Dancer Edwina Guckian hails from outside the village of Drumsna in Co. Leitrim. Coming from a family steeped in the tradition of music and dance, her style is greatly influenced by the style of local music she grew up with across Leitrim and Roscommon.
Having started teaching dancing at the age of 16, Edwina has now taught her steps and shared the stage with some of Ireland’s most influential acts. She set up Áirc Damhsa Culture Club for youths in her area to have a space to be immersed in traditions and cultures from home and all across the world in a fun and non – competitive environment. Now in its 20th year, the club has over 500 members in 9 counties.
In 2017 Edwina was awarded the Arts Council of Ireland Next Generation Bursary to support her work on redeveloping the connection between music and movement, musician and dancer.
Edwina is the artistic director of Leitrim Dance Project annually hosting events in the county such as Leitrim Dance Festival and the Effrinagh Crossroads Dance.
In April 2022, Edwina was awards the Gradam Comaoine TG4 for her outstanding contribution to culture. In 2023 she was selected for the Markievicz Award by the Arts Council and Department of An Taoiseach and in February 2024 Edwina launch her first book for children called ‘Sparks from the Flagstones’ – a treasury of Irish Folk Traditions and Calendar Customs.
Recent work includes:
- Spark from the Flagstones 2024 (Arts Council)
- Burren Beo Trust Residency (Creative Ireland)
- And They Danced and Danced…podcast series with Caitlín Nic Gabhann 2023/24 (Arts Council)
- AMACH To The Field 2023 (Creative Ireland)
- Féile Róise Rua Árainn Mhór Island Residency 2023
- The Mummers’ Join 2022/2023 (Heritage Council)
- Swing When You’re Winning 2023/2024 (Creative Ireland)
- The Last Night of Samhain 2023 ( Arts Council)
- Sowing the Seed Project 2020 – 2024 (Creative Ireland)
- Artist in Residence St. Patrick’s Campus DCU Drumcondra 2022/23 (Arts Council YPCE)
- Steps of Freedom – Tyrone Productions Irish Dance Documentary
- Modern Day Mummers 2020 – 2021 (Creative Ireland)
- Associate Artist at Siamsa Tíre National Folk Theatre of Ireland 2021
- Artist in Residency Hawk’s Well Theatre Sligo 2020/2021
- Produced Film Hunger’s Way with Vincent Woods for Strokestown International Poetry Festival 2021 (Arts Council of Ireland)
- Produced Cruinniú na nÓg Flagship event 2020 & 2021 with Creative Ireland – Céilí in the Kitchen
- Drawing from the Well Residency at Irish Traditional Music Archives – November 2020
- Samhlú – Fíbiín Productions & Creative Ireland Film with TG4 December 2020
- Jenny Put The Kettle On Live interviews & podcast series 2019 – 2022 (Arts Council of Ireland)
- Open Room – A theatre performance piece with Vincent Woods & Danny Diamond for the Iron Mountain Festival 2018.
