Traces Dance Ensemble is a unique contemporary dance ensemble based in Waterford, Ireland. The company has a well-earned reputation for challenging perceptions about dance and disability and have enthralled audiences nationwide with thought-provoking contemporary dance performances. They are based at Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford and are kindly supported by Down Syndrome Ireland/Waterford and South Kilkenny and Waterford Council.

Several professional dance artists have worked extensively with Traces Dance Ensemble over their 12-year history, including Dee Grant, Libby Seward, Jess Rowell, Rachel Ni Bhraonain and Trish Murphy to name but a few. These collaborations developed new choreography and built on Traces’ extensive repertoire of original works. 

See their celebrated dance film and documentary 'I See You See Me' by clicking the following link: https://youtu.be/j9V5R2fruD4

This performance featured in the 12th World Down Syndrome Congress in South Africa 2012 under the direction of founder, Libby Seward. Traces Dance Ensemble have danced for the President of Ireland and have performed at Youth Dance Festivals in Waterford, Dublin, Wexford and Birr.

Traces Dance Ensemble’s full length dance theatre productions include Truth Or Dare 2013, Poetry in Motion 2014, Out of This World 2015, An Evening with Traces Dance Ensemble 2017 and Crossing Bridges 2018. 

In 2019 Garter Lane’s Dance Artist in Residence, Dee Grant, made the dance documentary film ‘10 out of 10’ with filmmaker Keith Currams. In it Dee invited four mainstream contemporary dance artists to work alongside Traces’ dancers over a week long period to make a new work to celebrate ten years of Traces Dance Ensemble.  To view ‘10/10’ click the following link:
https://youtu.be/fGZNLWl_1ak

This film premiered at the JOLT DANCE WEEK at Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford in 2019 and the Ensemble also produced a full half-hour show for the  Spraoi International Festivals, Waterford in 2017/2018 and 2019.   

In 2022 Traces Óg – 14-17yrs was launched. This is a younger branch of the Traces Dance Ensemble, continuing to develop access to high quality arts experience for young people with a disability. In Traces Óg classes we offer the older members of Traces Dance Ensemble the opportunity to lend peer support and mentorship to our younger and newer members. This is a proactive attempt to make the transition into dance class more fun and supportive for their individual needs.

We continue to work with all dancers no matter what the disability and invoke an inclusive and compassionate philosophy.  

Traces Dance Programme provides high quality contemporary dance training for young people and adults with  disabilities.