For those who were stuck in a limbo between Parade Day and St. Patrick’s Day, the Anderson Center for Performing Arts provided ticket holders with a lively and entertaining expose of Irish culture.
“Rhythm of the Night, The Irish Dance Spectacular,” brought audiences to their feet on Thursday with the fancy footwork of traditional Irish step dancing. For those who are familiar with Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance,” this was incredibly similar; understandable, as members of its creative team have also worked on “Lord of the Dance.”
The show opened on somewhat of a dark tone, with an army of stepping soldiers marching out. For those unaccustomed to this type of show, this presentation of Irish dancing might not be what was expected, but it was entertaining all the same. There was a plot that carried the show throughout, but even if you couldn’t follow along, the themes of good and evil were prominent, exposed through costume and music. In a “Star Wars” type fashion, the bad characters were veiled with masks and introduced with intense music; you knew who the good guys were by an immediate change in the tone of the show.
The plot follows the trials of a kingdom that has been overtaken by an evil sorceress, Azura, who has captured the hero of the kingdom, Balor. From then on, it is a battle between good and evil, with themes of seduction and heroism carrying through as Balor’s lover, Aisling, and his brother Solas, attempt to save the kingdom. And while the plot was entertaining, the true captivating moments were located in the dance. If you weren’t completely awestruck by the fancy footwork, you weren’t paying attention. With taps, leaps and intricate formations, the 21 members of the dance troupe brought their heart to the stage, and in some cases even off. At a point the show became somewhat interactive, with Balor going into the audience. One audience member was particularly impressed by his performance, especially due to his muscular figure.
”The show was absolutely amazing, the dancers were superb and the whole cast — well, the lead in the show was a surprise,” said Nonie Saroka, of Greene, NY. “He was so big and yet he could move so quickly and so gracefully.”
The dance show is a traveling performance and was put together in a short time. According to Annie Profeta, who played the lead Aisling, they learned the steps on their own at home, and then collaborated over the course of one week of practices. The touring company features dancers from all over the world, from Milwaukee to New Zealand. This show is their fourth, and they will soon perform along the East Coast. The dancers perform for three weeks with only a few days off, but this being said, their work is their passion.
“I love performing,” Profeta said. “All the hard work you put in — it’s just so gratifying once you get on stage and everyone enjoys the show.”