Directors

Ríonach O’Neill is an Irish professional dancer and the founder and director of The Loft Dance Studio in Dún Laoghaire. A graduate with a BA (Hons) in Professional Classical Ballet, Ríonach has developed an international performance career across ballet, commercial dance, cabaret and theatrical productions. Her professional career has taken her across Ireland and France, including several years performing within the French cabaret industry at venues and productions including Voulez-Vous, Paradis des Sources, Ruhl and L’Étoile Bleue.

Alongside her performing career, Ríonach founded The Loft Dance Studio, creating a space dedicated to high-quality dance training and providing opportunities for dancers of different ages and backgrounds to continue developing their practice.

Building on the growth of The Loft, Ríonach co-founded The Loft Ballet Company alongside Fernando Palma with the aim of creating further performance opportunities for dancers in Ireland and developing a sustainable independent ballet company with professional standards and ambitions.

As Co-Director of The Loft Ballet Company, Ríonach oversees the Company’s development, operations and productions, working alongside Fernando to build opportunities for dancers to train, perform and develop within a supportive, professionally focused company environment.

Fernando Palma is a Brazilian-born professional ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher and artistic director with an international career spanning more than two decades. Beginning his dance training in Brazil, Fernando went on to perform professionally with companies including Cisne Negro Cia de Dança and the San Martín Contemporary Dance Theatre, working across both classical and contemporary repertoire. Throughout his performing career, he has interpreted works by internationally renowned choreographers including Nacho Duato, Itzik Galili, Patrick Delcroix and Vasco Wellenkamp.

Fernando later served as Artistic Director and Ballet Master of Campinas Dance Company, where his work encompassed artistic direction, choreography, coaching and the development of both classical productions and contemporary works. His repertoire as a director has included productions such as Coppélia and The Nutcracker, alongside original choreographic works.

Now based in Dublin, Fernando continues to teach, choreograph and work as a guest artist internationally. His approach combines strong classical foundations with musicality, artistry and expressive performance, with a particular focus on developing dancers beyond technique alone and preparing them for the demands of the stage.

As Artistic Director and Choreographer of The Loft Ballet Company, Fernando leads the Company’s artistic development, repertoire and productions, bringing his extensive professional experience to the creation of a high-quality performance environment for dancers in Ireland.