Back row: Cllr. Mark Hackett, Edenderry Municipal District Council; Mary Hickey, Eithne Quinn, and Nesrin El Azaly, Creative Edenderry; Damien McGlynn, Creative Lives. Front row: Cloda-May O’Neil, Amy Smullen, Cheryl Corrigan Ballet School. Photo: Cheryl Corrigan.

Dancing Shoes is an inspiring new collaborative project between Creative Lives and Creative Edenderry, which aims to reconnect people of all ages and backgrounds in the town of Edenderry in County Offaly through different forms of dance.

The project has a been funded through the St. Patrick's Festival x TikTok Creative Fund, which has awarded ten community-led projects across Ireland grants of €10,000.

Building on the success of the recent 'Shoes of Edenderry', the project will aim to unite local people through dance and demonstrate the range of dance that is practiced in and around the Co. Offaly town. From ballet to breakdance, and from tap to jigs, the project will showcase the diversity of the area in a fun and engaging way, encouraging more people to try something new and connect with others in their community.

As well as offering free opportunities to learn about dance, the project will produce a final video piece documenting dance performances by the community in a form that's fit for the TikTok generation, to be launched as part of the St. Patrick's Festival in March 2022!

Anyone who wishes to be involved in the project can contact [email protected] or keep an eye for local announcements in the coming weeks!

I am delighted that the St. Patrick's Festival and TikTok have supported our 'Dancing Shoes' project in Edenderry through their Creative Fund. After so much time spent apart, this will be an opportunity to bring people together and celebrate the creativity of the people of Edenderry. Our organisation supports and encourages people to be creative in their everyday lives, and what better way to do this than to remind people of the simple joy of dancing together!

- Damien McGlynn, Ireland Director, Creative Lives