My name is Kathleen Doherty, and my work merges contemporary dance, aerial, and performance art. As a consequence of existence, my art is emotionally driven, with a thematic focus on personal growth and the eternal question of what it means to be human.
A graduate of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Florida State University, I started performing and touring with various Irish and EU companies, including Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, and Ffin Dance in Wales. My work has been showcased at festivals across Europe, such as the Irish Aerial Dance Festival (IRE), Trengos (PT), Sziget Festival (HU), Fara (PT), Laois Dance Festival (IRE), and Derida Dance Festival (BG).
Currently, I am an artist in residence in Limerick, Ireland, engaging in research, creation, and performance across Europe and Ireland. ‘Martyr,’ a collaborative project with Alexandre Duarte, originated from the cross-border EU-funded residency, Island Connect, making its debut at the Irish Aerial Dance Festival in 2022. While touring with Fossetts Circus in 2022, I completed ‘Fall,’ a dance film scored by Dave Boyd, premiering at the Constructed Sight Film Festival (USA) in 2023. Recognised at international festivals, it earned the Audience Award for Best Dance Film at the Azores Fringe (PT).
The projects I am working on at the moment are ‘Limina,’ an aerial dance film and immersive theatrical happening, “ANOIS” a solo site-responsive work ‘Misneach,’ a performance art piece about empathy and collective awareness, and ‘TIME- This is My Eternity,’ an aerial dance and performance art piece.
‘Anois’ featured performances in Latvia and research at C.IN.E Mallorca, while ‘Misneach‘ was created for A CASA SUA in Agitlab and presented at the Marrakech International Street Arts Festival in December 2023 and in Arthur’s Quay, Limerick. Recently, I’ve been researching a new show initiated at the Irish Aerial Dance Festival and performed at LAMB- Land Art Moving Biennale. ‘TIME- This is My Eternity’ explores climate change, the passage of time, and the urgency facing both humanity and the world.