It started as seven-minute dance segments on the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest television show and quickly exploded into an international phenomenon. Fourteen years later, Riverdance has had over 9,000 performances in front of more than 19,350,000 people in over 276 venues throughout 32 countries across four continents, in addition to a Grammy Award-winning CD and best selling DVD. With all this under its belt, Riverdance is wrapping up with an international tour that includes runs in Calgary from February 12th to 17th and Edmonton February 19th to 24th at each city’s Jubilee Auditorium.
Statistically the show is massive. Riverdance features 41 dancers – 32 in the Irish Dance Troupe itself as well as 2 African-American Tappers, 1 Spanish Flamenco Dancer and 6 Russian Folk Dancers ranging in age between 19 and 31. They are backed up by six musicians including a drummer that plays 25 different percussion instruments during the show.
The dancers, each perform 10,000 steps per show in 162 pairs of shoes. Each dancer goes through 10 pairs of dance shoes per year and the show has 478 costumes. All of that dancing is hard work, as evident by the 48 hours per week spent by masseuses on the cast. 25 gallons of Gatorade and 125 litres of water are consumed per week, as well as 40 pounds of chocolate – when you dance like this, the calories stay off!
Stepping away from the interesting stats behind this show, Riverdance has succeeded for 14 years because of the spectacle on stage. The Boyne troupe is touring in North America, lead by Dance Captain Marty Dowds, Craig Ashurst, Liam Ayres, Maria Buffini and Alana Mallon. The concept of Riverdance is simply a lot of Irish Music and Dancing in a Celtic rock-like setting. There isn’t really much more to describe it, but the description does not do the show justice.
This is the last time that Riverdance will ever be performed in Alberta. Whether you saw it when it played in Alberta in 1998/99, own the DVD, or are experiencing it for the first time, it is a magical journey through Ireland’s music and history that will take your breath away. Act fast as tickets are flying!
Riverdance
Calgary: February 12 – 17, 2008
Edmonton: February 19 – 24, 2008.
Tickets at Ticketmaster.
www.riverdance.com
