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

Youngstown, OH:
Another 365 miles clocked up! Our 4pm arrival meant our day off was cut short however that didn’t stop some of us from wetting our apetite at Olive Garden. Pasta all around!

Louisville, KY:
Cheered on the LA Lakers versus Oklahoma City Thunders in the local Irish bar! We had the privilege of staying in the Gail Hotel, the city’s only hotel located on the Ohio River. The original house was erected in 1837 in which many noted people stayed. These include Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S and Charles Dickens. Obviously, they can now add Riverdance to the Hall of Fame!

Bloomington, IN:
Nestled in the centre of Indiana University, the elegant and stately Indiana Memorial Union is where we located ourselves for a quick one night stopover. It was established in 1909 and is the second largest student union building in the America. It is located next the Dunn Cemetery and west of Beck Chapel. This is my second visit to Bloomington and it has always been one of my favorite locations. It is just steps away form the Sample Gates and the famed Kirkwood Avenue. We were received as warmly as ever at the Indiana University Theatre.

St. Louis, MO:
Another warm welcome from the staff of the Fox Theatre on North Grand Boulevard. We always enjoy performing at Fox Theaters as we have the pleasure of joining many legends in music and theatre who have also performed at the Fox Theatres. Such artists include; Stevie Ray Vaughan, Micheal Jackson, Duran Duran, Neil Young and Duran Duran. What an honor!

Contents of 'The Shrine'

Well what a surprise was in store for us when we got backstage. There sitting proudly in the back corner stage right was what many past Riverdancers know as ‘The Shrine’. This began with the American ‘Lagan’ Company in 1998 by crew fly man ‘Bones’. Bones is now a local crew guy at the St. Louis Fox. This shrine was a small. old suitcase which over time gathered many bots of memorabilia by the cast and crew of Riverdance. This included small gifts given to them or souvenirs from night’s out or places they visited. The shrine contains an old christmas card from directors John McColgan and Moya Doherty, a signed card by Robert Ballagh (set designer), photographs, flags, postcards, painkillers, tin whistles, drumsticks and old Irish currency! Eventually over time these mementos and keepsakes gathered to what makes up the shrine we have with us today. A new generation of Riverdance have adopted the shrine and we are happy to report we have it with us. We thank Bones for looking after the shrine with such close fondness. We assure him and all past Riverdancers that the shrine will go to a safe home.

ST.LOUIS IRISH ARTS STUDENTS

We were without our dance captain for duration of the weekend however we welcomed a blast from the past Mrs. Mary-Jo Clarke-Cange! Mary-Jo stepped in to fill Maeve’s shoes. She remained with us for all five shows. We had quite the enthusiastic audiences on both matinees as both CAID ( Clarke Academy of Irish Dance) and over 200 students from St. Louis Irish Arts came to cheer us on! Perhaps someday they too can inspire young and upcoming Irish dancers to make it to the big stage in the future.

Bowling Green, KY:

I had the pleasure of taking some time out of my Tuesday afternoon to visit the Kentucky’s only underground boat tour at Lost River Cave. Lost River Cave is on the National Register of Historic Places; a historic and prehistoric archaeological site. It dates back to 8000 B.C I forfeited my one and only ‘lie in’ to visit the river that ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not’ claims the be the deepest and shortest in the entire planet! We boarded the small, narrow flume-like canoe and calmly navigated down one of the six mile long river. It maintains a year round temperature of 57°F (13°C) inside the cave. Amongst the stalactites (stalagmites aren’t supported in this environment due to frequent flooding) our tour guide informed us it was used as a hideout for Jesse James and his infamous gang after the Southern Deposit Bank of Russelville in 1868! The cave is surrounded by over two miles of trails, three blue holes, a spring and a butterfly habitat. That was, needless to say, an afternoon well spent!

STYLE FILE:

Fiona's Style File

Fiona wears : Maxi, backless dress, 100% silk. I bought this in an indepenent boutique called ‘Om Diva’. The store was located in the George’s St. Arcade in Dublin’s City Centre several years ago. It’s perfect for sunny days. It’s so lightweight and folds up small in my suitcase.

The sunglasses are Betsey Johnson ( a gift to myself in Hawaii!) I had this picture taken outside a coffee shop in the trendy, affluent neighborhood of Central West End.

Read this on the Riverdance website: The final four weeks and the Riverdance Shrine

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