Iphones galore at Starbucks

I’ve just received a picture of the crazy snow at home from a friend. The picture, sent via an application on my iPhone known as WhatsApp..one of the vast number of iPhones  amongst the troupe is what helps us through days when we really miss our loved ones at home.  Undoubtedly, being a dancer in  Riverdance is a dream come true, touring the world, doing what you love.  But, it is difficult being away from family and friends for long periods of time. Sitting in my hotel room in Changsha, it made me wonder about Riverdance in 1994 “back in the day” and how difficult it was keeping in contact with loved ones when lets face it, there were very little methods of overseas communication.  Speaking to Niamh O’Connor, my dance captain and the only original dancer from the show from its inception, I try to gain an understanding of how things have changed.

“There was no such thing as the internet. The only thing we could do was buy phone cards to phone home with. In fact, just before I came on tour, I found all of my phone cards that I had kept down through the years. There were hundreds!”. Siobhan Manson, also pipes up “Oooh phone cartin bitin” and Maeve Croke and Alana Mallon begin reminiscing about their time in Germany, searching for phone cards in the hope of hearing a familiar voice so far away from home.  Maeve explains that it’s so much easier these days. She also swears by Whatsapp and tells me she loves her little group conversations with friends. The only time she avoids them is when they start to organise nights out at home!

Skype is also a great method of communication and it’s not uncommon to see someone with headphones in waving at their phone. In China, the internet connection in some of our hotel rooms is dire so with free wifi in the lobby, you are likely to find swarms of us online there after the show.  It’s particularly useful for the likes of Conor Downey from our crew who has just recently got married and has a young child at home and another on the way!

Brendan’s son Daniel with the cast

Brendan McLaughlin, production manager also has a young son Daniel, who along with Brendan’s wife Catherine came out to visit over Christmas.  Not only was this fantastic for Brendan, but we all enjoyed having Daniel around, and he’s such a character an kept us all entertained!  The accessibility and lower cost of flights makes a better Christmas possible for people like Brendan. It also paves the way for impromptu visits from Nicola Dempsey’s boyfriend Adrian who was able to spend Christmas with her and Peta Anderson has just welcomed her beau Brendan who has just joined us…all the way from Australia!

Interestingly however,  Niamh tells me her family would have visited a lot more years ago particularly as tours back then were longer. But now, with more ways of keeping in contact, less so. “We used to be so happy having people come out to visit all the time. You could also write a long list of things you wanted from home!  But now, things are a lot better especially because you always know what’s going on so you don’t feel like you miss out on anything”

Fiona McCabe keeping track of emails from home

This brings me onto all the little ‘home comforts’ we miss. I, for one am counting the days to a good ole mug of tea and slice of McCann’s toast with melted Golden Cow butter…yummm!  Since it’s nearly the end of our tour, I took the liberty of asking people what they are looking forward to most.  As I was expecting, there was a resounding agreement that food would be right up there on the list but of course, seeing family for the first time in 12 weeks was definitely top of the list.

Our Chinese crew and Garret Dockery checking in with loved ones at the airport

Read this on the Riverdance website: “Back in the day” – Reminiscing about Life on Tour with Riverdance in the 1990′s

________________________________________________________

Click on any photo to view photo slide show

________________________________________________________

Wenzhou, city no.21 was a highly commercial city and as with many cities that we have been to, it is booming, with high rise buildings in abundance and shopping malls galore. We arrived to our hotel and decided to head out after a failed attempt at getting food in the hotel (Picture fish tanks with live fish primed for eating, various chefs tucked behind glass windows ready to cook you a range of weird pre-prepared dishes..eek, no thanks!) The following day, we luckily found a “European Centre” and had a nice lunch at a lovely Italian restaurant.  On our last night, we decided to brave the local streets in search of food. Just a few short steps from our hotel, we happened upon what I can only describe as an area resembling an army camp with rows of little tents lit up. But boy, what a discovery. Locals cooking, watching TV, playing pool enamored of course by us..a few weird looking westerners propped up on stools, gorging on rice and noodles..happy campers!

Next was Lishui, and the “Pearl Boutique” hotel , one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed in. With simple, stylish and forward thinking design and rooms equipped with a huge sofa and flat screen TV, we spent the night chatting and chilling out here. We also found a little restaurant next door and with some perseverance, and plenty of gesturing and pointing, we finally tucked into some of the nicest rice and veg dishes for a measly £3 each!

Travel day beckoned and a short while after boarding the bus, we witnessed some incredible scenery, arriving late to the “Picturesque Hotel” in Wuxi.  The hotel was far from picturesque however and with no food outlets near, we feasted on a late-night McDonalds close by.  Wuxi is home to the biggest Buddha in China (sixth biggest in the world) so after a few visits to Starbucks at the local mall over our few days, we picked a day and headed off to the one thousand year old Lingshan Grand Buddha.  Standing at over 80 meters high, the Buddha is made completely from bronze and is highly impressive. Not only did we visit the Buddha, but the site is filled with meaningful Buddhist structures and plenty more. With another show down in Wuxi’s “Grand Theatre” we finished off our stay here at a local Australian bar.

We were welcomed to Chengshu by a huge sign at the entrance to our hotel referring to us as “The Hoofers of Riverdance”.  A girly afternoon followed as me, Nicola, Nicole and Fiona took a wander through the hutongs of Chengshu.  Later that night after a long search for food, we were once again propped on little stools at an intriguing little family restaurant.  We returned on the second night and although it is impossible to tip in China, we sneakily left double our bill amount (£6.60 for 6 people!!) and exited quickly.

Now, with nearly ten weeks gone we are preparing for our exciting trip to Beijing and Shanghai to finish what has been a most enjoyable “Moy” tour.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Wenzhou, Lishui, Wuxi and Chengshu: Tour cities no.21-24.

It’s been a busy few weeks here in the East.  Flighting between a plane seat, (excuse the pun),  my beloved heavy shoes, the wonderful daily randomness in China and some lengthy conversations over Tetley’s tea and a good film (I would safely say I’ve watched about 20 films in two weeks!)  I feel like I haven’t had a minute.

In Qingdao, we found the most amazing coffee shop/wine bar called “Deja Vu” and “Deja Vu” it was since we spent every minute of the day in this place. Whether it was digging into our breakfast bagels, tucking into an amazing Caesar Salad or sipping some delicious red wine whilst enjoying chilli fries at night, this gem literally saved our lives. We didn’t venture far apart from a short jaunt to one of the many beaches in Qingdao. Apart from the cold weather, this beach was wonderful and I would imagine it to be extremely busy when summer comes around. We also visited the local mall and picked up some necessities at a local pharmacy. The staff at “Deja Vu” were run off their feet for four days. We also met a lot of other westerners who are teaching English there, and made the most of being able to meet other English speaking visitors.

________________________________________________________

Click on any photo to view photo slide show

________________________________________________________

Next up was Kunshan and probably one of the hardest days to date. Finding food was terribly difficult upon arrival. After spending hours travelling, we walked for miles in search of decent food and ended up settling for a Chinese buffet style takeaway. The following day we did little but get some food at a local Chinese restaurant and watched “It’s Complicated” after the show. After a quick stay in Changshu, we travelled after our show here to Zhangjiagang, staying in much larger apartment-style rooms equipped with washing machines….score!!   Apart from “The food situation”, the other huge struggle we have is finding proper washing facilities in China so needless to say the whole troupe spent their time washing their clobber and re-packing our suitcases. I also enjoyed a lengthy lunch with James Keating on the 20^th floor of a nearby building (as you do!).  The view was phenomenal as was the food and James is quite a character so he kept me entertained!

Tizhou followed and onwards and upwards, we had a few great days in Heifei.  After a rather lengthy bus journey, we enjoyed some fantastic street food outside our hotel and were glammed and ready in preparation for Emma Warren and Niamh O’Connor’s birthdays. The local German bar named Bacchus was the party spot, chosen of course after much research on TripAdvisor (A note to anyone visiting, VPN for accessing Facebook, Twitter etc, TripAdvisor and any free translation app you can find are your best friends!).  The food was delicious and the resident band were great. Emma is a fantastic singer and joined them for a few hits. Myself and Craig Mason also joined in as backing singers for Tina Turner’s classic “Rolling on a River” and of course no night would be complete without a few tunes from Peta Anderson!

The following day, we just chilled out at our hotel and bought a cake from one of the many superb bakeries here in China.  A huge chocolate cake, freshly baked and prepared for a measly £7.80, equipped with candles, birthday hats etc.  As the saying goes however, nothing ever goes to plan. Just before we were about to leave for the second last bus of the day, the cake fell a whooping 17 floors to the ground after being knocked off the windowsill!  Shaun Kelly, the culprit had to make a rather quick dash back to the bakery and hastily ordered a new one in the nick of time. But, I must admit, at this stage nothing phases me here, maybe that’s why the Chinese people are so relaxed and care-free…Anything goes..Take note! : )

Read this on the Riverdance website: Qingdao, Kunshan, Zhangjiagang, Tizhou and Birthday celebrations in Heifei.

________________________________________________________

Click on any photo to view photo slide show

________________________________________________________

Leaving Beijing behind, we were off again…next stop, Zhengzhou. After leaving such an amazing city, this place was always going to be a disappointment and I have to be honest, unfortunately it lived up to our expectations. Upon arrival, our Chinese hotel left much to be desired. For some reason, in China they insist of having no proper privacy in our en-suite bathrooms. We have been in many hotels now where they actually have windows from the bathroom into the bedroom. In one hotel, Jason O’Neill’s toilet was enclosed in a glass compartment along with his shower!  Now there’s a new idea. Zhengzhou was no different with both our toilet and shower enclosed in clear glass with no door, no blinds, just a tiny curtain. This is just one of the many examples of cultural differences here in China.

I am compelled to tell you this week about some of the dining experiences we’ve had since we got here. The restaurant staff at our hotel in Zhengzhou were among a large number so far who find it very difficult to understand what we are trying to order, even though they have both English and Chinese translations on the menu. Understandably, they don’t speak English but they tend to just stare at us and laugh repeatedly whilst we try to order. Picture a group of tired, frustrated and hungry dancers pointing at dishes on the menu and making the most comical hand gestures to describe food. In Zhengzhou, it took us about 20 minutes to get a glass of cold milk (It’s amazing the lengths you go to to have a half decent mug of tea!). On night two of our stay here however, we had a lovely night out in an a hip little bar just moments from our hotel. It was a special occasion with it being Fiona McCabe’s 30^th Birthday and we had a fantastic night with all members of the company in attendance.

Back to the “Food situation” as we like to call it and let me give you a few more interesting stories.  A few evenings ago, troupe members Craig and Shane decided they wanted french fries at our hotel. With a failed attempt at describing them over the phone, the reception staff paid a few visits to the room and using Google translate, they finally understood their order and replied “No”…no explanation, just “No”.  So off they trotted to McDonald’s and a little while later, they returned and visited Maggie and Nicola’s room only to find Maggie enjoying a lovely plate of french fries from room service. More recently, they waited an hour on a vegetarian pizza, only to be served a large bowl of popcorn!!   On another occasion Brian Shinners wanted “Chicken with Parsley Sauce” from the room service menu.  Six different phone calls and visits from not one but four hotel staff, (including the chef!!) he decides he’s had enough and orders a taxi to KFC. When the taxi arrives he changes his mind as it can be quite dangerous going solo. He returns to his room and there it was….his “Chicken with Parsley Sauce” and of course his roommate John in convulsions of laughter.  Callum Spencer also spent a considerable amount of time spelling out words like “eat” and “food” and tells me “I will never forget the music they played when they had me on hold!”.

After Zhengzhou, we were ready to brace the extreme cold of Inner Mongolia and arrived early afternoon to Hohhot. With temperatures as low as -21C, it was no surprise that the majority of the cast stayed indoors. Our talented physical therapist, Garrett Dockery fully embraced the weather however and went wandering. Not long later, he informed me he spotted a group of locals ice skating on the frozen pond and decided to join them..no bother to Garrett!  The highlight of our visit here was yet another amazing theatre which boasted a grass roof! And of course it would’ve been rude not to visit Zara and the likes in the shopping mall close to our theatre, where once again we suffered another impossible dining experience at Pizza Hut. In China, it seems acceptable to sit and wait for over and hour on your dinner whilst all other members of your party have been served. Unfortunately this time the ill-fated diner was me. Restaurants also insist on giving just one menu to a table of two or more and ask that you pay immediately after you’ve ordered.

Our journey from Hohhot to our next stop, Yingkou was somewhat different as we boarded a tiny little plane (difficult times for the ‘tall people’ of the troupe!)   Unfortunately in Yingkou, there was very little to do in the surrounding area. We also had more comical dining experiences at the hotel restaurant and suffered the relentless, terrible version of Samantha Mumba’s 1990s classic “Always come back to your love”. Every time we went for breakfast, lunch or dinner the tune was played and it became a running joke within the troupe, to the point where we had to politely ask them to turn the music off.  Nicole McKeever ordered dumplings and got not one but three wrong dishes and Shaun Kelly also ordered a coffee and was handed a spoon ten minutes later.

So, there you have it, another typical week in China, and no doubt I will have more comical experiences to report in the final few weeks of tour. The cultural differences are more and more apparent and certainly make our tour more interesting. I’ve also included some of the humorous translations we’ve seen during our stay, and some of the bizarre sights I’ve seen to date.

Enjoy! : )

Read this on the Riverdance website: Cultural differences – life on tour – Inner Mongolia

Waiting on the bullet train at Starbucks in Manshaan Train Station

With Christmas over, we boarded our first train of the tour to Manshaan, and with a quick, uneventful stay here, we were looking forward to our upcoming trip to Beijing. I was particularly excited about being on my first ever ‘bullet train’. When we arrived to the train station, we were informed that there was a two and a half hour delay due to bad weather conditions (it was snowing!). So, we watched movies, enjoyed a coffee in Starbucks and tried to take our mind off the wait and the extremely cold train station…brrrr!But we took off a short time later and unfortunately the ‘bullet’ journey was not to be. As the train pulled up, we were overjoyed with our highly comfortable recliner seats and luckily, sockets for charging our computers. With the UGGs kicked off, and enjoying “It’s a wonderful life” on my MACBook, we halted on the tracks for at least an hour and we knew something was up. Considering they were only serving full chickens, duck tongues and other rarities, we knew we were in for a long, painful journey. The crew also became worried as they were slowly getting bits of information about problems with the crew trucks stuck on the motorway to Beijing which was had to close. This was even more worrying, as our first show in Beijing was to be performed in front of representatives from the IDA, the Irish ambassador, Declan Kelleher, Minister for Arts and Culture, Jimmy Deenihan and over 200 lawyers from A&L Goodbody at an event for members of the cultural and business community. Eight hours later (approx 3am) we arrived at the Sheraton Four Star Hotel, Beijing. Our hungry, tired souls retreated to bed and we were informed the first show had been cancelled. Julian Erskine, who was visiting for the event and our first show had no doubt, a difficult day ahead!

Male troupe sorting out costumes

Riverdance Cast at the Beijing Reception 30.12.2012

The following day we were contacted individually and everything was arranged in quick fashion for what would prove to be a successful alternative ‘showcase’ if you like at our venue, the Beijing Exhibition Centre. We were called in early for rehearsals and just a few hours later, we were on stage with no costumes, dancing shoes or proper sound system…just sheer, raw talent and a determination to provide entertainment to the best of our ability.  We were also treated to the fantastic blind Chinese band who belted out tunes such as “Reel Around The Sun” from the show and it was a pleasure for all of us to witness this and songs from the talented Emma Warren and Ben Mapp.  We even dragged audience members up for a ceili and taught “The Walls of Limerick”, a traditional Irish team dance. We finished the night with a spot of Jameson and  Guinness.

Minister, Jimmy Deenihan from Co.Kerry joined us on the bus to say “You were all fantastic tonight and really did yourselves and Ireland proud. You certainly helped us further our efforts to create and maintain links with China”.

Next Day was New Year’s Eve so I decided to just relax, making the most of our amazing free breakfast at the Sheraton and using their superior gym and swimming pool/jacuzzi. We also had to prepare for our big upcoming New Year’s Eve party at the Hyatt Hotel in town. We were very lucky to have just a matinee during the day, so being able to have a nice meal and take our time getting ready was a treat. Within a few hours, some twenty six of us were” glamed up” and enjoying our VIP experience with an amazing band and some delicious Moet&Chandon champagne!10,9,8…the countdown was on and we toasted to what will undoubtedly be another exciting few years with Riverdance.

With an extra show on New Years Day to compensate for the cancelled show, we were in our beds early that night and headed off on the second day of January for some sightseeing. Tiananmen Square, The Great Hall of the People, The Forbidden City…now this is what you call sightseeing!

Emma Warren, Maggie Darlington and Shaun Kelly with out lovely volunteer

We also met a lovely volunteer who allowed us to see inside the Zhengyangmen Gate, a barbican which guarded the direct entry into the imperial city, but more recently a cultural hub in Beijing. It turned out he had particularly good English and upon finding out we were from Ireland, he sang out the tune to Riverdance and placing his hands on his hips, did a full rendition of our dancing routine, bizzare!

We finished our day at the “Silk Markets” (please don’t judge me, it’s just too difficult to resist these places) and with a few bits and bobs collected, we returned to the Exhibition Centre to finish our last show in Beijing.

So, it’s a Happy New Year to all of you all the way from China!!

All wrapped up in freezing -5C temperatures at Tiananmen Square

Passing the Bird’s Nest as we say “Farewell!” to Beijing

Read this on the Riverdance website: Happy New Year to all of you, all the way from China!

It’s week three of Moy’s China Tour and we are now well accustomed to China in all of its glory. From Guangzhou, we moved to Dongguan and discovered a familiar supermarket across from our hotel – Spar! It’s offerings somewhat different from home (to say the least!) but it was nice to see a home brand nonetheless. With many of us suffering from jet-lag, we spent most of our time resting and taking in the sights.

China is most certainly diverse, the disparity is incredible. In Donguan, we had huge shopping outlets and universal fast food chains on our doorstep and within walking distance, we witnessed the poorer suburbs. With tiny eateries and humble abodes, there was an immediate buzz from locals starring at us, laughing and in awe of our whiter than white skin. We even had a few encounters with a few who were trying to converse in Chinese for as long as possible. Obviously this didn’t last long and of course was of great comedic value!

________________________________________________________

Click on any photo to view photo slide show

Next stop was Shenzhen, a city which I remembered for my first ever time gracing the stage with Riverdance…ah the memories! At the time, we discovered upon leaving Shenzhen that it was home to one of the most renowned shopping destinations in the world, typical. So, of course this would not be a wasted opportunity. Alarm clocks were set earlier than usual and there was money set aside in preparation for “Luohu’s Commercial City” set in the heart of Shenzhens’s main railway station.

As soon as we arrive, we are followed by a man who is adamant that we need “Louis Vuitton” “Gucci” “Prada” in our lives. As we enter, I am reminded of an article I read earlier this year in USA. The author spoke about the psychological effects of shopping malls in America, whereby upon entering you lose all concept of time and value of money.This place has everything you could imagine and more. The latest designer (or knockoffs – whichever description you prefer!) totes and handbags, sunglasses, jewellery, clothes and shoe boutiques. The phrase “enter at your own risk” comes to mind. A few hours later, I am totting up all the money I have spent in the space of a few short hours. It’s not a lot but certainly more than I intended but with all of my wanted items ticked off the list, I am a happy customer. Afterwards, we paid a quick visit to the Shangri La Hotel for lunch and boy was it worth it. Fabulous surroundings, melt-in-your-mouth food and a lovely way to round off a great few days in Shenzhen.

We had a lengthy travel day to our next stop, Yichun and I must admit, this place was a little bizarre. It was quite eerie with very little happening, with lots of man-made parks and skyscrapers which seemed to be of no purpose. We also had a lot of difficulty trying to get decent food. But luckily we came across a little supermarket near our hotel, selling the Chinese equivalent to ‘Pot Noodle’ and we were quickly ‘fed and watered’. The shop owners were so delighted to see us visiting their shop that they bought us miniature Santa’s, kick-starting what turned out to be a truly lovely Christmas in the company of some great people. We also paid a quick visit to Chongqing, where we experienced the wonderful old city and wandered its cobbled streets filled with traditional Chinese stalls, historic temples and traditional homes. We made friends with the owner of “Coffee Palace” (one of the most intriguing coffee outlets I’ve ever been to!) who shuffled us down a little alley way and seated us on plastic school seats where we drank green tea from plastic cups and had dinner, an amazing rice dish for just £1.50. We finished our day, dancing at the Chongqing Grand Theatre, one of the most architecturally impressive theatres I have ever seen!

When we are touring at Christmas, we organise what’s known as “Secret Santa”. Everyone picks out a person at random and they shower them with little gifts in the lead up to Christmas and clues as to who they could be. The efforts from cast and crew were fantastic, with many going to great lengths to surprise and reward their pick. On one occasion, dance captain Niamh O’Connor was made to wear a grey wig and some interesting underwear to warm-up! James Keating had to speak Chinese for a day, Caterina Coyne dressed as an Indian lady and presented our ‘Christmas Extravaganza’ in an Indian accent with ‘Britney Spears’ hits performed on-stage by Maeve Croke and an appearance by our very own ‘One Direction’ boys. Me and roommate, Emma Warren took to decorating our room in the fabulous Dorsett Regency in Wuhan with tinsel, Santa hats and flashing Christmas lights. We watched Christmas movies in our pyjamas (carted all the way from Ireland) and enjoyed some nice red wine, belting out tunes from Bing Crosby and Michael Buble.

Our Christmas Night party was spectacular. With a scrumptious feast of turkey and ham and not one, but three different desserts! We revealed our ‘Secret Santa’ identities. I was lucky enough to have the ever stylish Stephen Brennan as mine, and was presented with my most wanted item – an Alexander McQueen skull clutch, amazing! Since we are eight hours ahead, we waited until later in the night and many of us retreated to our rooms to make calls to home via Skype. It is difficult particularly at Christmas, being away from home. But with Christmas spirit in bucket loads amongst our cast and crew, we had such a lovely Christmas here in China.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Christmas celebrations and secret santa joins the tour.

It’s a regular Tuesday evening, but Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport is alive with dancers and crew from Riverdance, meeting, catching up and telling tales of their downtime over the past few months. Many are skeptical about checking in a suitcase packed full of “necessities” without having to remove half of their clobber and wear it due to weight restrictions! (I am pretty sure of the 10 pairs of shoes I have with me, I probably only need three!) But luckily, we sail through and move through to departures.

Everyone is overexcited about our imminent 10 week tour where we will be gracing the fascinating plains of China, covering approximately 24 cities. It will be difficult being away from home for Christmas but with a lovely “last supper” at my local cafe Grounded Slieve Gullion Cafe with the family that morning (for those of you travelling to the countryside of Armagh – be sure to check this little gem out!) and a nice catch up with granny Bridget, I said my goodbyes, leaving the Emerald Isle once again.

Click on photos to start photo slideshow

Coincidentally, I joined Riverdance for my first tour to China exactly three years ago to the date of our departure. As we pulled up to the impressive Ocean Hotel, Guangzhou, I was surprised I had remembered so much about the hotel and the city. Luckily I remembered a nice local restaurant in a shopping mall close to our hotel. For the skeptical foodies amongst us, it was a successful visit with tasty meat and veg dishes and sticky rice all in with drinks for a measly £7 each! A while later, we were being serenaded by restaurant staff with an original all singing, all dancing version of “Gangham Style”.  My response to the enamored first timers around me “Welcome to China!”

We were spoilt with free breakfast for the duration of our stay and once again we were impressed with an array of fresh fruit, custom made omelettes, croissants and good coffee. After more lengthy conversations about our time at home and the upcoming tour, we agreed on a plan of action for the day and headed out onto the streets of Guangzhou.

On first impressions of the city I was re-visiting after a mere three years, I considered Napoleon Bonparte’s famous quote about China “Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world”.   The development of the city of Guangzhou is initially clear from the improved cleanliness of the streets and many additional skyscrapers added to the skyline. With little or no amazement and wonderment from locals as we walked along, it seems we are not the only Westerners here. Of course, the most popular hangout for Riverdancers in China is none other than the reliable Starbucks. True enough it was filled with visitors from all over the world. With it’s non threatening food choices and coffee that isn’t likely to have us visiting the toilet on more than one occasion in the aftermath (and believe me there are times when you’d rather avoid what is merely a hole in the floor), many can be found spending hours here making use of the free Wifi. But with a quick mocha-choca-latte, we began meandering through the hutongs of Guangzhou.

With a population of approximately 10 million people in this city alone, it was no surprise that we were amongst hundreds going about their daily lives, with quite a number carrying what looks like half of their eternal belongings on the back of their bike!We come across a market soon enough which had everything you could imagine from “Kappa” tracksuits, circa 1996 to intriguing food picks such as Chicken Claws (yes it’s true I swear!). Surprisingly I accept the invitation to check out “China Mobile for you pretty lady?!” and no less than ten minutes later I am the proud owner of a new sim card, which thankfully has worked well to date and to my delight gives me free internet access wherever I am….score!

Onwards and upwards, me and my roommate Emma Warren decided to treat ourselves to a full manicure. Pampering session complete (I should mention the total cost for two manicures was £4!!!) we headed back to the hotel for a nap. Later that evening, the whole troupe visit the local Jambiri Indian Restaurant and after a delicious Chicken Korma and Naan bread, we retreated to our comfy beds for a much needed and lengthy rest.

On Thursday, as our first show looming, we were called in early for rehearsals. The Guangzhou Zhonghshan Memory Hall was a sight to behold, a fabulous exterior and huge inside! With a full cast of experienced dancers and musicians, rehearsals were short and sweet and it was soon warm-up time for our first show of the tour in Guangzhou. With an expected audience of 12,000 people over the weekend, it was no surprise to walk out to a packed theatre. The reception we got was phenomenal and what Julian Erskine (Executive producer) described as “the best I have ever seen in China!”. It certainly was a good way to kick off what promises to be a fascinating and memorable tour.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Welcome to China with the promise of a fascinating and memorable tour!

It’s bittersweet as I finish the last step in the last number of the last ever North American Riverdance show. Some 6,000 people are on their feet in the fantastic outdoor arena at WolfTrap, Vienna and boy has it been a long journey!

Our final bus journey

The last two weeks of tour were extremely busy. After the first of three bus journeys in the first week, we found ourselves in the heart of hip Montreal. We were staying in apartments for a few days and most of us bought groceries, enjoying the luxury of cooking our favourite foods. Montreal, one of my favourite cities of the tour was jam packed as preparations were underway for the famous “Grand Prix Montreal Weekend”. I would have loved to experience it but unfortunately we had to move on. For our last Canadian show, we travelled a few hundred miles to Sydney, Nova Scotia. Sydney is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island. Luckily I stayed awake for the last hour of the journey as the scenery was outstanding. It also has a high population of irish people (one in four Nova Scotians are of Irish decent) and a nice little irish pub – the “Governors Pub” to boot.

I was delighted to be performing for my close family in Hartford, Conneticut on Wednesday. I had some free time in the afternoon so I got to visit them at their home in Enfield and I was very grateful for the lovely mug of tea waiting for me when I got there! With just one more show to go in Salisbury, Maryland, the countdown was well and truly on for the last weekend of tour.

My roommate Fiona and I went into overdrive obsessing about the weight of our suitcases. In fact, this was the general topic of discussion amongst us all, and we started our own little charity, compiling bundles of ‘bus clothes’ we had worn to death on the tour to give away.

With many dancers having ended USA tours at Wolftrap before, all of us were uber excited, particularly for the two huge malls beside our hotel. (Eek!!) With hair appointments booked and shopping trips to rival Kim Kardashian, some even rented cars and drove down on Thursday night. I decided it would be safer for my bank balance and arrived on the bus early Friday afternoon. With not much time to waste, I grabbed some food, window shopped in the amazing “Tysons Corner Mall” and caught the bus to the show.

Company at Wolftrap

Wolftrap is an amazing outdoor venue with an auditorium and open lawn. As part of the show experience at WolfTrap, patrons are allowed to sit on the lawns and watch us warm up an hour and a half before the show. As we drove up towards the arena, the place was swarming with people laying their blankets out, sipping wine and eating their picnics in preparation for the show. With a quick make-up and hair fix, I headed for the stage. It was totally surreal having the audience there in broad daylight and with “Beyonce” and the like blasting, ‘the craic was 90′ as we warmed up together. Even more surreal was the fact that we could see everyone in the audience for the whole first half of the show.

John McColgan chatting to cas 

John McColgan, director of Riverdance was present for opening night and made a lovely speech at a champagne reception held afterwards before flying to Dublin for the “Electric Burma Concert”.

Closing Party

After our two shows on Saturday, we also had a fantastic closing party. With ice sculptures, and an impressive display of foods such as fresh seafood, our very own pasta chef and a “Ben&Jerrys” ice-cream counter, we were in our element. Our executive producer, Julian Erskine made a heartfelt speech thanking us all for our hard work and there were a few tears amongst us.

I made an early exit as I was preparing for my second performance of Trading Taps the following day.

Once again, as we arrived hundreds of people were flocking to the lawns and we were totally energised for the show. We were given tour T-Shirts as a keepsake for the tour and the whole company gathered at 1pm for a photoshoot. Trading Taps was fantastic. Unlike other numbers, you really get to interact with the audience and since I was able to see them, it was even more enjoyable than my first performance.

The venue put on a barbecue for us in between shows which was brilliant as we enjoyed hotdogs and burgers in the sun. James Greenan and I had also spent hours during the week preparing a ‘tour video’, a compilation of video footage and photos from the tour. We projected it onto a huge screen and once again there were a few tears as we got ready for the last show of the tour…and what a show it was!

VIDEO : Riverdance Final Nth American show Wolf Trap June 17, 2012 curtain call (video by Merle Frimark, Riverdance North American Marketing/Press Representative )

And so, after 29,500 miles and 133 shows in 27 states, we boarded a flight at Dulles International Airport on Monday night. We’ve had a fantastic few months and yes it has been exhausting at times but we’ve been in some amazing places, all whilst doing what we love!

Troupe photo at Wolftrap

And so, we are back on home soil performing at the Gaiety Theatre for what promises to be a fantastic 10 weeks. It’s always so enjoyable performing to a home crowd and I must say I think I will be avoiding the bus for a little while!

Thanks for reading.
Maeve x

Read this on the Riverdance website: End of the line – Final Shows North America

As we neared the end of the last ever North American Tour of Riverdance, it was evident that the show will most certainly be missed. We have had the most amazing response here in North America and I’ve decided to dedicate this blog to the thousands of people who have come to see our shows over the past few months.

I spoke a few weeks ago about the feeling you get just as you are about to walk out on stage. On many occasions on this tour, regardless of how many hours I’ve spent on a bus or how tired my legs are, there is no way to describe seeing the audience for the first time.

Vera Abbott, an avid fan recently wrote on the Riverdance website :

“The dancers appear before you, and your feet want to start tapping.That intro to every show gets to me every time. It never gets old.”

Cast members with young fans in St.Louis

Super fan Chris Ryman with Padraic Moyles in Boston

You can hear a pin drop but immediately as we dance, you see people nudging each other, smiling, sitting more upright on their seats. Their expression changes almost immediately. As we finish our last number – “Heartland”, the energy is insane with everyone young and old on their feet clapping and jumping around. One night, as we finished our show in Fredericton, we were uplifted by the sight of four women in the front row doing their own take on a four-hand reel and I will never forget the night in Chicago seeing an elderly man crying in the front row. As Melissa Olsen, a fan recently commented “It has the ability to bring grown men to tears, and children stare in astonishment.”

Mary Jo with young fans at the stage door in St.Louis

There have been those who have also seen the show several times and keep coming back for more. Take Rick Milkse who wrote “I have seen Riverdance in Milwaukee/Chicago and Riverdance on Broadway 15 times. I have never grown tired of this fantastic show. Cheers!!!” or the lady who bagged front row seats for three consecutive nights in Philadelphia. She waited outside the stage door every single night and explained that the last show we performed in Philadelphia was her 20th to date.

Jipeng Ma with cast members in China

There are also the more extreme fans like Jipeng Ma, from China who first seen the show when we performed live on Chinese TV in 2009. He has since seen the show in China and HongKong and surprised every member of the cast on both tours with self-portraits. In January, he made the big move from China and became one of many exchange students studying in Dublin. He has also just recently learned how to dance himself!

Moya Doherty (Riverdance Producer) once said “In times of great turmoil, we tend to find solace in literature or music or dance”.

Quite often, we get letters and cards from fans but reading Rose Ellison’s letter in St.Johns, Canada touched all of us and made Moya’s words rang true . Rose (a cerebal palsy sufferer) wrote “Believe me, I won’t ever forget the night when I saw such enthusiasm and such wonder.I hope that when you go your separate ways, you won’t forget each other or the wonderful impact you had on the world”.

We were also lucky enough to meet the brave young Andrew in Great Falls, NY who waited by our bus with his mum after the show. He was wheelchair bound and unable to speak but his mum informed us that he was so delighted to have finally seen the show live. It is these moments that remind you that your not only doing what you love but your bringing joy to other people in the process. We have also had the pleasure as a cast to have family members and friends come to see it and just tonight I was delighted to have my family from Conneticut see me dancing in Hartford.

Heather Lewis meeting tapper Jason Bernard in Quebec

In the words of Frank Sinatra, this week we “face the final curtain” and I just want to thank each and every person for your amazing response to this North American tour. You have certainly made the long bus journeys and any hiccups along the way well worth it. So here’s to putting a smile on your face…and mine too!

Read this on the Riverdance website: A blog dedicated to our audiences!

The original Olympic torch he held at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

In Louisville, Kentucky we visited the “Muhammad Ali Centre” which was fascinating. Some of the highlights included the original Olympic torch he held at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the bike he used to ride, a painting donated by Angelina Jolie, not to mention various pieces of literature and original video footage. We even got to spar with the legend in his hometown (well, his shadow at least).

Next stop was Bloomington, Indiana. Nestled in the heart of this cool little college town is one of the nicest university campuses I have ever seen – “Indiana University”. With huge gardens and streams surrounding the campus, it made for an interesting walk in the glorious weather.  The famed “Kirkwood Avenue” followed and i got a taste for the local shopping scene, picking up a nice maxi dress along the way. I was lucky enough to bag an outdoor seat at the busy “Soma Coffeehouse” and to finish the day, I paid a visit to the post office to send my unique take on a birthday card to my dad (a postcard from the “Muhammad Ali Centre”). Thankfully it was worth the effort as I’ve since discovered he has proudly shown it to half the country! After the show, we also tasted a bit of home with some lovely homemade stew at the “Irish Lion” and as I was returning to my hotel room, I heard a distinctive Irish accent from a girl behind me. Curiosity killing me, I got chatting to her and It turned out she was a toxicologist from Dublin visiting Bloomington to complete a course for work. What a small world!

After my Trading Taps debut with Jason Bernard, Ben Mapp, James Greenan & Billy Kanaly

On Friday, we set off to St.Louis and this was a huge weekend for me as I was preparing to become the first female ever to perform ‘Trading Taps’ – a number in the show which sees the male American tap dancers trade off with the male Irish troupe. I went straight to the venue for my first sound check and this was certainly nerve-wrecking especially with the whole company watching. Thankfully it went well and I was more than ready for my debut on Sunday evening. Over the weekend, we were joined by an old member of the “Riverdance” cast – Mary-Jo Clark Cange who now has her own dancing school in St.Louis. Each show was packed with dancers, friends and family. The matinee on Saturday was particularly full and with a rapturous applause, the atmosphere backstage was electric.

Since we don’t really have much time during a five show weekend, I didn’t get to see much of St.Louis but this suited me perfectly as I was focusing on my big night. On Sunday, we had a short three hours between shows so catering was provided at the venue. Fed and watered, I went to the dressing room a little earlier and prepared for the show. After the first act, I was ‘miced up’, ready to go and surprisingly very calm. Everyone was so supportive and gathered at the live screen to watch side stage. Thankfully there were no glitches and the audience were once again fantastic for what was the most memorable performance of my life! With the pressure off, I celebrated at a groovy little jazz bar in town along with the birthday boy James Greenan who had turned 22 that day.

We had a rather quiet few days in Bowling Green, Asheville and Greensboro and arrived to Raleigh, North Carolina for another lively five-show weekend.  On Saturday morning, I treated myself and got my hair done at the fantastic “Bottega”salon.

Aisling Drenann's 30th Birthday, Raleigh

After a tasty lunch at the popular “Raleigh Times” restaurant (a converted old newspaper office) we were back for the second show and preparations were underway for Dave McGauran’s (saxophonist) stag party. Bandmates and cast members got creative and made customised T-Shirts for everyone and a great night was had by all at the local “Union Bar”. This was also a busy weekend for Jessie and Meghan Baffa who had a lot of family seeing the show. Their uncle came to see three consecutive shows and certainly got the crowd going from the front row!
Once again, we got the glad rags on, celebrating Aisling Drenann’s 30th Birthday at the local “Mosaic” bar and now with just a short time left, the countdown is on for the end of another unforgettable tour!

Read this on the Riverdance website: St Louis – My first Trading Taps performance