The spirit of the fighting Irish took over the Luhrs Performing Arts Center Wednesday when former World Irish dance champions performed “A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music and Dance Sensation.”
The show began with a mix of instrumental Irish songs performed with violin and guitar, and it was then followed by dancers from “Lord of the Dance,” and “Riverdance.” Throughout the evening, the performance highlighted numerous references to Irish history through the years, as well as elements of Irish culture.
The various dance styles were the best part of the night. The dancers included elements of contemporary dance as well as traditional Irish step dancing. The show started with references to early Irish history, specifically a battle with the Vikings in 1014. Later, there were themes from the Irish rebellion and the Great Potato Famine.
The musical choices of the night were a mix of live instrumental and revamped classic Irish tunes such as “Danny Boy,” “Tell Me Ma,” “Wild Rover” and other well-known songs.
Following a 20-minute intermission, the group performed their final songs and finished with a series of ‘tap-battle’ performances, where group members displayed just how fast and flawlessly they could perform various dances. This part of the show impressed the crowd, who stood and applauded the performers.
This performance was part of a limited run of shows in the USA this fall. After the fall run, the show is expected to takeoff for its world tour around the globe.
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