of dance to the greater community," said Charles L. Reinhart, director of the American Dance Festival. "After all, it is not easy to verbalize what is generally a nonverbal art form." The institute provides an antidote to the isolation in which most dance critics find themselves working according to critic and historian Suzanne Carbonneau who will co-ordinate the international participants. "It not only gives critics the opportunity to exchange ideas about dance writing but also, by virtue of it's setting at the American Dance Festival allow this to happen within an exciting dance environment," she says.
The American Dance Festival was established in 1934 in Bennington with founding artists Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. The site of more than 550 premieres, many of them landmark dances commissioned by the Festival, ADF has a worldwide reputation for discovering, commissioning and bringing deserved recognition to many of modern dance's finest talents.
Michael Seaver is based in Kildare Town.
Further information: Michael Seaver : 087-8130183 or michael@krlx.com
Silken Thomas Players
History was made this year on the Amateur drama festival circuit, with the production of two plays by the Silken Thomas Players qualifying for the All-Ireland confined finals in Warrenpoint, Co. Down. Both did extremely well in the finals. The Overall winner was the Silken Thomas Players with “Bent”, by Martin Sherman and the group also finished fourth with their interpretation of “Women on the verge of HRT”, by Marie Jones. This is an outstanding achievement for the group.The group won many personal awards at the All-Irelands as well. Sean Judge, Best producer. Kevin McCormack, Best Actor. Conor O’Connell, Best Supporting Actor, and Kevin and Conor won Best moment of theatre for the final scene of the play. Nominations for acting were also received by Colin Malone (Bent), Mark Stafford (HRT), Mag Flynn and Ber Rochford (HRT) and Johnny Judge received a nomination for Best Lighting.
All round it was as successful year for the group. A record eleven festivals were taken on board by the group with six wins, three seconds and two third places. Personal awards fell from the sky with over twenty in total. Certificates were won in sound and by one of the most experienced of actors Simon Hickey, for his portrayal of Uncle Freddie in “Bent”. Sean Judge also collected seven Best producer awards on the circuit. The “Best Comedy” award was well received by the group at Dublin Drama festival for “Women on the verge of HRT”.
For further information contact Mark Stafford Tel: 045-521747