AnTara is a unique duo comprised of Tommy Hayes & Matthew Noone, that explores the spaces in-between the traditions of Irish and Indian Classical music. Both regarded as pioneers on their chosen instruments and fearlessly inventive, they create a diverse yet cohesive musical experience. Matthew ‘Mattu’ Noone, an ex-indie rocker and well-known performer of the 25 stringed lute called sarode, has studied North Indian Classical music in Kolkata under Sougata Roy Chowdhury for almost a decade. More recently he has taken guidance from UK based sarodiya, K. Sridha and has performed Indian music across the globe. He was a founding member of successful fusion group, The Bahh Band, and collaborated with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill in a recent tour of India.
Meanwhile, in a career that has exemplified diversity, bodhrán player Tommy Hayes has performed and recorded with most of the great names in traditional music and beyond. He has been at the forefront of Irish music for over 30 years. He was a founding member of traditional group, Stockton’s Wing. He is considered one of the greatest bodhrán players on the planet.
Dancer Stephanie Keane hails from Limerick city, where she learned Irish Step Dancing and competed at World Championship Level. Her mother Imelda, who was an All-Ireland Champion, instilled in her from an early age the importance of natural rhythm and timing. Since moving to East Clare 15 years ago, she has pursued her passion to discover her own style and expression of dance through immersing herself in the tradition of the sean nós style of dance and learning Irish traditional tunes in her feet. By pushing the boundaries of her own dance experience, developing a deep appreciation for the nuances of this old-style dance and exploration with rhythms and music from other cultures, Stephanie has developed her own unique style of free-style Irish dance and is a well-established dance artist, performer, teacher and choreographer.
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