Mariam Ribón

Mariam Ribón, originally from Spain, moved to Dublin late 1995. As a professional dancer she has worked with National Dance Companies and independent choreographers in Ireland including Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Daghdha Dance Company, New Balance Dance Company, MaNDaNCe, Cóis Céim, Catherine Young Dance and Mairead Vaughan.

 

Mariam graduated with First Class Honors in her Master in Contemporary Dance Performance at Limerick University.

 

She leads as Artistic Director, the Dublin Youth Dance Company and the Irish Youth Dance Festival since 2002.

 

She has a wealth of experience as a teacher and choreographer including The Dublin Dance Festival, The College of Dance, Sallynoggin VEC, Inchicore Core Dance Company, Dublin Youth Dance Company and the Irish Youth Dance Festival, Diverse Space Dance Theatre (US), Anca Arcaladean Scoala di Danza (ITA), Rise Youth Dance Company (UK). Mariam has also taught for professional dance companies such as John Scott’s Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Ireland and Catherine Young Dance. During 2021 Mariam taught for the BA Students in University Limerick.

 

Mariam is continuously exploring opportunities for youth dance in Ireland and with the support of Dance Theatre of Ireland’s Centre for Dance, Dance Ireland, Draíocht Arts Centre, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council, she is committed to deliver a full programme of activities including International Dance Residencies, Young Creators Platform, Dancers Day, Dance in Schools programmes and other performance opportunities and projects involving children and young people.

 

Mariam’s main focus is Dublin Youth Dance Company and the development of contemporary youth dance in Ireland. The company takes part in national festival such as Noise moves, Laois Dance Platform, St. Patrick’s Parade, Creating Space, Unanimous Festival in NI as well as hosting the Irish Youth Dance Festival for over 18 years.

 

Internationally Mariam has brought DYDC to perform and engage in collaborations with Encuentros de Danza (Spain), Jaromer Dance Festival (Czech Republic), Evoque Jugend Company (Germany), Malmo Festival and Malmo Youth Dance Company (Sweden), Rimini Si Danza Festival (Italy), Lancashire Youth Dance Festival, Destinations (Glasgow), Ajos Dance Festival (London), Destinations Dance Festival, Glasgow, Rise Youth Dance (UK) and Reach Dance Festival (UK) and in 2020 with The National Youth Dance Company of Scotland and the festival Once Dance UK.

 

She has strong track record of collaboration in cross arts projects with emerging and established artists and organisations such as: lens based artist Sharon Murphy, Film director Terence White, Film maker Janna kemperman, Film maker Kristian Montalvanos, Composer Aoife Kavanagh, Costume designer and visual artist Aoife Dunne, Photographers Isabela Meguellati and Leanne Sullivan, Dublin Simon Community, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology and Sound College Dublin. In 2021 she co-directed with Filmmaker Kristian Mantalvanos the film PIVOT that premiered at the International Dublin Film Festival and has been selected for the Light Moves Festival of Screendance.

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Mariam has been part of the jury for the International Dance Competition Rimini Si Danza in Italy; she has sat as a panelist for adjudicating grants for Dublin City Council and the Arts Council; also has been invited to speak at conferences such as the EDN Atelier: New Approaches to Dance Training organized by DR. Jenny Roche, The Irish Dancing Body as part of Dancer from the Dance: Festival of Irish Choreography organized by John Scott’s IMDT.

 

In 2021 she developed the Resilience Programme, a series of special commissions designed to sustain the youth dance community, the dance community at large and their sense of collective creativity and commitment to quality practice.

 

In collaboration with Dance Ireland and photographer Ewa Figaszewska, Mariam presented on behave of Dublin Youth Dance Company the photographic exhibition ‘Our right to Dance’, July – present.

 

During 2022, Mariam collaborated with artist Juan Maria Seller and the Department of Dance of the Music Conservatory in Santarem, Portugal. The collaboration consisted of a double International Dance Residency in Dublin and Santarem, the creation of original dance works with member dancers from DYDC and the Conservatory, culminating in performances at the Irish Youth Dance Festival 2022, 2nd & 3rd July, and the International performances in Portugal (June 24th – July 17th).

 

Mariam and DYDC delivered the new 5-year Strategy ‘A Time to Grow’ launched by Maureen Kennelly at the LexIcon Studio in November. The launch was followed by the new performance initiative the IYDF Winter Gala 2022.

 

In 2023 Mariam collaborated with Director Anna Kenrick and the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland.

 

In 2024 Mariam engaged with UK choreographer Kamara Gray in collaboration with the Irish National Youth Ballet (INYB), in which Kamara created an original work for a mix cast of dancers from both DYDC and INYB.

 

For 2025 Mariam is planning to bring Grupo Divinadança from Brazil, as the International Guest performers for the Irish Youth Dance Festival.