From a small cultural initiative to an award-winning community, Peru Fusion Ireland celebrates four years of bringing people together through Peruvian dance and culture.

Dublin, Ireland – October 2026. Peru Fusion Ireland has been named the winner of the Social Impact Through Dance Award at Dance Awards Ireland 2026, held on Saturday, 24 October.

The award celebrates the power of dance to make a positive difference in people’s lives, recognising organisations that promote inclusion, strengthen communities and create meaningful connections through movement.

For Peru Fusion Ireland, a volunteer-led, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting Peruvian culture in Ireland, this recognition represents much more than a trophy. It is a celebration of four years of dedication, cultural exchange and community building.

From a Passion for Peruvian Dance to an Award-Winning Community

Founded in Dublin on 15 July 2022, Peru Fusion Ireland began with a simple mission: to keep Peruvian culture alive and share its traditions through dance, music and community activities.

What started as a passion project has grown into a multicultural community that brings together people from Peru, Ireland, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Spain and beyond.

Through weekly dance rehearsals, cultural performances, workshops and community events, Peru Fusion Ireland has created a welcoming space where people can connect, build friendships and discover the richness of traditional Peruvian dance.

For Peruvians living abroad, the organisation offers an opportunity to reconnect with their roots and celebrate their cultural identity. For members from other nationalities, it provides a chance to experience a new culture, learn its traditions and become part of a community.

At Peru Fusion Ireland, you don’t need to be Peruvian to represent Peru. You just need a willingness to learn, share and celebrate its culture.

More Than Dance: Building Community and Cultural Connections in Ireland

While colourful costumes, traditional music and energetic performances are an important part of Peru Fusion Ireland, the organisation’s impact goes far beyond the stage.

Living abroad can sometimes mean feeling disconnected from familiar traditions, language and community. Peru Fusion Ireland helps bridge that distance by creating opportunities for people to come together through a shared love of culture and dance.

The organisation also plays an important role in promoting cultural diversity in Ireland, introducing Irish and international audiences to the traditions of Peru’s coast, highlands and Amazon rainforest.

Over the years, Peru Fusion Ireland has participated in some of Ireland’s best-known cultural celebrations, including St Patrick’s Festival and Culture Night, while also organising its own events to bring Peruvian culture to wider audiences.

In July 2026, the organisation co-organised Peruvian Day 2026, welcoming approximately 600 attendees to The Button Factory in Dublin for a celebration of Peruvian music, dance, food and traditions.

Behind these achievements is a dedicated team of volunteers who contribute their time, creativity and energy to keeping the organisation running.

Their commitment has helped transform Peru Fusion Ireland into something bigger than a dance group: a community where friendships are formed, traditions are shared and people feel they belong.

Three Dance Awards Ireland Nominations, One Incredible Achievement

The 2026 Dance Awards Ireland were particularly special for Peru Fusion Ireland, which was selected as a finalist in three categories:

• Traditional or Cultural Dance Contribution: Recognising the organisation’s ongoing work promoting Peruvian folklore and traditional dance in Ireland.
• Traditional or Cultural Dance Performance: Celebrating its cultural performance at Peruvian Day 2026.
• Social Impact Through Dance: Recognising its contribution to community building, cultural inclusion and social connection through dance.

Winning Social Impact Through Dance was especially meaningful because it recognised not only what the group presents on stage, but also the work that happens behind the scenes.

From welcoming beginners with no previous dance experience to creating opportunities for people from different cultural backgrounds to connect, the award celebrates the values that have guided Peru Fusion Ireland since its foundation.

A Moment Four Years in the Making

When Peru Fusion Ireland was announced as the winner of Social Impact Through Dance, it was an emotional moment for the organisation’s founder, Claudia Grandez.

After four years of building a community, organising performances, coordinating volunteers and working to promote Peruvian culture in Ireland, the award felt like recognition of everything that had gone into making Peru Fusion Ireland what it is today.

Claudia Grandez, Founder and Director of Peru Fusion Ireland, shared:

“When I heard the MC announce our name as the winners, I couldn’t contain my excitement! For the first time, I truly felt that our work was being recognised.

People don’t always see how much time, effort and dedication it takes to build a community like ours and keep it going for four years. Hearing our name that night made all those years of hard work feel worthwhile.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. I hope this is the first of many awards for Peru Fusion Ireland, because we’re only getting started!”

For a volunteer-led organisation, this moment was a reminder that community initiatives, regardless of their size, can make a lasting difference.

A Victory Made Possible by Our Community

Attending the Dance Awards Ireland 2026 was an achievement in itself.

As a non-profit organisation run by volunteers, Peru Fusion Ireland relies on the commitment of its members, supporters and wider community to continue its activities.

To help cover the cost of attending the awards ceremony, the group organised fundraising initiatives, including homemade Peruvian empanada sales and a community raffle.

Friends, families, local businesses and supporters came together to contribute, demonstrating once again the strength of the community surrounding the organisation.

This award belongs to everyone who has been part of the journey: the dancers who dedicate their time to rehearsals and performances, the volunteers who work behind the scenes, the organisations that support cultural initiatives and the audiences who continue to celebrate Peruvian culture in Ireland.

To everyone who bought an empanada, purchased a raffle ticket, shared a post, attended a performance or simply cheered us on: thank you for being part of this achievement.

Your support helped us reach the Dance Awards Ireland stage, and this victory is yours too.

What’s Next for Peru Fusion Ireland?

Winning a national dance award is a proud moment, but it is also motivation to continue growing.

Peru Fusion Ireland remains committed to making Peruvian culture more visible in Ireland, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and building an inclusive community through dance.

The organisation looks forward to reaching new audiences, strengthening its community activities and continuing to create spaces where people of all backgrounds can experience and celebrate Peruvian traditions.

Four years ago, Peru Fusion Ireland started with a passion for sharing its culture. Today, that passion has earned national recognition.

And while the award is an incredible achievement, the greatest reward remains the community that has grown along the way.

This award is more than a trophy. It is a celebration of culture, community and the power of dance to bring people together.

And as our founder said, we’re only getting started!

Join Peru Fusion Ireland and Be Part of Our Story

Would you like to experience Peruvian culture, learn traditional dances and become part of an award-winning community in Dublin?

Peru Fusion Ireland welcomes people of all nationalities and experience levels. Whether you’re Peruvian and want to reconnect with your roots, interested in Latin American culture or simply looking for a fun way to meet new people, there’s a place for you.

No previous dance experience is required. We’ll teach you from the beginning!

Join Peru Fusion Ireland and become part of our growing community.

Follow us on social media to discover our upcoming performances, workshops and cultural events across Ireland.