This May, Dublin theatres are experiencing a takeover of dance, music and talent from Ireland and abroad as the Dublin Dance Festival hits our stages. Dublin Dance Festival is a celebration of enquiry and experimentation through skilfully choreographed dance. As the 13th annual festival enters its final weekend, let’s take a closer look at the unmissable events in theatres around Dublin.

On Friday 26th and Saturday 27th at 12pm, The Dance House is presenting “First Looks”, an exciting showcase of developing Irish works. The initiative is a project of Culture Ireland, Dance Ireland and Dublin Dance Festival which allows viewers the opportunity to engage with emerging dancers and choreographers. The mixed bill presents four distinct works, covering a range of themes from the objectification of women and clichés of femininity (“Sink or Swim”, Mónica Muñoz) to the complex relationship between music and dance (“Nascanna”, Liam Scanlon). “First Looks” will also feature “Totems”, a stripped-back choreography which will premiere in full at the National Gallery of Ireland in July.

The art of dance has a long history exploring human experience in the world that surrounds us, and the Irish premiere of “Displacement” is an intriguing example. Mithkal Alzghair, a Syrian dancer and choreographer, is joined by Rami Farah and Samil Taskin in an expression of conflicting emotions. “Displacement” draws on traditional Syrian folk dances to examine the body in the context of war, migration and revolution. Catch the show on Saturday 27th at 2pm on the Peacock in the Abbey Theatre along with a post-show talk.

More live performances over the weekend include “Striptease” in the Project Arts Centre, a tongue-in-cheek show about the theatrical art of undressing by Spanish choreographer Pere Faura, and “Extraterrestrial Events”, a multi-sensory show inspired by reported UFO sightings which explores motifs of doubt and fear in the Samuel Beckett Theatre.

To round the festival off, hit up the showing of “The Ferryman” in the Project Arts Centre on Sunday 28th at 4pm. The film lies on the boundary between documentary and fiction as it explores the animistic roots of rituals, dance and sculpture. The relationship between nature and human is portrayed through contemporary dance to the delightful backdrops of Bali, Japan and Scotland.

More information and events can be found at http://dublindancefestival.ie.