Dancers Shaun, Aisling, Anne & Deirdre at the O'Neill School of Irish Dance

Our final stop of the tour took us to Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city and gateway to the South Island. With 3 days off, many of the cast & crew hired cars as soon as we touched down, departing in various directions to explore the New Zealand country side – Hanmer Springs, Kairkoura and Queenstown were amongst the main ports of call.
Those of us, who remained to explore Christchurch, paid a surprise visit to a local dance studio on Monday evening. Dancers at the O’Neill School of Irish Dancing gave us a very warm welcome. They were full of questions about life on tour and danced some jigs and hornpipes for us while we were there.

On Tuesday, we had a lovely meal at No. 4 restaurant to celebrate the upcoming birthday of Company Manager, Laurie Small.

Rocio, Deirdre and Shaun with their Snowman in June

Snow in June……..!!
As predicted by the weather folk, we woke up to a snow capped Christchurch on Wednesday morning. Despite the sudden drop in temperature outside, it was stunning to look out at from the warmth of our hotel and resembled a scene from a Christmas movie. With the seasons reversed from home, it was hard to believe that it was June! Those brave enough to bare the cold brought flamenco dancer, Rocio Montoya to a local park to build her first snowman ever…!!.

 
Thursday called for opening night and a meet & greet with one of our oldest fans – 93 year old Roy Green, who was accompanied by his 3 daughters. Roy has been a fan of the show since it first took the world by storm and still watches a very old video he taped off the TV many moons ago (despite the terrible and distorted image it holds now, as his daughters informed us). It was a pleasure to meet with him and his family. He was full of charisma, cracking jokes with dancers Lauren Smyth & Shona Cobbe backstage.

Shuttle buses ferried us all to Cargo Bar after the show for an end of tour bash. Pizza’s, bubbly and an open fire made for an enjoyable evening for all in the Moy.

Cashel Mall

Cashel Mall built out of shipping containers is a new temporary city mall. Buildings damaged in the earthquake have been demolished and replaced with cargo containers. The precinct houses more than 20 stores and coffee shops, representing a new beginning for the quake-ravaged CBD.

I took a stroll down to the funky Mall on Saturday morning with some other dancers before the matinee, to have a look around and pick up some gifts to bring home.

Farewell Hoodies

Homeward Bound

A four show weekend at the CBS Arena, marked the end of a 6 week farewell tour across Australia and New Zealand. The end of a tour always brings a mix of emotions. There is the exciting anticipation of getting home to see friends and family combined with an element of sadness when bidding farewell to fellow cast members, heading home in different directions. Working, travelling and socialising together pulls a cast & crew quite close and it always takes a few days to readjust when you finish a tour and are flying around solo once again back home.

It has been fantastic tour, one of my favourites to date. Thanks to all who came to see us, we hope to see you again sometime, somewhere soon…
Until then,
Aisling x

Read this on the Riverdance website: Farewell New Zealand – we’re homeward bound

Justine Rae with Lauren Smyth at MoreFM Wellington

A short flight from Auckland, took us to our next stop on the North Island– trendy Wellington. Lead dancer, Lauren Smyth announced our arrival in town live “on air”, with a radio interview at More FM.

A Cause for Celebrations

Fiddler Pat Mangan with his wife Natia

Opening night provided much cause for celebration. It was the first time Riverdance had ever performed in Wellington and fiddler Pat Mangan had also arranged a birthday party for his wife Natia, who had just landed in from New York to visit. Natia toured for many years as a Russian dancer with the show before turning her talents to new ventures in the US. The Apartment, a chic bar, hand-picked by Pat for the occasion played host to cake, candles and opening night celebrations.

Wellington Must-do’s

Wellington Cable Car

In between shows, the cast and crew visited some of the recommended must-do’s around town. A scenic journey on the Wellington Cable Car offered amazing and expansive views of the city and surrounding bay. The short, steep ride up into the mountain, direct from downtown Lambton Quay, also offered an entry point into the beautiful Botanic Garden. The smell of freshly cut grass reminded me of home. St. James theatre, our venue for the week, was only a stone’s throw from the Wellington Waterfront. Some simply enjoyed a relaxing stroll, taking in the fresh sea air, while others experienced the nearby “Te Papa”- New Zealand’s national museum.

Coffee on Cuba
Dancers and crew alike could be spotted spontaneously along Cuba Street over the course of the week. Filled with trendy local fashion and urban design stores for shopping, locally roasted coffee and dozens of tasty options could also be found amongst the variety of inner-city café s, lining the street.

An Evening of Culture – Spanish Sangria and Irish Tunes

Aisling with Kelly and Rocio

The newly engaged, Rocio Montoya (flamenco) and Kelly Isaac (tapper) hosted an evening of Sangria and cheese. Tasty dips homemade by Kelly and Rocio’s zesty Sangria had us all in good spirits for the “trad session” to follow at Molly Malone’s off Courtney Place. Instruments in tow, the shows band, blended perfectly with the locals, as the reels and jigs were belted into the early hours of the morning. All departments –dancers, wardrobe, lighting and sound, jumped up for the Walls of Limerick! Emma Warren graced us all with a beautiful rendition of “Carrick Fergus”, bringing many to tears and some brush dancing on stage completed a fantastic night of cultural display.

A busy four show weekend brought our time in Wellington to a close. With only one week and city to go, the tour has flown by!!!

Last stop Christchurch……………
Soon to update from the South Island,
Your Moy Blogger, Aisling x

Brush Dancing at Molly Malone's L-R; Louise, Deirdre, Emma & Aisling

Read this on the Riverdance website: Trendy Wellington, NZ

Dance Caption Niamh O'Connor rehearsing with the troupe for the Good Morning Show

An inevitable part of touring life and the job of any performer is Press and PR related work. Dancers regularly meet the media, chat with journalists and give live Radio interviews and TV performances in many of the cities we visit. Wednesday May 23^rd, 2012 marked a well-planned and very eventful day of Press for the entire Riverdance team.

TVNZ Breakfast

5.30am: I’m suddenly woken by alarming beeps; my mobile phone vibrates loudly, illuminating the room.  It feels like I’ve only been asleep 5 minutes but there is no time to contemplate turning over, a busy day lies ahead. I slip out of the room as quietly as I can so as not to wake my roomie (Shona Cobbe). We are staying in apartments on Queen Street in the centre of Auckland, so I move to the living room to continue getting ready for the day of work ahead.

Typically, I manage to bang into every table and chair possible, drop a knife and trip over a bag on the floor in my attempt not to make too much noise as Shona is still out for the count (not anymore I’m thinking). This isn’t a morning for a scoop of the instant stuff – the coffee plunger come out of the press for an outing and I make a pot of what looks like tar. Strong dose of caffeine consumed, teeth brushed and off I go.

6.00am: I meet our dance captain Niamh O’Conner in the lobby and check through the morning papers to pick up on any coverage following our opening night performance last night. The New Zealand Herald has featured some great pictures. I pick up a few of complimentary copies at reception for each of the dancers in the photos. Company manager Laurie Small joins us and we walk to the theatre. It’s still dark out and we are met by a throng of early morning joggers along our path – a familiar sight in this part of the world, one that would put many of us who make regular promises to ourselves to start such an early morning fitness regime (but have yet failed to do so) to shame.

6.35am: We are greeted at the venue by our New Zealand publicists Megan and Sandra. Their PR expertise has secured an active Press schedule over the coming weeks to promote the Farewell Tour across New Zealand, with this morning’s live TV being the pinnacle.  They introduce us to the TVNZ Breakfast crew and their weather presenter Tamati Coffey, who will be presenting live segments from the Riverdance set, throughout the morning.

First up in the pilot seat are John Lonergan and Niamh O’Connor for an interview on camera with Tamati. Niamh has been with Riverdance since it was first performed in 1994 as the interval act on the Eurovision song contest. As the longest standing cast member and dance captain with the Moy Company, Niamh is a favourite with the media. World Champion John Lonergan has also attracted a lot of attention from the press throughout the tour. It is an exciting time for John, as the newest dancer to join the Riverdance cast.

7.05am: Despite the early wake-up call Liam Ayres, James Keating and Chris Naish take on Kelly Isaac and Michael Woods in an energetic dance-off as they perform Trading Taps for the camera.

NZ TV Tamati Coffey with Trading Taps guys, Niamh and John

7.35am: Niamh O’Connor takes Tamati for an Irish Dance Master class on stage.  As his efforts are broadcast live across the country, the rest of the troupe start arriving at the venue. Given our line of work, we usually performing at night, so many have not seen this side of midday in a long time. The snail pace of their actions reflects this but a buffet breakfast being served in the green room, brings them slowly but surely back to life.

View Clip:  Tamati dancing with the Riverdance Troupe on TV NZ Breakfast News

8.05am: Tamati prepares to step into the Riverdance line. Wardrobe has dug out a costume for him and company manager Laurie Small gives him a helping hand side stage to look the part.  Lights, camera, action – the music roles and he is joined by the full company on stage to show the nation what he has learned. He slots perfectly into place centre stage and there are howls of laughter around the venue, all in good spirit for his entertaining efforts after the camera man shouts cut.

8.35am: The full cast are called to the stage. The ever professional Maria Buffini and Padraic Moyles warm up in the wings to shake off any early morning tiredness. Tamati presents his last weather segment for the morning and signs off to the nation as the troupe join Maria and Padraic for a live TV performance of Riverdance.

8.45am: It’s a wrap for the TVNZ Breakfast piece and after a few photographs with the presenter and breakfast crew on stage it’s back to bed for most.

TVNZ Good Morning

With the majority of the cast back at their apartments tucked up in bed, some fortunate others are shuttled to the nearby TVNZ studios.

We are due to perform two numbers on the GOOD MORNING show which is aired live across New Zealand. It is a great opportunity for the show to promote the upcoming farewell performances in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

last minute preparations for the Distant Thunder boys outside the TV studio

10.45am: Following a brief rehearsal during the advertorials, male lead Jason Oremus performs Distant Thunder with some of the boys.  He is then whisked off to another studio where he joins female lead, Siobhan Manson for an interview.

There is a quick costume change and another run through. This time we rehearse Riverdance and given the size of the tiny studio floor and prior concern about the amount of dancers that it would fit, everything has worked as planned.

11.30am: Riverdance goes live on TV for the final time today and by midday we have left the studio and a busy yet successful morning of press behind us. ….

View Clip:  Distant Thunder and Riverdance performed live in TVNZ Good Morning studios plus a chat with principal dancers Síobhan Mason and Jason Oremus

Performing Riverdance live on TVNZ Good Morning Show

Read this on the Riverdance website: Early Morning Press Call, Auckland, New Zealand