Who We Are
About Us
Galway Dance
Galway Dance is an artist-led, non-profit dance organisation established in 2011 in Galway.
The Project aims to provide high quality dance classes and workshops, as well as choreographic and performance opportunities, for dancers in Galway city and county.
Galway Dance delivers supports and resources to the dance sector and promotes the development of dance, as well as aiming to advance dance as a prominent and valued art form in the region.
Kristyn Fontanella
Executive Director (part-time position)
Kristyn Fontanella is a Galway based choreographer, dance artist and producer.
Alongside her own creative process she manages Galway Dance and produces for Catherine Young Dance, Laura Murphy Dance and Joan Davis.
contact@galwaydance.ie
Gwen Van Spÿk
Board Member
Gwen Van Spÿk is a Producer, Consultant, Trainer and Mentor working across the full breadth of the live performance sector. Long based in the UK Gwen relocated to Ireland in 2018 since which time she has produced the work with Pan Pan, Junk Ensemble and Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects amongst others. Gwen was Dance Ireland’s inaugural Producer in Residence 2020-22.
Jessie Keenan
Board Member
Jessie Keenan is an Irish choreographer whose practice spans live performance, site specific happenings, film and curation. Her work intersects science, music, visual art and archives. Keenan is Dance Artist in Residence at Townhall Cavan and curator with Light Moves Festival, Limerick, a festival presenting vibrant experiences bridging dance, new media and screen-based practices.
Justin Comer
Board Member
Justin Comer is from Galway and grew up inspired by the area’s unique relationship with the Arts. With a background in finance he has worked in the sector for over 15 years, working in audit and internal finance in the Tech and Media industries. He is currently the CFO of Openwave Group, a company which develops communication technologies for the Telecommunication industry.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Lisa Hallinan who was the inaugural General Manager of Galway Dance Project from 2012 until May 2017.
Special thanks also to Ríonach Ní Néill and Judith Sibley for their invaluable support and expertise in establishing Galway Dance.
The original Founding Members of Galway Dance were Eamon Brett, Bernadette Divilly, Lisa Hallinan, Tanya McCrory, Victoria McCormack, Rachel Parry and Genevieve Ryan.
Current members (as of January 2019) are Eamon Brett, Bernadette Divilly, Lisa Hallinan, Rachel Parry and Genevieve Ryan.