Nutgrove Arts Festival is an annual celebration of community arts and culture, taking place in the unique setting of Nutgrove Shopping Centre in South County Dublin. Now in its fourth year, the festival has become an integral part of the local area’s cultural calendar, welcoming a selection of exciting performers, musicians and dancers to take over the centre for ten days each year. The festival works as an informal and exciting medium to experience creativity in all its forms. With a variety of theatre, dance and art workshops there will be plenty to inspire creativity in the local community at any age.

We are delighted to welcome Rathfarnam Theatre Group back for another performance as part of Nutgrove Arts Festival. The Calypso Café will be transformed into a theatre on the evening of the 1st of October for a very special performance. Last year they thrilled the audience at a packed out performance of are a local community-based amateur drama group. Set up in 1991, they aim to develop and foster an interest in theatre throughout Rathfarnham, among our members and our audiences. Since their first production, John B. Keane's 'The Year of the Hiker', they have staged over thirty full length productions and dozens of smaller workshop productions. The group has taken part in 4 festivals, in Enniskillen, Dublin, Shercock and Cavan, and achieved great success in both Enniskillen and Cavan. The Group won the 2007 South Dublin Co. Council Award.

The Independent Theatre Workshop is the most exciting, vibrant and cutting edge drama school in Dublin. See the students perform scenes and songs from The Jungle King at Nutgrove Arts Festival on Saturday 4th October, for a taste of what they offer. They offer classes in all areas of the Performing Arts including Acting, Singing, Dance, Speech & Drama, Musical Theatre, and more. Founded by Gillian Oman in 1993 they now have schools in Clonskeagh, Ranelagh and, from September, at ABCD in Drumcondra. ITW also runs a thriving talent agency with students regularly taking part in TV shows, commercials, stage and film, including Matilda in the West End, Dani’s Castle on CBBC and HBO’S Game of Thrones!

On Thursday 2nd of October, Intrepidus Stage School will bring you a night of amazing, fun filled and extremely talented young people who aim to entertain you through Drama, Song and Dance. These young people follow the meaning of Intrepidus and are fearless in their actions to make sure you all have an amazing night. The evening performance will include a collection of monologues, short scripted plays and some outstanding singing. So all we ask is you come along and enjoy the show.

The African Dance Centre will be performing a traditional Ghanaian dance at the Opening Night of the Nutgrove Festival, and then invite festival-goers to participate in a workshop on Sunday where they can experience the energy of West African music and learn some basic dance moves. African Dance Centre aims to break down cultural barriers and bring people together using the powerful rhythms of music and dance. Master Dancer Godfred has studied, taught, performed and toured across Africa, Europe and Australia, and leads an experienced team of professional dancers, choreographers, drummers & percussionists to create a vibrant experience for any group.

Latvian Dance Group Karbunkulis is a fun and joyful group of amazing personalities. They will introduce their rich and beautiful culture to all on the 28th of September at Nutgrove Shopping Centre. The word “karbunkulis” means “a gem, precious stone” and everyone here has a chance to shine. They are introducing local society to the beautiful and rich culture of Latvia. They are happy to share their folk-dancing and folk-music, traditional dress, different traditions and beliefs. Karbunkulis participate in different festivals across Ireland, as well as Latvia and other countries. Last year they took part in Latvian National Song and Dance Celebration – a festival that invites up to 40,000 participants and is held once every five years, but this year, they went to a similar festival in Canada. They have collaborated with Latvian folk dancers in other European countries – Germany, Sweden and England.

Kate Buckey School of Dance will perform on the closing day of the festival bringing a jazz themed flash mob and a dance display incorporating Hip hop, Ballet & Jazz on the stage with students from the school. Kate Buckey School Of Dance provides Ballet, Modern Jazz, Hip-Hop & Tap dance classes for ages 3 years old to young adults in Rathfarnham, Dundrum and Knocklyon in South Dublin. In the school they guide each dancer to reach their own individual best potential through high standards of teaching suitable for all abilities and levels, giving pupils a love of dance.

The Bastable Warren School of Irish Dancing surprised everyone with their flash mob at last year’s festival, so we are delighted to have them back for another year. They will perform at the opening and closing evenings with a spectacular display guaranteed to entertain. The school was established by Ms. Brenda Bastable-Warren in 1961, and was joined in 1987 by her son Kevin, daughter Maeve and daughter in law, Gillian. During the past 50 years the class has developed from the first dancing class in Inchicore, and classes are now held around the Rathfarnham, Firhouse and Knocklyon areas of Dublin, with many second (and third!) generations now attending lessons.

For more information visit: http://www.nutgroveshoppingcentre.ie/