Oona Doherty

Oona Doherty, born in London in 1986, is an acclaimed Irish dancer, choreographer, and artist currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Known for her raw, dynamic dance style, Doherty explores themes of both anger and tenderness, often reflecting on the tough, stereotypical masculine codes of Belfast’s suburbs. Her work is a visceral portrayal of identity and culture.

At the age of 10, Doherty moved to Belfast with her Northern Irish parents, where she later pursued dance studies at prestigious institutions including the London School of Contemporary Dance, the University of Ulster, and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London.

Since 2010, she has worked with several European dance companies, such as T.R.A.S.H. in the Netherlands, Abbattoir Ferme in Belgium, and Veronika Riz in Italy. She has also collaborated with renowned Irish artists like Emma Martin/United Fall and playwright Enda Walsh, further shaping her distinctive choreographic voice.

Doherty’s choreographic works include Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus (2015), Hard to be Soft – A Belfast Prayer (2018), Lady Magma (2019), and Navy Blue (2022). Her work has earned multiple accolades, including the Best Performer Award at the 2016 Tiger Dublin Fringe for Hope Hunt and The Guardian’s Best Dance Show award for Hard to be Soft in 2019.

In 2021, Doherty was awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Dance Biennale, cementing her place as a trailblazer in contemporary dance. She continues to captivate audiences with her powerful and thought-provoking performances.