Some people may jokingly say Riverdance is just a batch of lads and lasses looking like they have ants in their pants. But, such lips should be zipped, considering it takes a lot of heart, soul and skill for individuals to be able to master the obviously complex forms of dance, showcased in The Broadway smash, Riverdance.
Yes, the extensive success of the production, whose tour of the planet earth has taken the same amount of miles as it does to travel to the moon and back, have some Irish Dancers of their Troupe who had sprung into training at the age of 4. The specified youngsters were given unique tap shoes, in that they were very heavy. Therefore, dancing in these hefty “claude hoppers” required the children’s ankles to be exceptionally agile and legs outstandingly strong.
With that said, can you imagine competing with those highly talented legs and “footsies” in a game of Double Dutch Jump Rope? Or, having one of the Irish lasses, wearing her loaded tap shoes, kick you in the gonads?
Moving right along, weighty tap shoes are also worn by the Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe to this day on stage. When I saw them, at one of their last shows at the Oriental Theatre, flash fascinatingly fast and fancy footwork, and slam down their feet with extreme might, it was greatly admirable all right!
Also, although the Irish Dance Troupe dances ever-so-vigorously for a breathtaking spell, deep pride and strength are shown in their stance and written all over their face. Further, none of the Riverdance Dance Troupes get their wondrous abundance of energy because they are “Meth or Crack-heads”—the Riverdance performers in general are simply heavy drinkers—of water and Gatorade, that is!
In fact, from the spring of Riverdance in 1995 to the present, riveting Riverdance’s performers (musicians, singers and dancers) reportedly have “chugged” 200,000 gallons of water, 60,000 gallons of Gatorade and have pleasured themselves with 60,000 pounds of chocolate!
Sadly, every dance troupe of Riverdance will be hanging their soaked shoes to dry, as far as the production’s tour in the U.S. is concerned, on the 17th of June this year. Riverdance has definitely made a jumbo splash during its 15 year run, with its’ final blast offs that’ll knock your socks off, in Chicago from the 13th to 18th of this month.
The powerful sights and sounds of Riverdance performers (musicians, singers and dancers) were supremely intense, at times heavenly humorous, and through and through addictive! Astronomically critically acclaimed Riverdance is not only a show of Irish music and dance, either—it unveils styles of additional cultures music and dance, as well. Plus, I think Riverdance’s themes, including Ireland’s History, religion and politics, are such that probably all cultures can relate to. Also, in my humble opinion, experiencing the Journey of Riverdance will have Irish Eyes a Smilin’ and those of others.
Composed by Bill Whelan
Produced by Mora Doherty
Directed by John McColgan
