BIAF25 presents: The Fallen & Everynothing (Double Bill)

In this special double bill of contemporary dance, the Belfast International Arts Festival 2025 presents two powerful new works by choreographers Michael McEvoy and Salma Ataya.

The Fallen tells the story of the forgotten fairy of Ireland, one of the Sidhe. Long ago, a godlike race arrived, steeped in magic and wisdom. Captured by a Mortal King of Christian faith, the last fairy was hung for sport. Unable to die, he was stripped of his wings and buried beneath the Hill of Tara, where the first fairy tree grew. Through poetic movement, BIAF Artist-in-residence Michael McEvoy explores a wingless angel trapped in a prison of broken memory and newfound mortality, seeking a way back to the Otherworld.

Content warning: a noose is present on stage during The Fallen 

Created as part of BIAF’s international dance exchange project Our Voice Together Now, Everynothing is a new work by rising Palestinian choreographer Salma Ataya. Three dancers search for moments of stillness and clarity in a precarious world that never stops moving. They explore what it means to stay alert yet at ease, to rest while in motion, and to find space where there is none. This quiet, powerful piece is both an act of resistance and a reflection on how we survive when everything and nothing happen at once.

This event is presented by the Belfast International Arts Festival. The 63rd edition of the Festival runs from 14 October – 9 November 2025! Their programme encompasses a brand-new season of world-class theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature and film, with performances from the very best international artists and homegrown talent. 

Click here to take a peek at their full programme.