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

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

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

In the 17 years since a televised Irish step-dancing performance set to original music captivated Europe and started it all, Riverdance has become an international sensation, spawning hit soundtracks, a Broadway show, touring companies and rival Irish touring shows, as well as a new, global appreciation for the beauty of Irish dance and music.
There have been many firsts, including performances for the Queen of England and in Beijing, where “Riverdance” was the largest Western musical production to be presented in China.

In the U.S., Riverdance made its debut in 1996 with the first of six runs at Radio City Music Hall, and held down the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway for 18 months in 2000-2001. Over the course of the current tour, Riverdance has stopped at some cities two, three and even four times, traveling the equivalent of “to the moon and back,” producers note.
In a few months, there will be a “last” — a last show, as the North American tour of Riverdance comes to an end.

But not before Riverdance chalks up one more first. On Wednesday, the company lands for the first time in Hawaii.

The touring company includes six principal dancers, 18 troupe dancers, a live five-piece band, flamenco dancer and two American tap dancers, one of whom is also a baritone soloist.

Most of the dancing is drawn closely from traditional Irish step dancing, in which the arms and body move little and heels, toes and legs create the sound and action. Troupe members are expected to be “champion-level” Irish dancers. However, acrobatics, tap and, yes, flamenco also have a part in the production, along with en pointe pirouetting and graceful arm movement drawn from ballet.

Sound, backdrops and lighting add to the sense of drama, as does the show itself, which portrays Ireland and Irish culture in a mythic fashion, from ancient existence through Celtic actualization, famine and the great American emigration, before bringing it all back home again.

PADRAIC MOYLES (pronounced “Poor-ick Moy-ells), the dark-haired, deeply dimpled lead dancer for the company, was in a California hotel room in between performances when I called. He was happy to acknowledge some extraordinary experiences connected with Riverdance, like making a music video with Shania Twain, performing at a private event in Egypt with Mariah Carey, and returning to Ireland for summer performances. But Moyles was most animated when he spoke of the inner fire that motivates him to perform.

“I want to exceed people’s expectations,” he said, his Irish accent muted by the lengthy time he’s spent on tour in the states. “We come from a competitive background. You go out there every night and give it everything you have. You must always prove yourself. Going to Hawaii? That’s a massive motivating factor for me. I hope that everyone in Hawaii realizes that it is our first time and also our last,” he said, sounding more stoic than wistful, but adding, “One of the reasons I’ve always stayed in America is I didn’t think the audience could be any better anywhere else.”

After this North American tour ends, however, Moyles will move on with Riverdance, to Australia, New Zealand and back to Ireland. The production will continue in Ireland and on other stages, but not in America.

JULIAN ERSKINE, Senior Executive Producer who called in from Dublin, said a deep love for the show’s artistry abides within the team, even after all these years.

“The level of enthusiasm and pride in what they do is what comes off the stage,” he said. Erskine advises audiences to “watch the feet,” though there are other temptations.

“Remember that 95 percent of this happens from the waist down,” he said cheerfully. “The dancers actually play music with their feet. You hear extraordinary rhythms beating out. You’re hearing a left and right, a treble and a bass being broken out with the dancers’ feet. Look at the musicians. There is not a sheet of music anywhere. We’ve always insisted that is be treated like a ceili — a party. Its not a performance. It’s not a sort of masque. It’s live. It’s organic. It’s an event powered by pride.”

Where:                Blaisdell Concert Hall Honolulu, Hawaii.
When:                  December 7 – 11, 2011
Cost:                    $25, $45, $55, $75; opening-night military discounts at box office

Book Online:     www.ticketmaster.com

Box Office:         800-745-3000

Honolulu Star Advertiser 2nd December 2011 by Elizabeth Kieszkowski

Read this on the Riverdance website: Riverdance makes Hawaii debut