To celebrate 25 years of Fidget Feet, we are showcasing 25 of the artists within the Fidget Feet Family.
We have an outstanding and amazing company of artists many of whom have been with us for several years.
We are a family. We create sacred arts*.
Since the beginning we have always mentored and supported aerial artists to realise their full artistic creative selves and grow as human beings together. We want to celebrate all of these connections with this page.
This page will grow as the year progresses… check back for updates regularly!
SACRED ARTS
Sacred Arts has been practiced in one form or another, worldwide, in most times and places. Sacred arts do not identify with one artform, it is about connecting to the Source, the Creator, God, the Divine, to be a vessel that allows this sacred creativity to flow. It is a practice that heals, opens, connects or re-connects and nurtures the artists, the groups, the community and humanity. True creativity is full of the Divine.
Oran Leong
There exists in Fidget Feet a care, closeness and joyful madness I’ve yet to find to the same degree in any other company I’ve worked with yet. This rare, generous and intimate treasure chest of past and present hearts is what makes Fidget Feet so special.
A multidisciplinary artist collaborator in the genres of traditional Irish, contemporary and aerial dance, making work that crosses over fields of theatre, abstract and spectacle performance.
Oran is an associate artist with Fidget Feet
www.oranleong.com
Follow Oran on Instagram @OranLeongDance
Jenny Tufts
Jenny is an American-born, Ireland-based physical artist, best known for her innovative aerial work on hoop and spiral. She is also an untrained but highly enthusiastic dancer.
I first connected with Fidget Feet as an attendee of the 2018 creative intensive program, where I made my first-ever aerial solo. Hooked on the potent mixture of ambition, silliness, and care that permeated Fidget Feet’s aerial community, I attended the Irish Aerial Dance Festival the following summer, and in 2020, moved permanently to Ireland to work as a performer. The support and guidance I received from the Fidget Feet leaders and artists, both in terms of formal mentorships and deep friendships, really formed the foundation of my performance career.
Bryan Donaldson
Originally from New Zealand, Bryan worked and toured worldwide as an aerial artist touring circuses as part of Duo Vertigo. Now UK-Ireland based aerial/circus rigging consultant & teacher with HP Rigging.
“Jym and Chantal are long-term and close friends and collaborators whom I’ve worked closely with on many projects around the world over the years. Great vision and determination!” – Bryan
Sara Granda
Sara Granda is a performance artist from Malaga, Spain and has been based in Ireland since 2017. She has a degree in Drama from Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático de Málaga with a specialisation in physical theatre.
Sara was part of the El Espeto Feliz Company and performed with them for several years. She is now the head teacher at the Irish Aerial Creation Centre and also an associate artist at Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre.
She was recently seen on tour in “A Handful of Dreams” at the Hat-fair Festival in Winchester 2022 and the Handful of Dreams tour 2023 Sara has appeared in “House!” A new Fidget Feet aerial theatre show in both 2022 and 2023 tours.
Aisling Ní Cheallaigh
Jym Daly
Beginning at the Crawford Municipal (Cork Art School). In London, Jym attracted the attention of London’s avant-garde scene by playing kitchen sinks along with Chinese violins in nightclubs like Camden Palace.
Never feeling any one art form to be fully satisfactory, Jym later found himself involved in the development of a new sound which combined spiritual music from around the world with the emerging world of dance beats. Loop Guru toured the world for many years leaving a rich legacy of albums. During that time Jym also created videos for the band and created a cartoon which ran in a national music magazine.
His eclectic artistic past has now culminated in Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre, co-founded with his wife and partner Chantal McCormick, where music, film, dance, acting and swinging boats off cranes co-exist peacefully in one expression.
Jym has worked on all projects of Fidget Feet as a photographer, videographer, editor, projectionist, musician, performer, and the list goes on! His talents are now part of Fidget Feet’s DNA and can be seen throughout all Fidget Feet’s and IACC projects.
Thomas Johnston
Thomas Johnston is the Founder, Executive Producer, and Artistic Director of Ceol Connected. Thomas met Chantal at the International Performing Arts for Youth showcase in Philadelphia some years ago and they have not stopped dreaming since.
Chantal was successful in persuading Thomas to play the bagpipes while being flown in the air and since their like-minded encounter, they have worked on a number of projects together. St Patrick’s Day Festival, Handful of Dreams and most recently the wonderful project, When the Moon Spun Round. Thomas and Chantal co-created this masterpiece which has brought joy and wonderment to so many people.
“When the Moon Spun Round has brought the worlds of Ceol Connected and Fidget Feet together in a way that brings those dreams to life. Audiences of all ages are in for a real treat!“ – Thomas Johnston
Thomas’s relationship with Chantal and Fidget Feet is only the beginning and working with Thomas during our 25 year celebrations has been most rewarding.
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Gill Byrne
Gill is a circus artist specializing in dance trapeze, hula hoops, and rigging. She firmly believes she’s at her best when her feet aren’t touching the ground, and has spent much of the last decade chasing this feeling.
She met Chantal at a showing of Handful of Dreams with the legendary Lucy Medlycott, and was quickly whisked off to the covid-special edition of the IADF.
“With the support and guidance of Chantal, and the magical community in Fidget Feet and the IACC, Gill has been able to pursue dreams that I didn’t think were possible. This aerial family changed everything.”
Ashton Fenix
Ashton is a multidisciplinary queer and neurodivergent artist, and the Community Engagement Officer for the House! 2023 tour.
They accidentally fell in love with trapeze whilst trying to navigate a very serious career as an actor, and now work across movement, theatre and circus. Twelve countries and several questionable costume choices later, Ashton creates performance pieces which explore authentic communication and connection; they are currently developing techniques which combine text with physical expression.
Their portfolio of work includes two productions with Fidget Feet, with whom they played “Flatulata, the Farting Flower Lady” in The Snow Queen, and “The Princess” in A Fairies Tail. Alongside their work with theatre and circus companies, Ashton has also been part of several circus ensembles: The Barren Carousel, 4Play and Currach Circus, as well as producing their own work as a theatre-maker and performance artist.
From 2014-2021 Ashton ran Community Circus Lisburn, a charity offering circus workshops and performance opportunities to young people in Lisburn city, with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity. They are a member of Vault Artist Studios, and currently live in East Belfast.
Kathryn Cooley
Kathryn (Kat) Cooley is a professional dancer and aerialist. Trained in Cornwall, she attended St. Austell College where she graduated with a distinction in her BTEC Dance qualification. She then received her BA (Honours) Degree in Performing Arts (Dance) from L.I.P.A, (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) in 2009. Kat has been working with Fidget Feet since 2009. Some of her personal highlights with the company include:
Firebirds – Derry, Mexico and Costa Rica
Second Coming
‘Trapeze’ with the Irish Chamber Orchestra RTE Centenary performance
Kat has also been involved with many of the company’s training and teaching programmes over the years including IADF, Creative Intensive, Galway Community Circus Project and Clifden Arts Festival.
Kat specialises in harness based work for screen and stage. As an independent artist Kat travels the globe performing, mentoring and choreographing.
Kat is an associate artist with Fidget Feet
Jennifer Patterson
Jen is an aerial and dance director and Artistic Director of All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre in Scotland, performing, creating, teaching and advocating for Aerial Dance.
“Fidget Feet was the first company I ever performed and learned aerial with in 2000. A huge part of my journey as an artist, I met Chantal at dance college in London and have not looked back since. Lots of adventures with Fidget Feet in the early days and brilliant to see the company grow into what it is.” – Jennifer
Morgan Cooke
Morgan is an actor, singer and composer, and he played Uncle Rusty in Hatch and Flutterby 1 & 2. He is also a singing teacher. He believes that the heart is sharing.
“Walking into the Fidget Feet warehouse is a feeling of excitement, creativity, hard work and fun. It’s a place of acceptance and trust, a place where you relax the better to push yourself. Chantal and Jym welcome you with open arms and take you to the heart of their family, both literally and in the way they work. Apart from having fun, doing work I was proud of and making great friends, I learned the value of pushing yourself to the limit.”
Ulla Hokkanen
Galway Community Circus provides access to high-quality subsidised circus arts education through its circus school offering youth, adult and community programmes, professional training and artist support.
“Fidget Feet have been partnering with us for the past 15 years bringing joy and life-changing experiences to hundreds of children and young people in Galway. Together we have helped young people create many hugely ambitious and thrilling shows in the Black Box Theatre Galway. Fidget Feet is a core part of our extended Irish circus family full of generosity, passion and love for this art form.
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Lalli Morris
Lali Morris studied in Chicago at a teacher’s college which afforded her the opportunity to work for the Department of Performing Arts where she learnt first-hand about programming, fundraising, delivery and even directing productions for Young Audiences.
In 1994 Lali visited a very sunny Ireland where she met Trish Forde, Artistic Director of Galway Arts Festival and Jean Parkinson, coordinator of Baboró. Lali went on to teach a series of workshops for children at Barboró and between 2001 – 2015 took on her very successful role as Artistic Director at Barboró.
Lali Morris has a long-standing history with Fidget Feet. When Fidget Feet was creating their show Catch Me. Lali and Chantal began their journey together. Lali Morris took Chantal under her wing and mentored Chantal in creating shows for young audiences. Since then Lali has been a very important figure with Fidget Feet in their making of work for young audiences.
Lali recently worked on Fidget Feet’s show, When the Moon Spun Round, as Dramaturg. It was really important to Chantal and Thomas Johnston of Ceol Connected to bring Lali into the creative process as a Dramaturg. It has been a beautiful collaboration and the relationship and support will continue to flourish in the future.
Paul Shriek
Paul graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from Newcastle Polytechnic. He established the Paul Shriek name in 1980 launching his Limited Edition label in 1981. He continues to work in fashion, dance, theatre, contemporary circus, rock music and education.
His work has rewarded him with international appreciation and respect for his vision. He has successfully worked with: Welsh National Opera; Diversions Dance Company; Cois Ceim Dance Theatre; Scottish Dance Theatre; The Customs House; balletLORENT; Dodgy Clutch; Virtual Motion; the BalletBoyz; Seven Stories; Drapes Aerians la Baule and Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre.
Emma Insley
Emma worked with Fidget Feet for many years and was and still is a most cherished and beloved friend of Chantal McCormick and Jym Daly.
Emma is still a bright spark within the Fidget Feet family even though she is no longer with us. Emma Insley joyfully yelled “I love my job!” as she sat back to back with her friend Chantal on a giant representation of the Earth as it lifted into the Donegal skies. Emma was a happy soul whether on the ground or in the air, which is where she spent a lot of her life as a very talented dance/circus aerialist.
Emma Insley is missed very much and she is kept very dear to our hearts. We would love to hear Emma’s thoughts on us reaching our 25th birthday. We are certain she would have something heartwarming and funny to say. We know that she would be so happy that we kept going and gained strength year after year.
Emma, you are loved and we always look for you within the stars. As a star you are.
Rosie Stebbing
“I first met artistic director Chantal when I was 13 years old, at Shawbrook Youth Dance. After training abroad, I reconnected with Fidget Feet through the Soar Up program. I then joined Fidget Feet as a performer in When The Moon Spun Round. Being a part of the Fidget family has been a source of creativity, imagination, love, expansion, connection and community in my life.”
Rosie graduated with a BA in Dance from ArtEZ (NL) in 2021. Since then she has performed with CoisCéim Dance Theatre and Fidget Feet, as well as creating her own work. She has most recently performed with Fidget Feet’s latest production, When The Moon Spun Round.
Kathleen Doherty
“10 years ago, I got an email from Chantal asking me to come and audition for “Elves and the Shoemaker”. I had maybe touched a hoop once in my life. I agreed, because I was intrigued. I should point out that at this point in time, I was absolutely TERRIFIED of heights. Being more than 1.5m off the floor would make me panic in ways that I never fully understood. I was a happy floor dancer.
I walked into the Backstage Theatre in Longford and what greeted me was a dream and a hope. Rachel Strickland and her hair being an actual Goddess. This was the start of a decade of dedication, determination and obsession with aerial dance. Not only because of Rachel, but because of the community that has been created by Fidget Feet, the love, the friendships, the open creativity and drive that the company has.
That single email changed my life in ways that still reverberate through my soul and daily life. Last year I performed every day at 7.5m with Fossetts Circus, I made a life in Portugal as an aerial dancer, I performed both my own work and with Fidget Feet on cranes, on the side of the GPO, in many theatres and I have been lucky to receive support through Island Connect and with residencies at the IACC.
Fidget Feet has created a home for me, both in my own body and with the IACC, their work and the beautiful people who surround the company.”
Chrissie Ardill
Chrissie has never met a physical discipline she didn’t want to try. Mostly aerialist and dancer, she will do most things except crochet.
“Working and playing with Fidget Feet has been one highlight of my life I’ve been lucky to repeat. I treasure the love, laughs and chaos of working on performances and festivals with this gang. They really bring something different to their work and to the world.” – Chrissie
Safire Hikari
Safire Hikari is a mover, obsessed with spirals, as well as nature & dogs. They Practice, teach and perform contact improvisation, contemporary dance & vertical dance amongst other styles. Safire’s circus disciplines are Corde Lisse, Acrobatics and Cyr wheel. They also explore theatre. Safire adores experiencing, expressing & sharing the magic of the arts and the healing it brings.
“Fidget Feet has been extremely present in my life since 10 years ago when we met at the European aerial & dance festival where I met Kat Cooley & Chantal McCormick on a counterweight harness intensive. I fell in love! I have never stopped learning from them and all of the stunning pack fidget feet
Photo credit – Maxine Monaghan
Lindsey Butcher
Lindsey first met Chantal and Jym on the roof of the Natural History Museum in London, probably last century.
Their first gig together was dancing/dangling off a satellite dish in the jungle in Trinidad with Scarabeus Aerial Theatre in 2001 – what a way to begin!
They have been working together ever since across a multiplicity of exchanges and projects.
“I’ve worked with Fidget Feet as a performer, teacher, choreographer and outside eye and we’ve shared so many adventures together, alongside Chantal. We also act in an advisory capacity to each other as we each head up aerial dance companies and festivals – truly an invaluable exchange. It’s been an absolute delight, (and a roller-coaster of a journey), to witness Fidget Feet go from strength to strength over 25 years; in their ambition, their capacity and nurturing of the aerial sector in Ireland and beyond.
“I believe there are artists all over the world who would join me in offering huge gratitude to Chantal and Jym to their passion, tenacity, encouragement and generosity in shining a welcoming light on all the talented artists who now make up this global family.”
Kate Finnegan
Sasha Krohn
Lee Clayden
Since 1994 Lee has been performing.
Lee studied at the London Contemporary Dance School in the early 90’s. Since then he has worked on many a project and has a varied and impressive career.
In 2008 Lee began working with Fidget Feet and spent nearly 10 years performing with the aerial theatre. Lee performed in projects such as Hang On, Catch me, Elves and the Shoemaker, and Firebirds to name but a few.
We are delighted to have Lee perform with us again this year in our final show of the year. Lee will perform as Santa in the Christmas in Limerick Aerial Extravaganza in King John’s Castle