Riverdance boasts The Riverdance Dance Troupe, Musicians and Singers, Irish and International dance and song soloists from Spain, Australia, Great Britain and the United States. Musical Director/Keyboardist Declan Masterson runs a tight ship and if there was one note gone awry in this whole production neither I nor my professional musician friend caught it.

The tappers and singers are amazing but one of the brightest stars of the show is the percussionist, Mark Alfred. Far right of the action but somehow right in the middle of it, Mr Alfred gives an incredibly energetic performance, calling to more primitive blood with his booming rhythms on two enormous drum sets, and on castanets, chimes, and the wonderful Irish hand drum called a Bodhran. He came out center stage to play a duet with the talented fiddle player, Niamh Ni Charra and he played that drum so fast that his hand was literally a blur while never missing a beat. People were on their feet cheering.

Declan Masterson

Mark Alfred

Niamh Ní Charra

The audience were on their feet a lot during this production and most deservedly so. Somehow the stage was miked to amplify the sound of the dancers tapping in perfect unison and at times the very real impression of thunder filled the Fox Theatre.

Jason E. Bernard

Ben Mapp

One of the best bits in the production is the introduction of Jason E. Bernard and Benjamin Mapp, street tappers, equally breathtaking in their mastery of jazz tap. They and the four of the male Irish dancers have a dance duel, highlighting their differences and similarities as they change styles back and forth, the street dancers doing their comatose version of the stiff armed Irish style, and the Irish dancers giving us one of the best illustrations of jazz hands ever.

The choreography is incredible. Men and women flying across the stage, women linking hands to do a stiff armed chorus line where nothing moves except their legs and feet and those appendages are a blur of precision. The singers are equally polished and wonderful, ethereal harmonies abound.

James Greenan

Alana Mallon

James Greenan and Alana Mallon danced the leads the night we went. They were a beautiful pair and I didn’t miss Michael Flatley one bit; and although I’m not quite clear on what Spanish Flamenco dancing has to do with Irish step dancing, except perhaps as a progenitor, it was a treat to watch Marita Martinez – Rey, haughty and wonderful, dancing in that most beautiful style.

Riverdance is a feast for eyes and ears, a call to cultural identity and a ripping good show.

Riverdance played The Fox Theatre, St Louis, 18 – 20 May 2012

Read this on the Riverdance website: Dancing Magic, Music and Timeless Beauty at the Fox

Mark Alfred Percusion Riverdance Farewell Tour St Louis

After over 15 years of touring the US, Riverdance has truly become a household name. When someone sees Irish dancing, it is most likely the first thing that comes to their head. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. Last night at the Fabulous Fox Theatre marked the start of the Riverdance Farewell tour in St. Louis.

I have always been a fan of dance, but somehow avoided ever seeing Riverdance much to my chagrin. Sure, I’ve seen performances of the famous show on television and DVD – but never in person, and never at the Fabulous Fox. And one thing I can now say for certain is that there is nothing like seeing it live at one of the best theaters in the country. As the show starts, the beautiful Irish music fills the massive auditorium, taking us on a transformational journey to Ireland. A bright and colorful screen takes center stage for the duration of the performance, changing from scene to scene as it sets the mood and season for each breathtaking dance.

The show is a wonderful amalgamation of music, dance and song. Of course the dancing is the main attraction of the show, being called Riverdance after all, but without the rich traditional music it would be nowhere near as impactful.

The band is comprised of only 5 musicians, but their talent is relentless as each of them resonates powerful and rich music through multiple instruments. Much credit should be given to Declan Masterson, who plays the keyboard and acts as musical director for the show.  Each song sets the scene for the dance that follows, and sends the kind of feeling through your body that powerful music tends to do.  Matt Bashford, who plays a beautiful rendition of “Caoineadh Chu Chulainn” on the Uilleann Pipes, also plays the low whistle and tin whistle.  Niamh Ní Charra plays the fiddle, having a couple of solo performances that are truly outstanding, while Dave McGauran plays the saxophone during the show. Last but not least, Mark Alfred is at the helm of the percussion section and takes over the stage as he plays every drum, symbol and chime. His drum kit seems endless as sound after sound emanates from his side of the stage.  He also has an incredible solo session with the Bodhrán, a round Irish frame drum, where you wouldn’t believe the magnitude and range of sound that comes out of it.

As impressive as the music of the show is, the singing is just as wonderful.  Songs like “The Heart’s Cry” and “Cloudsong” are so heart-touching and beautiful that you just can’t help but to feel the emotion in the air.  The lead vocalist from the Irish Dance Troupe, who I believe was Aisling Drennan, was phenomenal. Every note left her mouth with what seemed to be perfection and ease. I have heard many versions of the songs from Riverdance, but none of them were sung as beautifully as I heard them last night. All of the male and female singers harmonized together so perfectly for each song, transforming their voices into their own rich instruments.

Alana Mallon. Lead Dancer

The lead male and female dancers, James Greenan and Alana Mallon, were both superb. Neither of them ever missed a step as they meticulously hit every note that resonated from their shoes hitting the stage.  James has to have some of the fastest legs I have ever seen, and proves it during a “dance-off” so to speak with two less-traditional tappers: Benjamin Mapp & Jason E. Bernard.  Mapp and Bernard furiously hold their own as they dance in a free style version of tap, and it is quite a site to see. Alana Mallon dances beautifully throughout the performance, and commands the lead with her presence.

Marita Martinez-Rey dances Flamenco and does a brilliant job during the “Firedance” and “Andalucia,” two solo performances.  Her fire-colored dresses wave through the air like flames as they match the fiery background and music during the dances.

If you have never seen Riverdance before, don’t miss your last chance to see it on tour.  I am certainly glad that I was able to see it.  The show is full of so much energy and passion, and you can tell that these dancers are among the best of the best. Every step is in perfect unison, as it partners with the lively music and song.  It’s different than any other show you’ve seen before, and if you love dance, I’m sure that it will not dissappoint.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Farewell Riverdance, you will be missed

New York, New York so good they named it twice. Well I’m relabeling the city for all you Bostonians out there; “Beantown Beantown!” What a splendid weekend we endured as we took the Opera House by storm one last time for the fine people of Massachusetts. Five spectacular performances over three days simply could not afford me enough time to whisk around and complete my usual touristy stunts.We were simply blessed yet again with the fine weather which peaked well into the 80′s.

Preparations for Boston Marathon on Boylston Street

Leaving the Fairfield Inn Concord , we embarked on the eleven o’ clock public bus service into the city. I almost jumped with excitement at the sound of the ” next stop South Station ” announcement. We easily made our way to the mouth of Chinatown and walked straight on up through ……..st. There dazzling before my eyes was the giant, purple ‘W’ sign glittering in the early afternoon sun. I had the pleasure of staying with some wonderful relatives at the fabulous W Boston Hotel right in the heart of the theatre district. Regrettably the weekend wasn’t enough time to spend with my dear cousins.

Not all of the Riverdance Company were lucky enough to lap up the luxury of the W Hotel, some resorting to the assigned hotel in Woburn and the Mariott in Quincy. It was on the forefront of everyones mind to make the most of what Boston had to offer.

After a delightful opening night I went to spend some more quality time over a late dinner with my cousins at the contemporary Italian restaurant, Teatro. If you have never had duck ravioli and wish to try it, I recommend you to pay a visit to one of the chefs here. The Friday night special on the menu left me licking my fingers and wishing I hadn’t ate that poor bird so quick. I urge you, GO!

I had the responsibility to tweet on behalf of Riverdance for ‘Broadway in Boston‘ , a company which promote and advertise musicals, dance shows and other such theatrical performances coming to Boston. I confess I am quite unfamiliar with the use of ‘Twitter’ as a means of social networking however duty calls and I was delighted to assist the staff of ‘Broadway in Boston’ on such a privileged task . I enjoyed giving updates on life of a professional Irish dancer offstage. A sneak peek into how we prepare for an opening night performance is obviously still as intriguing as ever to the outside eye. Thank you to Rich Jaffe and the Broadway in Boston team for the wonderful baseball hats and welcome letters!

Thank you to the Broadway in Boston Team for the baseball caps

Boston itself ,being a city quite influenced by the Irish, makes it a hub for many Irish Dancing Schools. We were so thrilled to welcome Irish Dance students from many different dance academies to our performances over the weekend period. Autograph signing and partaking in group shots with throngs of young dancers and enthusiasts makes my job on the road as exciting as ever. Certainly the Nevin, Cunniffe, Hayley and Woods Academy added to the wonderful atmosphere in the Opera House. I remember only too well seeing Riverdance for the first time in Dublin and how it inspired me to better myself as a dancer. I hope we too, have the ability to deliver such inspiration to the young generation of dancers today.

Temperatures soared into the high 70′s on saturday afternoon. This made choosing a lunch stop too difficult. What an array of foodstuffs, spoiled by too many types of restraunts and cuisines . Was it sinful to gorge on the All American bacon and egg and cheese bagel and donut for breakfast? (That’s meant to be rhetorical.) No! It’s a sin to walk straight past a Dunkin Donuts and not treat oneself to a fresh Boston Cream!

ME AND MARITA EXPERIENCING THE AMERICAN DREAM!

Lunch brought Korean BBQ for me after my matinee. I was torn between that and the Dumpling House in the heart of Chinatown! With some time to spare after I wet my apetite, I made my way down to Faneuil Hall at Quincy Market. Blown away by the assortment of food there, I felt cheated by the feeling of satiety or rather upset as I passed the stalls of fresh oyster and Boston clam chowder ( pronounced ‘chowda’!). Making my way outside the market I was met by street performers such as jugglers, magicians and dancers effortlessly entertaining dozens of Bostonians and visitors alike. Hmm, yes, Saturday afternoon in Downtown Boston wasn’t such a bad place to be in I thought to myself….

Strolling back up the Freedom Trail off Washington Street I was nostalgic and moved at the Irish Famine Memorial by the fine sculptor, Robert Shure. It was a grim reminder of hard times endured by our predecessors but signified hope and the start of something new.

Famine Memorial at the Freedom Trail

After some R&R at the Quincy Mariott, I woke a happy girl Sunday morning ready to take Boston once again by storm. With the excitement of the preempting Boston Marathon (since 1897) and all the preparations underway I was excited to explore the city and follow some of the route for the following day. Aimlessely strolling (with emphasis on word strolling) down Boylston Street, I couldn’t help think how so many brave runners were going to partake in this epic world-renowned race in such hot temperatures. I was soon distracted at the thoughts of Copley Mall and the Prudential Centre. Ah yes! The reason for my visit to Newbury St.! With my usual, unfortunate time constraint I whizzed around as many stores as quick as I could. Thank you Alex & Ani, Kate Spade, Rag & Bone and Lululemon Athletica for emptying my wallet and depressing me at the sight of all the things I am unable to afford from your store!

So here I bow out and leave with you another chapter of our travels. With a fond goodbye to Beantown Beantown, we leave with great sadness but hope the joy and life of Riverdance this weekend brought something special to each and every one of you.

Fiona's Style File

Read this on the Riverdance website: Boston – a fond goodbye

Although music has always had a prominent place in her life, Niamh Ní Charra didn’t plan on a career as a professional musician. She was studying to be an electrical engineer, in fact, when fate stepped in to take her life in a completely new direction.

“I always loved playing music, but I also believed I’d never make a living out of it so I was studying engineering to have a career,” Ní Charra said in a phone interview with Boston Event Guide. “I was playing a seisiún, which is a sort of jam session for traditional Irish music, at The Burren in Somerville and some people from the Riverdance show happened to be in the audience. When an opening came up with the company later on, they contacted me and asked if I wanted to join them. I immediately said yes.”

Ní Charra ended up touring as a fiddler with Riverdance for eight years, leaving the show six years ago to pursue her own music career. Last year, as the producers started putting together the lineup for the show’s grand finale tour, they asked Ní Charra to come back on the road for, as she put it, a final ‘hurrah!’

“It’s been a much more emotional experience than I imagined it would be,” Ní Charra said about joining Riverdance for its final tour. “I knew it was a big deal just from the amount of emails and phone calls I’ve been getting from friends asking me to get them tickets – which is quite flattering in itself – but the emotion we feel from the audience when we’re up on the stage is very powerful. I don’t want to say this is just a job for us, because we all love performing in the show, but when you’re in the middle of it it’s not always easy to get any perspective on what it means to people. Folks grew up with this show. They take Irish dance classes because they saw it, or learn to play the fiddle after watching Riverdance. That’s amazing, when you think about it.”

Riverdance will be at The Opera House, Boston April 13-15. Tickets start at $28.

BroadwayInBoston.com

Read this on the Riverdance website: Ní Charra Returns to Fiddle for Final Riverdance Fling

Chinadaily.com.cn
Mon, Feb 20, 2012

Julian Erskine, the Irish senior executive producer of the musical sensation Riverdance, knows he’s done a good job if people dance out of the theater after a performance.

That was how he felt when he came to China with Riverdance.

“We love the reaction of the Chinese people. It was such an interesting and special experience to be performing in the Great Hall of the People, the National Center for Performing Arts and many other great venues,” the producer said in an e-mail interview with China Daily.

“We had an amazing moment on the tour when we were out for a walk in Shenzhen and came across a group of Chinese people trying to do Riverdance steps in a park. That made us feel really famous.”

The team performed in Ireland for the state visit of former premier Zhu Rongji. They were subsequently invited to perform in Beijing and Shanghai in 2003.

When the sequined dancers of the musical Riverdance performed in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2003, they didn’t merely usher in the biggest international production ever to hit China.

“I think it’s because Riverdance is the original Irish dance show. We were the first and every other show is a copy of us. I think that really shows on stage, and the audience can spot the difference,” said Erskine.

According to Jurek Zhang, general manager of Beijing Joyway Culture & Media Co Ltd, which manages the Riverdance tour in China, the popular musical Riverdance has been presented in China five times.

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,” said Zhang. At the end of 2012, Riverdance will have an eight-week tour in China.

Zhang noted that the arrival of the production illustrated China’s growing maturity as a cultural market, aided by the increasingly open rules of recent years that have allowed moreinter national artists and troupes to perform.

“We are glad to see that the Chinese audiences are excited to watch Riverdance. We’ve found that Riverdance has become a phenomenon among both ordinary audiences and professional dance troupes in China,” said Zhang.

“Now that the show has been to China many times, Chinese audiences feel connected to the show.”

The connection is also shared by the Riverdance team.

“Especially since we recorded our last DVD in Beijing and included three Chinese musicians in the show, we now feel very much at home in China,” said Erskine. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could one day assemble a full Chinese cast for the show? It’s not that impossible.”

A spectacular theater show of traditional Irish music and dancing, Riverdance serves up two and one-half hours of thrills, movement and rhythm.

According to the musical’s producer, who started working on Riverdance in August 1994, it all began in 1994 with the Eurovision Song Contest, a popular annual competition in which singers from different European nations perform.

Television viewers pick the winner. The full show opened in February 1995 and has been seen by more than 22 million people since.

“We knew it was a big hit in Ireland at the start, but I suppose the first time we really knew it was special was when we went to London and the audiences and critics alike raved about the show,” said Erskine.

He noted that step dancing, performed in the Riverdance show, has been part of Irish village celebrations, such as weddings and festivals, for centuries. It enjoyed a revival in the 1930s,when enthusiasts laid down some rules about how the dance should be done. Dancers wear hard shoes to beat out the rhythm on the ground. The upper body and arms don’t move. All the movement of the dance comes from the legs and feet.

Riverdance was the first show to line up 30 or more dancers in a row and have them step dancing in perfect rhythm.

“It was not generally popular until the success of Riverdance, but after that, everyone wanted to learn!” he said.

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdancers in step with audiences across entire nation

Purchase your tickets today!

Kursaal Oostende

24th July to 5th August 2012

Shows:  Tuesday to Friday 20:00,

Saturday 15:00 and 20:00,

Sunday at 14:00 and 18:00.

Tickets cost between €49 and €75.

Tickets now on sale!

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance returns to Oostende, Belgium

Craig Ashurst and Tannya Joaquin

Watch Craig Ashurst during his live TV appearance on Hawaii News Now ‘Sunrise Morning Show’ where he teaches anchorperson Tannya Joaquin a few steps.

Watch Craig here!

Caterina teaches a step to host on Kohn2

Caterina Coyne teaches a step to the host on Kohn2

Watch Caterina here!

Read this on the Riverdance website: Craig Ashurst and Caterina Coyne on Hawaii TV