Oran Leong
Professional

A multidisciplinary dance artist in the genres of traditional Irish, contemporary and aerial dance, Oran creates and collaborates on original works that cross over fields of theatre, abstract and spectacle performance.

In 2020, he was supported by Dance Ireland’s Emerging Artist HATCH Award under the mentorship of Fearghus Ó Conchúir.

Oran’s movement journey began at the innocent age of 6, when he mistook an Irish dance class for breakdance. Nevertheless, he returned and competed for 18 years, winning three World Championship titles amongst numerous other regional and national championships. He is also a qualified teacher (TCRG). After a double Hons BA in music and Nua-Ghaeilge, a wardrobe malfunction in fashion retail and a stint in radio that led him to seek sanctuary in contemporary dance training, Oran eventually returned to university for an MA in Contemporary Dance Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. During that time he met Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre which has been crucial to his aerial practice. Oran proudly acknowledges his movement as homegrown - being one of the few Irish-born dancers to have never studied abroad.

Working for a number of Irish and international companies in his variety of styles, Oran has also been Assistant Artistic Director of Laois Youth Dance Ensemble and was the backstage presenter for TG4’s dance show ‘An Ríl Deal’. He has created his own solo dance works which have been presented at multiple Irish festivals and events, Lisbon Dance Platform and Project Dance Paris. Oran has successfully received Arts Council awards in the Traditional Arts, Dance and Circus disciplines, while offering mentorship to other creatives through his accumulated knowledge. Currently, Oran is Fidget Feet’s Associate Artist and Dance Artist-In-Residence at Ballina Arts Centre, where he is exploring the ups and downs of his artistic identity through dance, atrocious singing and storytelling.

His artistic identity explores the use of objects, concepts of gender, and the interplay of his diverse styles. In movement research Oran is driven by the spirit of curiosity, but it is not merely the physical feats nor innovation of material that has sustained his interest in dance. The relationships that manifest themselves to form his ever-growing community are the driving force for his creating, sharing and experiencing movement. He values collaboration, authenticity and having the absolute ‘craic’ through an artform that brings him, and hopefully others, joy.

He has yet to take a breakdance class.
 

Images: Headshot- Emma Jarvis---Performance Image 1- Marie O'Mahony Photography---Performance Image 2- Tanja Warkentin ----Performance Image 3- Leon Farrell

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