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Fabulous Beast exploded onto the Irish arts scene in 1997. The company is led by Michael Keegan-Dolan, one of Ireland's most talented, challenging and innovative contemporary artists. Described as "one of the most daring and highly original dance theatre companies in the world" (The Times) Fabulous Beast makes its second visit of the season to Sadler's Wells for Sadler's Sampled with Rian, a celebration of Ireland's roots and traditions which recently received a Bessie award for Outstanding Production. Choreographer and founding director of Fabulous Beast Michael Keegan-Dolan is a Sadler's Wells Associate Artist, and has established a reputation for his dynamic and innovative approach to theatre. In one of his most celebrated works, he collaborates with one of Ireland's most successful musicians Liam O Maonla? of Hothouse Flowers, drawing inspiration from O Maonlai's 2005 solo album Rian, which means 'mark' or 'trace' in Irish. A moving and uplifting experience, Rian sees Keegan-Dolan and the cast of eight dancers and five musicians tap into Irish traditions with influences from faraway places to evoke a timeless vision of the real indescribable nature of things. Set to O Maonlai's beautiful score, which mixes Irish sounds with elements of world music, Rian "has a shared, spontaneous warmth... It really does feel like a party on stage" (The Independent).