School of Creative Arts

Research and Practice

Aoife's research interests include dance and politics, performance and philosophy, and cultural and affect studies. She recently published a monograph, Dance Theatre in Ireland: Revolutionary Moves (Houndmills: Palgrave, 2012) which provides the first critical and contextual study of contemporary and historical dance theatre practice in Ireland. This book examines how ground-breaking dance theatre works have tackled some of the most urgent and difficult socio-political and cultural questions in Ireland, and how in doing so they have re-imagined seemingly hermetic narratives of oppression and limiting definitions of "Irish" corporeality.

She is currently working on an edited collection of critical dance scholarship (Dance Matters) and on a co-authored book exploring the relationship between sound and movement.

Aoife has worked as a dancer, choreographer, director, critic, and as dance adviser for the Irish Arts Council. Before joining Queen's in 2012, Aoife lectured at the School of Drama, Film and Music, Trinity College Dublin. Aoife has been invited to deliver guest lectures, workshops and master classes in Ireland and internationally. She also works as a consultant and creative adviser for theatre and dance artists.

Selected Awards

Irish Society for Theatre Research New Scholar's Prize (2011)

TaPRA Essay Competition Prizewinner (2010)

Society of Dance History Scholars Travel Award (2009)

IRCHSS (Government of Ireland) Research Scholarship (2008, 2009)

Trinity College Dublin Gold Medal (2007)

Trinity College Dublin Scholar (2005-2011)

DAAD Research Scholarship (Freie Universtaet Berlin) 2004-2005)