On the Town: Thirteen dancers took part in one of the biggest productions ever undertaken by the Irish Modern Dance Theatre in Project, Dublin this week.
The White Piece, choreographed by John Scott, artistic director of the company, looks at how a white piece of cloth can be "used for cleaning, for healing, for amelioration", as Scott said before the performance.
"John's a creative genius. Always expect the unexpected with him and you are never bored," said Ingrid Nachstern, choreographer with the Night Star Dance Company, which will perform The Antiroom at the Novemberfest of dance and physical theatre at Dún Laoghaire's Pavilion Theatre.
Among those who came to see the dancers perform was Pauline Graham, a Scottish opera singer, who will perform Mozart arias in The Netherlands with the Camerata Amsterdam orchestra this weekend.
Another Scottish woman, Cathy Hillman, travelled with her husband, John Steven, from their home in France, to see their son, Ashley Chen, a former principal dancer with the Lyon Opera Ballet, perform in The White Piece.
"It's unusual, intimate also and it's full of surprises," said Chen about the work before the performance.
Also there was Joe Vanek, costume and set designer, who is currently project manager charged with sourcing an alternative opera venue for Wexford. Following this year's festival, the town's current opera house will be refurbished and renovated over the next two years.
Della Hickey and her friend Bette King, both students of the two-year Laban dance course at Kinnegad's Midland Arts Office were also there, as was photographer and broadcaster, Tom Lawlor.
The crowd also featured Irish opera singer Orla Boylan, barrister Killian McMorrow, Segun Nelson from Lagos in Nigeria and Séamus Crimmins, policy director with the Arts Council.
The White Piece continues at Project tonight. It moves on to Moat Theatre, Naas, on Tue,
Aug 30; Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, on Thur, Sept 1; Draíocht, Blanchardstown, on Sat,
Sept 3; and Roscommon Arts Centre on Fri, Sept 9