DirectfromIrelandtoVPACDanú,AnIrishChristmasGathering:FéileNaNollagCelebratestheHolidays!FeaturinglocalcompanyClearyIrishDanceSunday,December11at7:30pm(LosAngeles,CA)November30–ChristmasinIrelandisoneofthemostimportantholidaysforfamiliesandfriends,asmanyIrishpeoplelivingabroadcomehometogatherincelebration.Now,thatjoyousandwarmIrishtraditioncomestotheValleyPerformingArtsCenterforthefirsttimewhenDanú,AnIrishChristmasGathering:FéileNaNollagcelebratestheholidaysonSunday,December11at7:30pm.ThiseventwillalsofeaturetheLosAngeles-basedClearyIrishDance.Knownforproducingregionalandnationalchampionsoloists,ClearyIrishDancewasstartedbyMargaretClearyin1988andprovidesclassesforallagesandlevelsofIrishdancers.“ThisDecember,ourvenueiswillpresentavarietyofholidayperformances,”saidThorSteingraber,ExecutiveDirector.“Wearecelebratingtheholidaysbyofferingarichculturaldiversitythisseason.Danú’sperformanceisveryspecial,becauseitoffersusawindowintoIreland’sChristmastraditions.We’dlikeouraudiencetofeellikethey’vetravelledtheworld,eveniftheyneverleaveLosAngeles.Thisperformancealsohasalocalaspect,aswewelcomethephenomenal,localdancersofClearyIrishDance.”HailingfromCountiesWaterford,Cork,DublinandDonegalinIreland,Danú,oneoftheleadingtraditionalIrishensemblesoftoday,willbringIreland’sholidaytraditionsofmusic,storytelling,danceandcelebrationtoVPAC’sGreatHall.Musicanddancegatherings,incommunitiesbothurbanandrural,haveoftencombinedforgenerationstoofferagreatvarietyofsongs,music,andstoriesfortheholidays.Danú’sIrishChristmasGatheringoffersatasteoftheseextraordinaryevents,whichhavebeenheldacrossIrelandforhundredsofyears.Celticmusicloversaroundtheglobehavebeenthrilledbytheirvirtuosoplayersonfiddle,flutes,buttonaccordion,percussionandthegorgeousvoiceofNellNíChróinínalongwithtop-notchguestdancers.IrishMusicMagazinesaid,“Danústirsthebloodandliftstheheart.”TheWashingtonPostcalledtheband,“avibrantmixofvirtuosity,energyandempathy.”TicketsareavailableatValleyPerformingArtsCenter.orgorbycalling(818)677-3000.ValleyPerformingArtsCenterislocatedonthecampusofCaliforniaStateUniversity,Northridge(CSUN),18111NordhoffStreetNorthridge,CA91330-8448,atthecornerofNordhoffandLindley.AboutDanúDanúformedin1995aspartofIreland’sdelegationtoLorientInter-CelticFestivalinBrittany,France(anannualeventthatisthebiggestgatheringofcelticnationsintheworld).Thedebutalbumsimplyentitled'Danú'wasreleasedbythebandin1997tohugecriticalacclaimandin1999Danúsignedamulti-album

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recorddealwiththeRecordLabelShanachieEntertainmentwithwhomtheysubsequentlyreleasedfivealbumsandaliveDVDinternationallybetween2000and2006.OverthepastfewyearsDanúhasaddedtwoindependentreleasestotheirdiscography.Forover2decadesDanú'svirtuosiplayersonflute,tinwhistle,fiddle,buttonaccordion,bouzouki,andvocals(IrishandEnglish)havedeligthedaudiencesworldwide.WinnersofnumerousawardsfromtheBBCandIrishMusicMagazine,DanúhastouredthroughoutEuropeandNorthAmericawithstopsatTheHollywoodBowlinLosAngelesandSymphonySpaceinNewYorkCity.DanútakesitsaudiencesonamusicaljourneytotheirnativeIreland,offeringamovingandmemorableconcertexperience.DanúwelcomesstarvocalistNellNíChróinínintothefoldin2016markingthebeginningofanexcitingnewchapterintheband'slegacy.Nell'smultipleawardsincludeTG4TraditionalSingeroftheYear2012andshewasalsothewinneroftheprestigiousOireactas'CornUíRiada'awardin2014.CalendarListingforDanú,AnIrishChristmasGathering:FéileNaNollagVenue: ValleyPerformingArtsCenter 18111NordhoffStreet Northridge,CA91330 Date: Sunday,December11at7:30pmTickets: Price:Startingat$28 InPerson:VPACTicketOffice,locatedintheVPACCourtyard

ByPhone:(818)677-3000 Online:ValleyPerformingArtsCenter.orgPressContacts:TimChoy,NikiBlumberg,Davidson&ChoyPublicity

323-954-7510|t.choy@dcpublicity.com;n.blumberg@dcpublicity.comGaryW.Murphy,PublicRelationsConsultant310-914-0178|gmurphypr@gmail.com