ROOTS: Transforming Belfast's Shared Space at Black Mountain

ROOTS: Transforming Belfast's Shared Space at Black Mountain. 

An ambitious and multi-dimensional large scale work, with Live Dance, Poetry, Storytelling & Active Participation in the newly designed and planted Community Garden.

Location: Black Mountain Shared Space Project, 280 Ballygomartin Road, Belfast

Performance Dates: Saturday 10th August  - Sunday 18th August

Please note - no performances on Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th August

For all details and updated information, visit our What's On guide - (Link opens in new window)

 

ROOTS - a pioneering initiative in Belfast City Council’s Belfast 2024 programme and one of ten projects to also be supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund - is poised to redefine the historically contested space adjacent to the 'million brick' peace wall dividing the Springmartin and Springfield communities. Led by home-grown choreographer Eileen McClory, this transformative project will unfold at the newly constructed Black Mountain Shared Space Building, offering an immersive, nature-inspired experience for all.

The vision for ROOTS is to cultivate a vibrant community garden teeming with life, energy, and creativity.  This garden will set the stage for LIVE DANCE SHOWS in August.  Eileen McClory, together with Off The Rails Dance and the Black Mountain Community, provide a unique performance that blends dance, poetry, storytelling, and active participation.  In this event, art and nature intertwine to rewrite the narrative of Belfast’s public spaces as audiences are guided by the captivating sound design to watch, listen, move, touch, and connect in an engaging journey to transform a shared, but contested space, at Belfast’s ‘million brick’ peace wall that divides the Springmartin and Springfield communities.

ROOTS aims not just to entertain, but to ignite fresh conversations and narratives about Belfast’s future, and to immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of growth and unity.  Join us on the mountain, where art and nature intertwine to rewrite the narrative of Belfast’s public spaces, embracing inclusivity, collaboration, and the boundless potential of collective imagination.

Eileen McClory, leading the ROOTS team, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "I'm thrilled to be part of such an exciting year for Belfast. ROOTS offers us a unique opportunity to reshape our cityscape through nature and collective creativity. But what truly excites me is the chance to collaborate with local residents and capture the essence of our connection to Black Mountain through movement, stories, and gardening that will resonate for generations to come."

“This is one of the most exciting projects in our Belfast 2024 programme, reflecting our central themes of People, Place and Planet, with additional support provided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund,” said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray.

ROOTS is bringing communities together to work on something really special – developing new skills, enjoying poetry, dance and storytelling sessions and then showcasing their efforts with a week of world-class performances inside the beautiful space they’ve created.The end result will be to create a lasting legacy on what is now a shared space, as well as a chance to celebrate the unique heritage of this special part of our city, in the shadow of Black Mountain.”

ROOTS boasts a diverse array of creative partners, including Black Mountain Shared Space, Sow Grateful Flower Farm, PLAYGROUND Productions, Queen's University Belfast, Eden Project, and Belfast International Arts Festival.

Seamus Corr, Projects and Programmes Manager, Black Mountain Shared Space Project: “Together, we sow the seeds of possibility, cultivating a vibrant garden where diverse voices bloom.  Through dance, poetry, and storytelling, we paint a story of Belfast’s future, weaving together dreams and aspirations. With each step we take, we dance towards a tomorrow filled with shared experiences and boundless imagination.”
 

Speaking on behalf of Eden Project, Emma Tolley stated:  “ROOTS represents a powerful fusion of nature, creativity, and community engagement, offering a transformative vision for Belfast’s shared spaces. Eden Project is proud to contribute to this innovative initiative, inspiring and demonstrating positive action for the planet for generations to come.”

Richard Wakely, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, of Belfast International Arts Festival, added “ Belfast International Arts Festival is delighted to be able to continue to support the practice and work of Eileen McClory, a former Festival Artist in Residence. We’re very proud that ROOTS has been commissioned for the Belfast 2024 programme as it gives audiences across Belfast the opportunity to experience at first hand Eileen’s wonderful new, site specific work for the Black Mountain Shared Space Building.”

Andy McCormack, co-founder Sow Grateful, a cut-flower farm and landscaping company on the edge of Belfast. “We focus on nature-first horticultural practices, and grow peat-free seasonal flowers, as well as being registered with the All Ireland Pollinator Plans for our pollinator-friendly landscape designs. With core values of community engagement and environmental education, Sow Grateful, are delighted to be part of this garden design and implementation project. Bringing our expertise and energy to incorporate the ideas and interests of the local community to create a garden that reflects the people and location in which it is nestled “

In August, the garden will come alive with dance and stories amidst the blooming sensory feast. Audiences will be invited to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of movement and stories rich in biodiversity and dreams for the future, experiencing firsthand the beauty of collective creativity in action.

Join us on the mountain, where art and nature intertwine to rewrite the narrative of Belfast's public spaces, embracing inclusivity, collaboration, and the boundless potential of collective imagination.

PERFORMERS: 

CLARA KERR - Clara is a dance artist based in Belfast. She graduated from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in 2019 with a first-class honours degree in Dance. Since graduating, Clara has directed and choreographed multiple dance pieces, including ‘Line of Life’ commissioned by Maiden Voyage Dance and performed as part of the Belfast Children’s Festival 2023, ‘An Féileacán Agus An Rí’, performed as part of the Belfast Children’s Festival 2020, and ‘Caillte’ performed as part of the Liverpool Irish Festival to rave reviews. Clara has also performed with major companies across the UK and Ireland including Incandescence theatre in Qatar and Palestine, with Northern Ireland Opera in ‘La Traviata’ and as part of a sold-out West end and UK and Ireland tour of ‘Fairytale of New York’

SARAH FLAVELLE - Sarah is a passionate and motivated performer interested in exploring authentic and expressive movement. Hailing from South Belfast, up-and-coming contemporary dancer Sarah Flavelle, currently splits her time between Belfast and Berlin,She has recently collaborated with Maiden Voyage and Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, Roisin Whelan Dance and Nossetssik Dance Company.

Sarah trained with Institute Of The Arts Barcelona, Liverpool John Moores University BA(Hons) Dance - graduating June 2023.  Academy of Professional Physical Arts, Neil Towers, 2015-2018, English Youth Ballet Associates Programme, 2015 - 2018.

ED MITCHELL - Ed grew up in Newmarket, Suffolk where he found dance and acting through Stagecoach at the age of 5. Ed soon advanced to King Slocombe School of Dance for two years as well as joining his local theatre group, NOMADS.

In 2015, Ed performed in Matthews Bourne’s Lord of the Flies. Ed later went on to study at Northern School of Contemporary Dance for three years, graduating with a first-class degree. During his time at NSCD, he had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Matthew Slater, Patricia Okenwa, Lea Anderson and Gary Clarke.

ROSIE MULLIN - Rosie is a Belfast-based dance artist whose professional training started in Belfast Metropolitan College in 2013. She received her BA (Hons) Degree in Dance Performance and Teaching in Preston before returning to Northern Ireland to further her training in the Ulster University.

Rosie’s professional work varies from choreographic and performance work to movement facilitation roles. She has worked professionally throughout Ireland and the UK since 2016 with companies such as Maiden Voyage Dance, Off The Rails Dance and most recently with Oona Doherty as rehearsal director of Hard to Be soft: A Belfast Prayer. Rosie continues to push her artistry in styles of circus and acro dance.

HARRY WILSON - Harry is originally from South Yorkshire, but currently living in London. He trained at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, where he worked with choreographers including Sir Richard Alston, Christopher Bruce CBE, and Richard Chappell.

More recently, Harry worked as an apprentice dancer with Yorke Dance Project on their film adaptation of Kenneth MacMillan’s ‘Sea Of Troubles’ and as a company dancer in the folk-ballet ‘The Tears of Jenny Greenteeth’ by BalletFolk.  Harry is also a keen choreographer and is in the process of creating a work with his collaborator, Anna Smith, for Resolution Festival at The Place Theatre.

POET:  MARIA McMANUS

Maria McManus was born between the bridges of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. A poet and playwright, Maria lives in Belfast. She is the author of Available Light (Arlen House, 2018), We are Bone (2013), The Cello Suites (2009) and Reading the Dog (2006) (Lagan Press).  Her writing for theatre includes work with Kabosh, TinderBox, Red Lead, Replay, Big Telly and Off the Rails, a dance company. 

Her passion is poetry in public space, and she has collaborated extensively with other artists to create Cirque des Oiseaux, DUST, and LabelLit. She has performed in Ireland, USA, the Basque Country, Portugal and Sweden.  She facilitates XBorders for the Irish Writers’ Centre and Under the Skin for the Seamus Heaney Home Place.  She has received numerous Arts Council of Northern Ireland awards, including ACES in 2015 and the Artists’ International Award 2016. She is artistic director and curator of Ireland’s only Poetry Jukebox.

Available Light is Maria’s third full collection of poetry. It is a contemporary intertextual exploration of the ancient art of augury – interpreting the will of the gods from the flight patterns of birds. The poems are unflinching and probe and explore questions of love, loss, migration, uncertainty, life and death, in its horror, brutality and beauty.
 

SOUND DESIGN: ISAAC GIBSON

Isaac is an award-winning Northern Irish DJ, producer and sound designer. He has over ten years of experience in the music industry and is currently studying a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen's University Belfast, with a focus on Music Technology , Socially Engaged Sonic Arts and Sound Design.

In recent years he has worked on the scores and sound design of many short films and theatrical productions that have been showcased at the Lyric Theatre, the MAC and at various other prestigious institutions in Ireland.

About Off The Rails

OFF THE RAILS DANCE is a Belfast Dance Company committed to creating daring and inspiring works that entertain, challenge and push the boundaries of dance as a theatrical form. Formed in 2010 under the Artistic Direction of Eileen McClory. 

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About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £250,000 to the Our Future Heritage project part of the Belfast 2024 programme in December 2023.

As the largest dedicated founder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment. The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Follow @HeritageFundNI on Facebook and X /Twitter and @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

www.heritagefund.org.uk - (Link opens in a new window)