“Don’t dance for Israeli Apartheid” protest at Riverdance’s opening night in Dublin

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Saturday June 25, 2011 12:44 by Kev - IPSC

On Tuesday 28th June at 6pm the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) will hold a loud and colourful ‘Don’t Dance for Israeli Apartheid’ protest outside Riverdance’s opening night in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. The protest was called to highlight the shameful fact that Riverdance is scheduled to tour Israel this September.
The protest forms part of the international Cultural Boycott of Israel campaign which has seen many stars such as Roger Waters, Elvis Costello, Carlos Santana, Christy Moore and Damien Dempsey refuse to perform in Israel. The Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel – until it ends the occupation of Palestine and abides fully by its obligations under international law – has also been endorsed by over 200 Irish performing and creative artists as well as countless others internationally (See http://www.ipsc.ie/pledge ).

Speaking about the protest, composer and IPSC Cultural Boycott Officer Dr. Raymond Deane said: “Riverdance is often seen as a cultural ambassador for Ireland, a role that entails great responsibility. The Irish people have repeatedly shown that they passionately support Palestinian rights. By touring Israel next September in defiance of the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Apartheid Israel, Riverdance is simultaneously betraying the Palestinians and misrepresenting the Irish people.” Irish artist Robert Ballagh, who designed the sets for Riverdance, wrote an open letter to Riverdance’s producers earlier this year in which he stated: “I am disappointed to learn of the decision to perform the show in Israel at this time. Because I have signed up to support the cultural boycott of Israel, I will not be travelling there with Riverdance, and I have decided to donate any royalties due to me for performances in Israel to the fund for the Irish Ship To Gaza.”

Coincidentally, a demonstration organised by the Irish Ship To Gaza (ISTG) campaign in support of the second Gaza Freedom Flotilla will link up with the ‘Don’t Dance For Israeli Apartheid’ protest and all participants will march on to the Israeli Embassy.