Mateusz Szczerek is a Dublin based dance artist and professional member of Dance Ireland.

His recent work includes Digital RSS Commission 2021 in The Civic as a lead artist, choreography for dance/circus production Blame Game premiered at Bristol Circus City in October 2021 planned for touring in 2022/23 and Dance Ireland project LETS DANCE for Cruinniu na nOg 2021.

Matt also continues to direct Dance2Connect, a 3 day Street Dance Festival at The Civic supported by Arts Council Festival funding.

In 2019 he was selected to be part of The Lir’s LIGHTING DESIGN FOR DANCE mentored by Liz Roche.

In 2018 Mateusz choreographed FABLE for Dublin Fringe Festival (Project Art Centre), nominated for best ensemble award. Matt worked regularly with CoisCéim Dance Theatre performing as a principal dancer in THE WOLF & PETER (2017 Sydney Opera House). In 2017 he was selected by Far From The Norm dance company as a lead Irish artist in international production UNION BLACK, funded by Creative Europe touring UK, France, Sweden, Ireland.

What did you do with your Arts Council award(s)?
Project Award allowed me to develop my dance and juggling practice with amazing tutors, Liza Van Brakel and Mark Sheets. Both artists presented me with high qualityof performative tools and added to inspirations needed for my next project.

Bursary Award helped me to establish new professional relationships and develop first drafts of new project for young audiences using dance, animation and VR technology. I have been able to produces trailer for new piece and collaborate with great artists Camille Donegan (VR expert) and Fergal Brennan (animator).

What has receiving support from the Arts Council meant to you as an artist/for your career?
Receiving support from the Arts Council means that my artistic practice can be sustained and I can focus on creating art I am excited for. It also have helped me to build cross-disciplinary relationships and allowed me to venture beyond my filed of expertise, letting imagination and ambition to flourish.

How would you describe your creative process?
My creative process is a mix of strategically planned movement structures and play with improvisation. I like to allow spontaneous outcomes take part in main body of work and change the format of previously planned sections. I love the dance to be organic and effortless-looking but with research and structure behind it. I very often work with objects manipulation that also allows spontaneous outcomes.

What would you say is your biggest challenge as an artist?
My personal challenge as an artist is to continuously reinvent my art, through collaborations, up skilling sessions and playful explorations. I believe that every piece I want to work on has to excite me, to be able to create best outcome possible. Play is a very important aspect of this challenge.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an emerging artist?
Consistency is a key to success.

What or who has influenced your practice the most?
There are numerous inspirations I draw from but recently the biggest influence on mehas a BEASTCAMP (online program for developing Krump Dance practice).

Other than that some of my biggest inspirations are: James Thierree, Gandini Juggling, Wang Ramirez and FarFromTheNorm.

What are you doing next?
My next step is to develop full version of my solo Matt&Hat, dance for young audience with use of VR technology. I will also begin creation of new environmentally conscious piece with cast of amazing Dublin based dancers. Recycled plastic, in its numerous forms will create structure for production design. I am very excited to start this new adventure.