Rachel is a performer, choreographer, writer and director making multidisciplinary shows and short films from her hometown of Waterford. With storytelling at its core, her work combines dance, writing and sometimes aerial to create visually exciting and emotionally honest work. Her interdisciplinary approach comes from her varied background as a performer on stage, on screen and on the sides of buildings.
Her show MOSH, which was developed at Garter Lane, received five nominations and was winner of Best Sound Design and Best Ensemble at Dublin Fringe Festival 2023, also receiving five stars from the Irish Times, toured in the UK and Ireland before returning for two nights at Garter Lane in 2025. Rachel was nominated for Best Movement Direction at the 2020 Irish Times Theatre Awards and was nominated for four Fringe awards, winning the WildCard Award for her 2019 show Losing Your Body, which was also developed at Garter Lane and A Little Room before premiering at Dublin Fringe Festival. She has performed and presented work nationally and in the UK, where she first trained as a dancer, actor and aerialist. Rachel has been commissioned by Spraoi and she runs a regular class for adults at Garter Lane’s Dance studio as part of her residency curation.
Rachel has presented work at numerous festivals including Norfolk & Norwich Festival (UK), Dublin Dance Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival, Live Collision, Dublin Theatre Festival, Spraoi International Street Arts Festival, GAZE International Film Festival and InShadow Film Festival, Lisbon. She has also worked with Dan Colley, Gina Moxley, Scarabeus Aerial Theatre (UK), Sunday’s Child Theatre (IRL/UK), Il Posto (IT), Retouramont (FR), Fidget Feet Aerial Dance (IRL) and with choreographers such as Joy Alpuerto Ritter and Polly Bennett among others.
In 2026 she will be focusing on further encouraging the presence of dance, both recreational and professional, in Waterford City and will be looking to build community and give new dance artists opportunities for growth and development.
LINK https://www.rachelnibhraonain.com/
Image credit: HK Stuart
