Fearghus Ó Conchúir
Fearghus Ó Conchúir, Choreographer and Dance Artist, in conversation with Rebecca McCauley of Foreign Window LitWorks
TELL us about yourself;
Why I’d give up my very last penny for the dramatic arts:
The arts help us understand ourselves and the world, and through them we make the most of our human potential.
Hometown?
I grew up in the Ring Gaeltacht in Co. Waterford but all my family are from Cork so I got my first exposure to dance and theatre at pantomimes in the Opera House.
Where do you live?
I live in London now and travel back and forth to Ireland to work here.
Where did you train as a dancer?
I trained at London Contemporary Dance School after I finished my MA in European Literature at Magdalen College, Oxford. I was a late vocation.
Did you always want to be a performer?
I always wanted to be an artist of some kind, to communicate what I felt about the world to other people. I thought I might be a writer but studying literature made me too self-conscious. In my twenties, dance opened up a new form of expression that I hadn’t really experienced before and I was hooked.
Is there a performer that you admire most or look up to?
There’s a conductor called Daniel Barenboim that I admire. He’s a gifted pianist in his own right but he’s also an inspiring leader when he conducts and he uses his artistic skill to help people beyond the arts: he helped set up an orchestra that brought together young Arab and Israeli musicians to promote peace and understanding. It’s ambitious aspiration but he reminds me that we should be ambitious about the importance role the arts can play in society, helping people understand more about themselves and others.
What project are you involved in at the moment?
I’m touring Ireland with a project called Open Niche. It’s a dance about finding your place in an environment that’s changing all the time and about making the best of what you have. What makes it special is that as well as the quartet of fantastic international dancers that perform the piece, I’m also working with local dancers in each of the places to involve them in the performance. They will add a local flavour to the performance and give each audience a unique version of the show. In Tralee we will work with the core company of Siamsa Tíre, in Dun Laoghaire with Dublin Youth Dance Company and in Cork, with transition year students from St Vincent’s Secondary School. It’s a great opportunity for me to meet and work with a variety of dancers around the country and I’m particularly looking forward to performing at the Firkin Crane where I’ve often rehearsed.
What was the best role you ever had?
I really enjoy my current role as freelance choreographer. I get to travel around the world, meeting new people, learning new things and working with great dancers. It’s a challenge and you have to make do with little financial security – but that’s not uncommon now and I feel lucky to be doing a job that rewards me with satisfaction and stimulation.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part is seeing people learn something about themselves when they come to see my choreography. And I love when the audience helps me see things in the choreography that I hadn’t realized myself. It’s a two-way process and that communication is important to me.
How many hours a day do you rehearse?
When I’m making a new piece, I usually rehearse from 10am until 6pm.
What is a ‘regular’ day like when you are performing?
With Open Niche, I’m not performing myself but on the day of the show, I’ll meet the dancers for their warm-up in the theatre. The technicians will already be rigging the lights and making sure everything is ready for rehearsals. After the warm-up, the dancers will do a light run-through of the show. Open Niche is physically demanding so I don’t want them to be exhausted before the show. The most important thing is that they are familiar with the new stage. I watch the dancers and give them some notes. Then the dancers need a rest and some food before the show. I’ll check that everything is running smoothly for the show, that the dancers, technicians, and front of house are happy. After that I’ll wait for the audience to arrive and hope they enjoy watching the Open Niche performers as much as I do. After the show, I look forward to talking to the audience to see what they feel and think about the dance. Then it’s time to relax with the performers, get some sleep and prepare for travel to the next venue.
Is there a role/show that you dream of performing in?
The role that’s occupying my dreams at the moment is one in a new dance film I’m making called Mo mhórchoir féin. It’s going to be shown on RTÉ in May as part of the Dance on the Box series. I’m choreographing the film with director Dearbhla Walsh. She won an Emmy last year, so I feel very lucky to be working with her. I’m dancing in the film myself so at night I think of the choreography a lot.
What else are you up to at the moment/upcoming projects?
After the last performance of Open Niche at the Firkin Crane, in Cork, I head to Shanghai where I will be performing a number of my works in the Irish Pavilion at the World EXPO. It’s a great privilege to be representing Ireland and a great opportunity to learn more about China.
How would you like to be remembered as a performer?
As a performer and as a choreographer, I’d like to be remembered as being both brave and welcoming.
What advice would you give to young dancers who want to become professionals?
Have a good sense of your self and what you bring to your dancing – but make sure you take every opportunity for that self to grow by working with and learning from choreographers, dancers, teachers and anyone who challenges you to improve.
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