The Irish dance up a storm
The Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe is probably most readily recognised by its perfectly synchronised foot-stomping steps, or as the troupe calls it, "hard-shoe routines".
But, as this Riverdance production artfully shows, there is much more to these artists than just their impressively percussive feet.
Riverdance, not unlike Richard Loring's African Footprint, unfolds as a series of short scenes featuring dance, music and song, telling the story of a people who originate from a "primitive and powerful world", who have an intimate relationship with nature no longer typical of our modern technological times, and are forced by "war, famine and slavery" to journey away from home.
At some point, adversity is overcome, and the travelling "emigrant feels the tug of the home place". And, having travelled the world, experienced a plethora of different cultures, the returning people come to realise, in the show's finale, we are more similar than we are different: "We are one people now, our voices blended, our music a great world in which we can feel everywhere at home."
Although there's evidently a clear story governing the drama of the entire show, it is also possible to thoroughly enjoy Riverdance without paying attention to the story at all, as I did.
The Irish dance up a storm - Times LIVE
But, as this Riverdance production artfully shows, there is much more to these artists than just their impressively percussive feet.
Riverdance, not unlike Richard Loring's African Footprint, unfolds as a series of short scenes featuring dance, music and song, telling the story of a people who originate from a "primitive and powerful world", who have an intimate relationship with nature no longer typical of our modern technological times, and are forced by "war, famine and slavery" to journey away from home.
At some point, adversity is overcome, and the travelling "emigrant feels the tug of the home place". And, having travelled the world, experienced a plethora of different cultures, the returning people come to realise, in the show's finale, we are more similar than we are different: "We are one people now, our voices blended, our music a great world in which we can feel everywhere at home."
Although there's evidently a clear story governing the drama of the entire show, it is also possible to thoroughly enjoy Riverdance without paying attention to the story at all, as I did.
The Irish dance up a storm - Times LIVE
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