Your Next Move 2024
Dance Ireland, in association with Dance World, is pleased to award four Pre-Professional Members with the Your Next Move Award. This award aims to provide pre-professional and early-career dancers with the opportunity to further invest in the development of their dance careers.
This year’s recipients are : Lily Deveney, Grace Tamani, Alice Gavigan, Nina Braswell.
Each Awardee will receive €250 to use towards future development, a €100 voucher for Dance World, and an advice session with a relevant Dance Ireland staff member, to provide guidance on a chosen aspect of their development.
Find out more about each awardee below.
Lily Deveney
Born in Dublin, Lily trained with Lauren Speirs and was a member of the Irish National Youth Ballet where she performed leading roles such as Snow Queen and Lead Mirliton in Nutcracker (Killian O’Callaghan). She then accepted a place in Central School of Ballet, London, where she graduated in July 2023 with First Class Honours. At Central School of Ballet, Lily enjoyed getting the opportunity to train in a variety of styles. She was fortunate to perform in the Unite for Ukraine Gala in Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London. In her final year at Central, Lily was a member of student touring company Ballet Central and had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers such as Morgann Runacre-Temple, Darshan Singh Bhuller and Michael Pink and perform leading roles in their pieces. Since graduating, Lily has continued her artistic development in London participating in numerous workshops and masterclasses.
“I am immensely grateful to Dance Ireland for this award and it will be greatly beneficial in my artistic development going forward.”
Image credit: Jimmy Parratt, (@adancerslens)
Grace Tamani
I have been dancing for over a decade, and in that time I have explored diverse styles, including hip-hop, jazz, tap and commercial, however I have always held a deep affinity for ballet and contemporary dance. Since the age of thirteen, I knew that there was only one thing for me; to one day work and perform as a professional artist. Through the challenges of Covid I pursued training wherever possible, and in 2021 I dedicated a year to full-time study at the College of Dance, which transformed my technique and confidence. Currently, I am a proud member of Dublin Youth Dance Company’s Senior Ensemble, where I’ve embraced exciting opportunities such as working with a variety of amazing choreographers, and also creating work myself through the Emerging Voices Programme. I hope to someday fulfil the dreams I’ve held with me for years, and be able to continue exploring and improving as a dance artist.
“I want to thank Dance Ireland for this award, which will greatly help in supporting my audition journey this year as I work towards my dream of joining a contemporary dance programme.”
Image credit - Ewa Figaszewska (@ewafigaszewska), through Dublin Youth Dance Company
Alice Gavigan
Alice began training in ZoNa Dance Company, in Donegal where she was a member of the senior performance ensemble. She attended pre-vocational training through Ballet Boost as a senior associate and Royal Academy of Dance Winter Associates. Alice has also trained in SEAD (Salzburg Experiential Academy of Dance, Movementors programmes), and graduated from the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick with a first class BA in Contemporary Dance. In her career thus far she has worked with companies and choreographers such as Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre as a ’Soar Up’ apprentice, Dance Limerick, Dr Phoebe Brown and Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company. Alice was fortunate to be selected for Dance Ireland’s ‘Your Next Move Award’ 2024, and receive the Dancer Explorers Scholarship from Irish Modern Dance Theatre in 2023.
"I'm delighted and grateful to receive this award, which I'll use to develop my career as a Contemporary Dancer in Ireland."
Image credit: Lauren D. Cress (@laurendcress.photog)
Nina Braswell
Nina Braswell is currently in 1st Year of the BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and& Dance in London. She’s been dancing since starting ballet in Wicklow School of Dance at the age of 4, taking RAD exams up to Advanced Foundation. She was a member of Irish National Youth Ballet Senior Company, with whom she regularly performed, and was also a Morea Performing Arts Associate. She completed the full-time dance diploma at The College of Dance in Dublin. Nina has taken Intensives with The Dance Institute, Irish Ballet Forum, The College of Dance, Iwanson International School of Contemporary Dance in Munich, and Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Trinity Laban Conservatoire in the UK.
"I’m really happy and grateful to receive the Your Next Move Award, it really encourages me to continue my practice and stay dedicated outside of university. I’m using the grant for classes to thoroughly learn Boris Kniaseff Floor Barre technique. I’m excited to add it to my at home practice and contemporary classes. I’m also planning on using it for open classes in places such as base and pineapple to gain experience and get more connected in the dance world."
Image credit: Prima Chroma Photography.