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arts · Wednesday 8 July 2026 · Various 
Gathering Three: Dancer From The Dance Festival of Irish Choreography
At Project Arts Centre · 39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
At Project Arts Centre · 39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Gathering Three is the closing night of the Dancer from the Dance Festival of Irish Choreography, a multi-day celebration of contemporary Irish dance produced by Irish Modern Dance Theatre and curated by choreographer John Scott. Running across three evenings in early July at Project Arts Centre in Temple Bar, it brings together a broad cross-section of Irish and Irish-identifying choreographers - spanning practices, generations, and backgrounds - each presenting a short work. The third gathering tends to draw audiences who have already caught one of the earlier programmes and want more, as well as those coming fresh on the last night. If you have any interest in what Irish dance looks like right now, outside of the traditional forms, this is one of the sharper showcases of the year.
The format is a mixed bill of short pieces performed back-to-back with an interval. In previous editions of Gathering Three, audiences have seen six or so distinct works in a single sitting - around 100 minutes in total - each by a different choreographer, covering a range of styles and approaches. Some pieces are solos; others involve multiple performers. The work is contemporary rather than traditional: you might see movement rooted in physical theatre, improvised structures, or formally composed choreography drawing on diasporic Irish identity.
The venue for the performances is Space Upstairs at Project Arts Centre - a compact, flexible black-box space that puts the audience close to the work. It is not a large auditorium, so the experience feels immediate. The festival is supported by the Arts Council, Dublin City Council, and Dance Ireland, which gives some indication of the seriousness with which it is regarded in the Irish arts sector.
Project Arts Centre sits on East Essex Street in Temple Bar, a short walk from the Luas Red Line at Jervis or Abbey Street stops, and well within walking distance of Connolly and Tara Street DART stations. Numerous Dublin Bus routes pass along the quays nearby. If you are driving in, the nearest car parks are the Curve Street and Temple Bar car parks, though city-centre parking fills quickly on summer evenings and public transport is the easier option.
Temple Bar itself has a dense concentration of theatres, galleries, and music venues, and the evening could easily extend into the neighbourhood afterwards. There is more to see in Dublin and across Co. Dublin.
Heading to Project Arts Centre in Dublin? Dublin has plenty more to see. Read the Dublin area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
In town for Project Arts Centre? These Dublin tours book out in summer.