International and Irish artists unite for a week of performances and cultural exchange
Dance Limerick’s What Next Festival 2025 is returning from February 10–15, bringing together Irish and international dance artists for a week of performances, workshops, and cultural exchange. Now in its eighth year, the festival continues to grow, offering emerging and established choreographers the opportunity to develop their work, collaborate, and connect with new audiences.
Co-curated by Mary Wycherley and Catherine Young, the festival prioritises artistic exchange and long-term relationships between dancers, choreographers, and the wider community. “The vision is to create a space where artists can connect, collaborate, and share their work with the public,” says Wycherley.
A key element of the festival is its partnership with Aerowaves, a European hub for dance discovery. Through this, artists from across Europe will present their work in Limerick.
Unlike traditional touring schedules—where artists perform and leave the next day—What Next allows them to stay for a full week, fostering deeper connections. “Artists get time together—not just to perform, but to build lasting relationships. That’s what makes this festival special,” Wycherley explains.
An exciting lineup of performances and workshops
Running across three nights from February 13-15, the festival will feature multiple performances each evening, offering audiences a variety of styles and approaches to contemporary dance.
| Thursday, February 13 | |
| 7 pm DL Performance Space | the body symphonic (C. Prince) Intermission — 20 minutes The Weight (L. Truffarelli) |
| Friday, February 14 | |
| 10 am DL Studio | the subtle body with C. Prince |
| 7.30 pm DL Performance Space | MANY MEs (R. Domínguez) False Memories (T. Hoàng) |
| Friday, February 15 | |
| 10 am DL Performance Space | Guests in Conversation |
| 7.30 pm DL Performance Space | Un-One-Ing (The Parsley Collective) missing you, missing me (J. Thompson) Bridging (A. Sabra) |
| 9 pm DL Performance Space | Céilí Afro Dabke Ukraine (CYD) |
A community dance celebration to conclude the festival
To close the festival, Dance Limerick will host a community dance event led by Catherine Young—The Céilí Afro Dabke Ukrainian Dance Party. Inspired by traditional Irish céilís, this event invites the public to learn and participate in cultural dances from around the world, with live music and dance instruction.
The full programme is available online, with further details on performances, workshops, and artist talks.