www.electricburma.com

www.electricburma.com

On June 18, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, Burmese opposition leader, will fly to Dublin where she will attend a concert in her honour.

The tribute concert, Electric Burma, will commence at 5 pm on June 18th, at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Actors, musicians and dancers will travel to Dublin from across the globe to celebrate this inspiring woman.

The high point of the concert will be the presentation of Amnesty International’s highest accolade, the Ambassador of Conscience Award to AUNG SAN SUU KYI. The award was originally announced from the stage during a concert by U2 in Croke Park in July 2009.

The performance line-up for the event includes Bono, Damien Rice, Vanessa Redgrave, Bob Geldof, Riverdance, Angelique Kidjo, Yungchen Lhamo, Jack Gleeson, Sarah Nemtanu with more acts to follow.

The event is being organised by Bill Shipsey, founder of Art for Amnesty – Amnesty International’s artist engagement programme. After the concert, Amnesty will host a public celebration outside the theatre at which it is expected that Ms Suu Kyi will make a brief address to the assembled crowd.

Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty’s Ireland branch, said organisers wanted to create as many opportunities as possible for members of the public to experience the visit, including members of the Burmese community in Ireland and activists who had long championed her cause. “Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit is a truly momentous occasion for everyone in Ireland, and throughout the world, who campaigned tirelessly for her release for more than twenty years,” he said. “We are honoured to welcome her to Ireland for an event that will celebrate her freedom and her extraordinary life’s work to secure freedom and human rights for her people.”

Riverdance Producer Moya Doherty and Director John McColgan are truly honoured and delighted to be involved with the celebration concert for Ms Suu Kyi.

Opening the concert, Riverdance principal dancer Siobhán Mason will perform Thunderstorm with the male dance troupe, a first female performance of this number. Discussing her involvement with the event Siobhán said ” I am excited and honoured to be performing at the Electric Burma concert. It is an enormous privilege to be involved in the celebration of the achievements of such an inspirational female leader”

Siobhán Manson Rehearsals Eletric Burma

Electric Burma Concert 18 June 2012

Read this on the Riverdance website: Electric Burma Live in Dublin

Riverdance: The Music of Bill Whelan

featuring the WORLD PREMIERE of the RIVERDANCE SYMPHONIC SUITE

RTÉ Concert Orchestra
David Brophy conductor
Thursday 17 May, 8pm
National Concert Hall

With guests Bill Whelan,  fiddle player Zoë Conway,  accordionist Máirtín O’Connor, vocalist Eleanor McEvoy, uilleann piper Maitiú Ó Casaide,  dancers Yolanda Gonzalez Sobrado and  Mick Donegan,  Crash Ensemble and UCD Choral Scholars

Programme includes the world premiere of the Symphonic Suite from Riverdance , Caracena from The Seville Suite,  The Currach and Evening Céilí from Inishlacken,  An Chistin from Carna,  Jazzical Cyclebike,  Seabird,  Flying Blind,  Lift the Wings,  Shivna  and The Heart’s Cry

Following the sell-out success of A Celebration of Bill Whelan in 2010, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra returns with what is sure to be another spectacular collaboration with Grammy Award-winning composer Bill Whelan.

The RTÉ CO gave the electrifying first performance of Riverdance as the interval act in the 1994 Eurovision and went on to record the phenomenally successful CD of the entire show. Now, as part of a wide-ranging programme of his music, the orchestra has the honour of giving the world premiere of Bill’s Symphonic Suite from Riverdance. This promises to be not only a highlight of the evening’s celebration but a highlight of Irish musical life this year.

     Bill Whelan writes:  ‘The idea for a Riverdance Symphonic Suite has been on my radar for some time.  Over the years I have often had requests from foreign orchestras for a full-length concert piece containing the music from the show. As my original score incorporated traditional instruments, it was not always easy to assemble the various ethnic elements for a concert in say, Japan. So what I have done with this new score is to present all the themes fromRiverdance in a way that is playable by a full symphony orchestra anywhere in the world, without the traditional musicians. There were two principal challenges – the first was to arrange the themes and melodies as a colourful and dynamic concert piece. The second was to choose the instruments from within the orchestra to appropriately replace the original ethnic instruments and voices. As this will be its first performance, I look forward with anticipation as this augmented RTÉ CO under David Brophy brings the work of the last few years to life.’

Tickets: €11–€38 (conc. €10–€35)
10% group discount available
Booking: 353 (01) 417 0000 or www.rte.ie/co

For further information please contact

Angela Rohan, PR Executive, RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Tel: 353 (01) 208 2493 | Mobile: 353 (087) 617 2531 | Email: angela.rohan@rte.ie

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance: The Music of Bill Whelan

Riverdance Mini Marathon Runners

It’s that time of year again when the memory of former Riverdancer, Dr Eithne Walls, will be marked by her friends, family and former colleagues running the 2012 Flora Womens Mini Marathon to raise money for Dublin’s Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital’s Research Foundation. More information on the work enabled by the fund can be found at www.researchfoundation.ie.

Eithne, a former Riverdancer and a Doctor at the RVEEH, was a passenger along with her friends and colleagues Dr Aisling Butler and Dr Jane Deasy on the ill-fated Air France Flight 447 which disappeared over the Atlantic on June 1 2009. Each June Bank Holiday since then her friends, family, and former colleagues in both Riverdance and the RVEEH have come together to run the Mini Marathon as a way of remembering Eithne.

If you’re already planning to take part in the run and perhaps looking for a cause to support, the RVEEH would be delighted if you’d like to do so on its behalf. To receive a t-shirt and sponsorship card please contact: Emma-Jayne.Verner@rveeh.ie. You can register for the run itself at www.florawomensminimarathon.ie but please remember that registration will close on April 20th or earlier (which is most likely based on recent years) if the race is fully subscribed.

If running the event is not for you this year, please do take a minute to sponsor the runners and to support the important work being undertaken by the Research Foundation – you can donate online at www.researchfoundation.ie where you will also find more information on Eithne, the Foundation’s work and also some pictures from last year’s run. Here’s hoping for some sunshine and plenty of runners for the RVEEH on June 4!“

Read this on the Riverdance website: 2012 Flora Womens Mini Marathon – Remembering Dr Eithne Walls once again

Bill Whelan, Composer; Maria Buffini, Lead Dancer; Enda Kenny, Prime Minister of Ireland; Brendan Dorris, Lead Dancer; Xi Jinping; Yolanda Gonzalez, Flamenco dancer & Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of China.

The show is still a sell-out in the world’s most populated nation, and has toured there extensively since its debut in the 1990s – a total of five times to date.

In 2009, the show was even part of China Central Television’s Spring Festival Gala, watched by an audience of millions across the country.

The show has been staged more than 150 times, and more than 300,000 Chinese people have watched it.

An eight-week, 21 city tour of China is at the late stages of planning for the end of 2012.

Riverdance is hugely popular. Chinese audiences are often bored by Western theatre productions, shifting in their seats and sending text messages, but they love Riverdance with a passion, and one of the most remarkable sights is watching a Chinese audience stamp their feet and clap as the Riverdance troupe goes through the motions.
www.irishtimes.com

Photography: davidcantwellphotography.com

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance performs for the vice president of the People’s Republic of China

Here are some photos from the event!

Pictured are concert hosts Aidan Power and Michele McGrath with members of the Riverdance troupe

Pictured are concert hosts Aidan Power and Michele McGrath with members of the Riverdance troupe

Pictured is Zoe Browne from Bui Blog Productions and members of the Riverdance troupe

Pictured is Bressie with members of the Riverdance troupe

Riverdance performing on the stage

Riverdance was first performed during the 7-minute interval of the Eurovision Song Contest on 30 April 1994.

It received a standing ovation. Later that year, the BBC commissioned a repeat performance of the act for the 1994 Royal Variety Show, when it was introduced on stage by Sir Terry Wogan. At Congratulations : 50 Years of Eurovision,  it was named as one of the most popular interval acts in the history of the contest.

Almost two decades later and Riverdance has grown from strength to strength. Now one of Ireland’s most internationally renowned acts , Riverdance has promoted our green isle with their traditional style of dance adapted to a new modern audience.  Bill Whelan’s Riverdance has become a global success, reaching homes and stadia from New York to Beijing and Paris to Australia.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Photos NYE Dublin

DUBLIN’S 3 DAY

NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL

30 DEC – 1 JAN

NYE Dublin is Dublin’s first official New Year’s festival. This inaugural event was celebrated over the course of 3 days from 30 December 2011 to 1 January 2012 in Dublin’s City Centre.

The city centre will be buzzing as we bring the music straight to you with a host of world class Irish acts taking to the College Green stage. Headliners include the iconic Riverdance, newcomer Bressie, renowned singers Paul Brady and Damien Dempsey and The Coronas. With many more exciting acts to be announced, this concert is sure to be the highlight of the NYE Dublin festival so be sure to get your ticket today!

As Dublin’s biggest supporters Failté Ireland and Dublin City Council  saw the requirement for an event that would highlight Dublin as a fantastic European destination during this festive season.  Through their funding and on-going support NYE Dublin will animate our beautiful city like never before with street performance, theatre, art, markets and entertainment.

Whatever the weather Dublin will be set ablaze with the energy, festivity, excitement and celebration of this annual holiday.

Don’t miss your chance to witness this dance and stage phenomenon and celebrate this New Year’s Eve with Ireland’s very own Riverdance.

BOOK TICKETS HERE!

Riverdance was first performed during the 7-minute interval of the Eurovision Song Contest on 30 April 1994.

It received a standing ovation. Later that year, the BBC commissioned a repeat performance of the act for the 1994 Royal Variety Show, when it was introduced on stage by Sir Terry Wogan. At Congratulations : 50 Years of Eurovision,  it was named as one of the most popular interval acts in the history of the contest.

Almost two decades later and Riverdance has grown from strength to strength. Now one of Ireland’s most internationally renowned acts , Riverdance has promoted our green isle with their traditional style of dance adapted to a new modern audience.  Bill Whelan’s Riverdance has become a global success, reaching homes and stadia from New York to Beijing and Paris to Australia.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance perform at NYE Dublin

15% OFF all 2012 tickets

purchased on or before 31st December 2011

SPECIAL EARLY BIRD DEAL

Offer valid for all tickets and all performances

Use PROMO CODE: RDEB12

Tickets from €10 to €55 (Subject to Booking fees)

NOW ON SALE

www.ticketmaster.ie

Experience the original Irish dance spectacular in it’s home town

June 26 – September 2, 2012

Gaiety Theatre Box Office: +353 (0)818 719388

In June 2012, Riverdance will return for an unprecedented ninth consecutive summer season in the Gaiety Theatre since “coming home” to Dublin in 2004.

Riverdance originally premiered in Dublin 10 years before that at the Eurovision Song Contest in the Point Depot (now the O2) in May 1994 before opening (again in the Point) as a full length show in February 1995.

Next season in the Gaiety will see some important changes which we hope will make the experience of enjoying “the original international phenomenon” in its home town easier and more affordable.

As well as the Early Bird Special, Riverdance is adjusting ticket prices to make more seats available at more affordable prices and we are keeping our very popular Family Ticket at the great value price of €120 for a family of four.

Based on audience feedback, our performance schedule has been adjusted to offer shows throughout the week at times geared to suit everyone, whether you live in Dublin or are visiting our capital city.

Our new show-times are:

Tuesday to Thursday: 7.30pm

Friday: 5.30pm & 8.30pm

Saturday: 3.30pm & 7.30pm

Sunday: 5.30pm

Read this on the Riverdance website: Just the ticket for a perfect Christmas gift

100 dancers led by Breandán de Gallaí and Joanne Doyle, 20 singers including soloist Lynn Hillary, 18 Drummers, a busy production team, journalists and photographers were in attendance as Carol Leavy-Joyce put the cast through their paces.

The stage width for the opening ceremony was so long it had to be marked out diagonally on the floor of the Point Depot. The atmosphere was heightened with expectation as the troupe formed into a spectacular long line and danced those familiar, famous steps.

Cameras and digital videos were brandished while the troupe smiled brightly, all the time dancing with fantastic precision and timing. Being back in the venue where the Riverdance journey began almost 10 years ago was emotional for some and there were tears in some eyes.

While the dance troupe included a roll call of some of the show’s longest serving dancers nobody had forgotten their steps! An amazing 16 original Riverdance performers took part in the Special Olympics opening ceremony. It was a trip down memory lane for them and we caught the moment on camera.

There was particular excitement for the Riverdance production office as one of our own, Linda Nurney had brushed off her hardshoes to take to the stage. To say we were proud was an understatement as Linda moved between production and performance work for this event. Here she is pictured in the navy t-shirt to the right of John Carey.

Later on there was a special treat in store as the troupe went to Croke Park and saw U2 rehearse onstage to what must have been the smallest audience they have played to in a long time!

Read this on the Riverdance website: Rehearsals for the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics