Professional

Apply here to become a Professional Member of Dance Ireland.

Membership fee is €75 a year

Who is this for?

  • Early stage Professional – if you are at the beginning of your dance career, and embarking on creating, performing and/or teaching at a professional level
  • Mid-career Professional –if you are working regularly as a dance artist; you have received funding and produced work- you are known within the dance community
  • Established Professional – you have a significant body of work as a performer/choreographer/facilitator/dance producer or other dance professional; you are well-known nationally & in receipt of regular funding

Why become a Member?

To be equipped with knowledge, advice and support for your profession
To connect with a community of professional dance practitioners in Ireland
To develop your career with range of professional development opportunities
To enhance and empower your artistic vision through clinics/working groups

Criteria for Membership:

Must have 3 or more of the following- CV and bio requested for all applicants:

  • Hold a third level qualification (diploma/degree) in dance or choreography
  • Have performed/choreographed with a professional dance company
  • Have evidence of substantial career (10 years within the last 20 years) or body of work in performance or choreography
  • Have performed in public performances within the last three years
  • Have choreographed an original work performed in a recognised venue
  • Have received grant(s) from Arts Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, local authority, other arts funding body for professional dance or choreographic practice (not for undergraduate training)
  • Have dance work commissioned by Government, public body or arts professional body
  • Have produced or directed work for an established dance company or festival within the last 3 years
  • Have substantial career of teaching dance at a vocational level, in a professional establishment
  • Have up-to-date evidence of maintaining your practice through CPD (Continuing Professional Development)  
  • Hold current membership of a recognised dance teaching certification body

Applicants who do not meet 3 of these criteria but feel they are suited to professional membership will be assessed on a case by case basis. Please contact Catriona catriona.fyfe@danceireland.ie for more information.

How do I become a Member?

  • Fill in the online form here
  • New Members: after you fill in the application form, email us with a biography, head-shot and performance image- membership@danceireland.ie . We will be in touch shortly, to confirm if your application is successful
  • For renewing Members: fill in the online form, and make payment; please submit updated bio & image every three years
  • The fee for a year’s membership is €75- this can be made online here/by EFT/by phone or in person
  • The membership is on a 12-month rolling basis

Professional: Membership Engagement Opportunities

  • Advice on developing your career at national and international level
  • Support on developing your projects; advice and letters of support (Please note, requests for letters of support must be received at least one week in advance of application deadlines)
  • Eligible to apply for a range of development awards
  • Eligible to apply for Dance Ireland Residency Programme
  • Eligible to apply for New Movements work-in-progress performances
  • Propose projects such as seminars, events and workshops
  • Subsidised rates for our training & development programmes
  • Members' Studio- eligible for free studio space
  • Access to resource library of dance journals, books and videos
  • Use of Artists’ Resource Room as meeting space (subject to availability)
  • Insurance cover for R&D and rehearsals in DanceHouse
  • Equipment hire at reduced rates
  • Vote at our AGM
  • Opportunity to affect change through working groups
  • Eligible to apply for Certificate for Social Welfare Artist Scheme (more info here)
  • Member Profile on Dance Ireland website
  • Invitation to join closed Member Facebook Group
  • Dedicated Membership Engagement Officer- artist support sessions available on request
  • Discounts at select venues and festivals
  • Receive the latest DI news and exclusive members' opportunities
  • Receive invitations to members' gatherings and networking events
  • Support for productions on DI social media