Áine Stapleton is a dance artist and filmmaker from Ireland.
Her work has a particular focus on biographical subjects, and since 2014, she has been developing dance and film productions based on Lucia Joyce, daughter of Irish writer James Joyce (Ulysses) - “A must-see” Film Ireland. Prior to her work in film, Áine was a co-director, choreographer, and performer for stage with Fitzgerald and Stapleton Dance Theatre with Emma Fitzgerald - “Touches deeper, stranger chords" The New Yorker.
Since 2008, Áine has produced and toured her solo and collaborative work in partnership with various international venues and organisations including; Abrons Arts Center in NYC, the Obie Award-winning Chocolate Factory Theatre in NYC, Center for Performance Research in NYC, Bakelit Multi-Arts Center in Budapest, Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, Riffraff Kino in Zurich, the Irish Film Institute, Alcultura in Spain, Uk Parobrod and Yugoslav Kinoteka in Serbia presented by Belgrade Irish Festival film week, The Arts Council, Dublin City Council, The Irish Embassy in Switzerland, The Permanent Representation of Ireland in Strasbourg, Wicklow County Arts Office, Project Arts Centre, Dance Ireland, Culture Ireland, and Fondation Jan Michalski in Switzerland.
She has been invited to speak about her work at various symposia, including ‘Women, War, and Peace’ and ‘Lucia Joyce: Perspectives’ at Trinity College Dublin, ‘The Book and the Body’ at University College Dublin curated by Junk ensemble, the University of Mainz in Germany in partnership with The Consulate General of Ireland in Frankfurt, ‘Why Don’t They Go and Create Something’ at the James Joyce Centre Dublin, and the department of Irish Studies at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), in Florianópolis, Brazil.
Áine is an Associate Artist with Dance Ireland, a Steering Committee Member with the National Campaign for the Arts, and an invited member The Arts Council of Ireland peer panel.
New Work in Development:
Feature Film When Life is Silent based on the dance history of Monte Verità in Switzerland.
Funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and Wicklow County Arts Office Strategic Project Awards 2024. Developed in partnership with Mermaid Arts Centre, Ireland, and Fondazione Monte Verità, Switzerland.
Works Touring:
Film installation Somewhere in the Body based on Lucia Joyce and Finnegans Wake by James Joyce.
Funded by The Arts Council of Ireland, Fondation Jan Michalski Switzerland and Dublin City Council. Co-produced by Project Arts Centre and Dance Ireland. Supported by the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union.
Screenings include: Premiered as a solo installation at Project Arts Centre, Dublin, and as part of the Dublin Dance Festival. Solo installation at Château Hornegg au Lac in Zurich, Switzerland, curated by Kunsthaus Aussersihl, and screening at UK Parodbrod as part of Belgrade Irish Festival.Feature film Horrible Creature based on Lucia Joyce's time in Switzerland.
Funded by The Arts Council of Ireland. Supported by Dance Ireland, The Embassy of Ireland in Switzerland, The James Joyce Centre, ADI Arts, Ticino Film Commission and SAPA Switzerland.
English language with Spanish and German Subtitles.
Screenings include: Premiered at the The Irish Film Institute, Dublin. Further screenings at Riffraff Kino in Zurich, Kinoteka Belgrade in Serbia as part of the Belgrade Irish Festival's Irish Film Week, and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg as part of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of Europe.
“A stunning visual experience” Film Ireland.
Education:
Master of Arts - MA, Unesco Chair in Cultural Policy & Management, University of Arts, Belgrade, Serbia. (2024) Grade: First
BA Dance Studies, University of Surrey, London. (2004) Grade: First