Francis Footwork & Creative Dance Stories – VR performance & workshop 18.10.2025
Francis Footwork + Creative Dance Stories
In collaboration with HKD Sušak, MPC presents a VR performance and creative dance workshop for children 8+
Saturday, 18 October 2025, 10:00
Mediterranean Dance Center, Svetvinčenat
This morning programme at the Mediterranean Dance Center brings a two-part event for children and young audiences – the VR performance Francis Footwork by Ireland’s CoisCéim Dance Theatre, followed by the interactive workshop Creative Dance Stories.
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Author, direction and choreography: David Bolger
Performers: Cristian Enmanuel Dirocie, Stephanie Dufresne, Ivonne Kalter, Jonathan Mitchell
Music and sound: Denis Clohessy
Set, lighting and projection design: Christopher Ash
Costumes: Maree Kearns
Francis Footwork is a story about freedom of expression and individuality. A cast of colourful characters, led by the fantastically rhythmic Francis Footwork, takes on the tyranny of King Two Lefties and Colonel Head Banger in a fast-paced dance adventure with live music.
Now Francis is no ordinary girl – she is an extraordinary dancer. When kind-hearted King Two Lefties ascends to the throne, he is tricked by his adviser Colonel Head Banger into ruling the land with an iron fist. He wants to end all dancing. So Francis teaches him a dance lesson he will never forget!
Premiered in 2019 and filmed in VR in 2022 in collaboration with Aerowaves, the piece has since toured Irish schools to great acclaim.
“Joyful, clever, entertaining, intricate, technically superb and with a heart of goodness, Francis Footwork is a pure and simple delight.” – The Irish Times
“If it all sounds a little magical and wondrous, that’s because it is. As well as being one of the most exquisitely choreographed and beautifully produced pieces of dance theatre to be had anywhere... Joyous, uplifting, and miraculously magical, Francis Footwork might well have you feeling a little bit starstruck.” – The Arts Review
“A magical, marvellous take on dancing to your own tune.” – The Sunday Business Post
WORKSHOP – CREATIVE DANCE STORIES
Interactive workshop led by: Kristina Paunovski
After the performance, children are invited to take part in the interactive workshop Creative Dance Stories, designed to bring them closer to the world and characters of the piece through movement and play.
Led by an experienced dance artist, participants explore through physically dynamic exercises and inventive tasks, and are encouraged to create, rehearse, and perform their own unique dance story. The workshop lasts up to 60 minutes and is intended for children aged 8–12.
PROJECT CONTEXT
The VR version of Francis Footwork is part of the international project Springback Ringside, developed within the Aerowaves network – Europe’s largest dance platform.
The VR adaptations are directed and produced by Enya Belak, filmed and edited by Igor Crnković of Rijeka’s Pilot Media, with the Croatian Cultural Centre Sušak as the production hub and one of the project partners. The programme is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia within the audience development framework.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & COMPANY
David Bolger is the co-founder and Artistic Director of CoisCéim Dance Theatre, one of Ireland’s leading dance companies. Over the past 30 years, he has directed and choreographed numerous original productions that have toured internationally, winning critical praise and prestigious awards.
CoisCéim has performed at major venues and festivals including the Sydney Opera House, Venice Biennale, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, and LIFT (UK). Alongside its performance programme, the company runs Broadreach, a pioneering platform for audience development and community participation.
TICKETS
Reservations are required for all programmes (capacity is limited).
Ticket for VR performance: 5 €
Ticket for VR performance + workshop: 10 €
Reserve your spots via e-mail: rezervacije@mediteranskiplesnicentar.hr
