Libby Halliday
A reason to bloom

Libby Halliday

A reason to bloom

11 to 13 March 2026  

Uillinn Dance Season: Spring 2026

Introduction to hand balancing – Workshop I UCC and Bollinger Family Space at Uillinn I Fri 13 Mar, 5:00pm to 6:30pm I €5/€7 I Booking HERE

Playfully explore, with balance artist Libby Halliday, the technique of hand balancing and how it can be incorporated into other movement practices. Drawing from her own practice and residency investigations, Libby will share skills and her own practice of imagining the body as something else – living but not quite human.

After a comprehensive warm up to prepare the body, participants will slowly begin inverting, making shapes low to the ground, working up towards the full handstand while discovering ways to move through the space in-between.

No previous hand balancing experience is necessary. The workshop is directed towards movement practitioners and enthusiasts, dancers, yogis, and people from all walks of life with a desire to introduce the body to something new. For adults and youth people aged 14+

Please wear comfortable, stretchy clothes.

As in my residency last November, in this residency I will continue to develop repertoire for a future body of work. I will investigate movement quality inspired by nature and the elements in order to approach the technique of hand balancing from new places, imagining my body as something else – living but not human. Experimenting with the body, in and out of a handstand, how it would respond to wind, rain, heat, and cold, as if it were an insect, a dragonfly, or a flower. I will explore the new found qualities in relation to a prop – a giant Kadupul flower that slowly blooms, lights up from the inside and casts shadows.

My original idea was to be surrounded by magnolia flowers but after my recent discovery of the Kadupul flower or ‘Queen of the Night’, I have been inspired to change my mind. This flower only blooms once a year, after dark, and fades before sunrise. It glows in the dark, releases a hauntingly sweet scent and is known for its transient beauty and ethereal elegance. As a circus artist with a passion for dance and movement I am constantly looking for unconventional ways to present the skill of hand balancing and am in search of a reason to move, to unfold, unfurl, unravel, to bloom and to blossom. I am excited to find out how the kadupul flower prop will inspire me to move and I look forward to creating and developing a new piece that is vibrant, aesthetically pleasing and awe inspiring. I will connect with the local community by offering an ‘introduction to hand balancing’ workshop for dancers and movers, with the aim of sharing how the technique of handstands can be incorporated into other movement practices.

I am a circus artist specializing in hand balancing, with a passion for movement. I have a diploma in Dance from Colaiste Stiofain Naofa, Cork and a diploma in Circus from Escuela de Circo Carampa, Madrid. Over recent years I have undertaken several intensive handstand courses and a 3 month course called ‘Artistic Development within the circus discipline’ at SKH in Stockholm which led to the creation of a 10 minute solo piece that I have been performing in Gala shows and festivals. I have also just reached the end of a two year creation process with a group of six other international artists of our second full length ensemble piece. The company is Cia Faltan 7 and the new show is called ‘SinSolo’ in which I perform hand balancing and group acrobatics. Last year we premiered in the inauguration of the renowned festival ‘Feten’ in Gijon, Spain and hope to bring the show to Ireland at some point in the future.

Libbysloom (instagram)

This residency is supported by an Arts Council Bursary Award 2025.

Image: Photograph by Kate Bean

Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of The Arts Council  / An Chomhairle Ealaíon in making these residencies possible.