The National Dance Archive of Ireland (NDAI), housed at the University of Limerick Library, is a unique archive dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of all forms of dance in Ireland. The first and most comprehensive archive of its kind in the country, it is committed to collecting, preserving, and providing access to a wide range of multimedia dance resources. Genres represented include traditional dance, social dance, contemporary dance, ballet, urban dance, and world dance.
The NDAI was pioneered from 2005 by Dance Research Forum Ireland in partnership with the Glucksman Library and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. In 2008, the Arts Council awarded funding to Dance Research Forum Ireland for a feasibility report and in 2009 awarded two-year seed funding for the set-up phase of the Archive at the Glucksman Library, University of Limerick. The Foundation Director of the NDAI was Dr Catherine E. Foley of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.
Today, the archive is home to numerous collections of dance generously donated by individuals, companies and dance organisations.
To make an appointment to view the National Dance Archive of Ireland material in the Special Collections and Archives reading room, please email specoll@ul.ie.
Search the National Dance Archive of Ireland using the ArchivUL catalogue
Browse items from the National Dance Archive of Ireland on the UL Digital Library
