Colin Dunne is a leading figure in the world of traditional Irish dance. He was born in Birmingham, England to Irish parents and began dance classes at the age of three. At the age of nine, he won the first of nine World Championship titles. Perhaps best known internationally for his performances and choreography in Riverdance and Dancing on Dangerous Ground, he has been working as an independent performer, maker and teacher since 2001.

Dunne’s unique approach to Irish step-dance first came to the attention of contemporary dance audiences after his first solo show, Out of Time, premiered in Ireland in 2008. Out of Time toured internationally until 2016 including performances at Biennale de Lyon, Barbican, London and Baryshnikov Arts Centre, New York. The New York Times called it “an unprecedented achievement; an Irish Dance performance of emotional and intellectual complexity”. His most recent solo show CONCERT, based on the music of Irish fiddle player Tommie Potts, premiered in Paris in 2017.

Other notable collaborations/performances include: The Bull (Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre/Michael Keegan Dolan 2005), Rocio Molina (35 pas à la seconde, Antigel Festival, Geneva 2012), The Turn (Irish Chamber Orchestra/Linda Buckley 2013), Boris Charmatz/Musée de la danse (20 Dancers for the xx century, Tate Modern Museum, London 2015), eRikm (What is Ours, Centre National de la Danse, Paris 2016), Edges of Light (with David Power, Maeve Gilchrist and Tola Custy, commissioned by Music Network Ireland 2016), and Whitby with Joan Sheehy (Bram Stoker Festival 2017)

His work as movement director includes; Christ Deliver Us! (Abbey Theatre 2010, directed by Wayne Jordan), and The Risen People (Abbey Theatre 2013, directed by Jimmy Fay).

Dunne is based in Limerick Ireland. He was Artist in Residence at The Irish World Academy, University of Limerick in 2001 and 2011, and was Traditional Artist in Residence at UCC School of Music in Cork, Ireland for the year 2017/18.

Dunne's awards and nominations include the UK Critics’ Circle Award for Best Male Dancer (Spotlight Award) 2008 for The Bull (nomination), the UK Critics’ Circle Award for Best Male Dancer 2010 for Out of Time (nomination), the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance 2010 for Out of Time (nomination) and the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award (Ireland) for best Collaboration forCONCERT (award).