choreography
cosi fan tutti
Directed by Polly Graham for Irish National Opera 2023. Stephanie was Assistant Director under Associate Director Davey Kelleher.
dust
Stephanie was the director of ‘Dust’; a short opera by Benedict Schlepper-Connolly for Irish National Opera’s Twenty Shots of Opera 2020. The series received five stars in the Guardian and featured a performance by Michelle O’Rourke, set design by Sarah Bacon, costumes by Katie Davenport, lighting by Paul Keogan and cinematography by Hugh O’Connor and Hugh Chaloner. Guardian Review of Dust
after love
After Love, a dance duet based on the poetry of Dani Gill and directed by Laura Sheeran premiered at the Galway International Arts Festival in 2021. Stephanie choreographed and performed in After Love, alongside Lewis Wilkins. The show featured music by Anna Mullarkey and Adrian Harte with set and lighting by SJ Shiels and costumes by Triona Lillis. Irish Times Mention
witches
Stephanie choreographed and danced in Dani Gill’s production of Mirrors as part of the International Literary Festival Dublin 2019. Witches was one half of a show that endeavoured to bring the poetry and short stories of Nicole Flattery and Jessica Traynor to the stage. Witches is looking to tour in 2020 and featured voice over by Olwen Fouéré and lights and visuals by Laura Sheeran.
in clouds
Stephanie was one of the lead performers and choreographer of Peter Power's inter disciplinary work 'In Clouds' for the Cork Midsummer Festival 2018. In Clouds was composed by Peter Power and Michael Gallen, performed by Stephanie Dufresne and Tonnta, lit by Sara Jane Shiels with visuals by Dave Mahuna and text by Sara Baume.
changeling
Stephanie is the sole performer and choreographer of Changeling, a show commissioned for the Clonmel Junction Festival in 2016 and 2017. Changeling was directed by Laura Sheeran featuring a score by Linda Buckley, and was based on the story of Bridget Cleary; a woman burnt alive in Ireland at the end of the 19th century under suspicion of being a faerie. Changeling addresses what it means to be a woman in the late 1800s and what it means now, exploring themes of the occult, the outsider and the sacred feminine. Link below to an interview with Stephanie and Laura on Arena, talking about the making of Changeling.
nesting doll
In September of 2017, Stephanie choreographed a solo performance to composer Sam Perkin's piece 'Nesting Doll'. The solo was performed at the launch of Music for Galway's 2017/2018 programme, accompanied live by Finghin Collins. Nesting Doll dealt with themes of lineage, heritage and identity.
like a lap dance that no one asked for
Stephanie received an Arts Council Bursary in 2016 and a Dance Ireland Mentored Residency in 2015 to research a solo under the guidance of Leonie McDonagh and Marguerite Donlon. That solo became 'Like A Lap Dance That No One Asked For' and was performed in the University of Limerick, at Dance Ireland and as part of Galway Culture Night. ‘Like A Lap Dance’ is a performative and comedic expression of the eternal conflict of the artist.