Oona Doherty

The Northern Irish dancer and choreographer Oona Doherty is regarded as one of the most individual artists of the present time. Her works portray the atmosphere of life in her home town of Belfast – between harsh realism and moving tenderness. Constructs of class and gender, the beauty and raw nature of everyday working class lives and traces of the Northern Ireland troubles that remain omnipresent are all evident in her works without ever resorting to clichés: amid the challenges of a world shaken by crises, Doherty consistently searches for hope and resistance – with and through dance as a source of radical change.

As our Spotlight Artist, Oona Doherty occupies a central role in this year’s Tanzfestival Rhein-Main. Three pieces offer insights into the work of this remarkable dance artist, combining both strength and vulnerability.