Originally from Germany Helga Deasy is a dance artist and choreographer based in Cork / Ireland.
Her creative practice spans collaborations with dance artists, solo performance and cross-disciplinary work including theatre, music, film, circus and visual art. Latest collaborations include film writer and director Oonagh Kearney, composers Peter Power and David Duffy (Eat My Noise Productions), theatre director Eoin O hAnnrachain (Lantern Productions), musician Kevin O' Shanahan (Music Alive), theatre director Michael Sheridan and visual artists Joanna Kidney and Tess Leak.
Helga trained at Trinity Laban, Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, where she completed an M. A. in Creative Practice with distinction (2012) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dance (2011). She also holds a degree in Social Work with a focus on music and movement studies (University of Applied Sciences, Regensburg, Germany, 2008) and is a qualified yoga instructor.
Helga is a specialist in Choreological Studies (Trinity Laban, 2018), an analytical approach to movement based on the contemporary development of Rudolf Laban's principles which influences her choreographic practice and inspires her movement research.
Helga has performed and presented her work at a variety of national and international festivals and venues including Dance Umbrella (UK), Bonnie Bird Theatre (UK), Theater an der Universität Regensburg (Germany), Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (New York), The Yard Theatre (UK), Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement (Northern Ireland) and in Ireland at Cork Midsummer Festival, Cork Opera House, the Firkin Crane and Dublin Dance Festival.
Helga teaches contemporary dance technique, improvisation, creative dance and vinyasa flow yoga. She facilitates projects in a variety of community settings including primary and secondary schools, active retirement groups, care homes and hospitals. She worked on the Learning and Development Programme of CandoCo Dance Company, a pioneer and leading exponent of inclusive dance practice. Further, Helga trained with Rosetta Life in the facilitation of dance and movement work in dementia and end of life care settings and has since worked extensively in dance and health. This includes a one year residency at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice (Cork) and work as lead artist for dance and project manager on the 'Fuse Arts and Health' Programme with MusicAlive.
Helga has received numerous awards including the Arts Council Dance Artist in Residence Award (2017 & 2018), Cork City Council Project Award (2015, 2018 & 2019) and Cork City Council Arts in Context Award (2013).
In 2018 she received an award from Culture Ireland to tour her latest ensemble work 'Helica' to New York for a performance at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies 40th anniversary celebration and conference.