Merle Frimark Associates Members of the Riverdance Irish
Dance Troupe perform "Thunderstorm" in a scene from "Riverdance –
The Show." Performances will run through Feb. 4 at the Shubert
Theatre.
By Barbara McGuire
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
“Riverdance — The Show” has nothing to do with a
river.
Rather, the world-renowned performance exposes the history and
on-going tradition of Irish music, song, and of course, dance.
Opening last night, “Riverdance” will be on stage at
the Shubert Theatre through Feb. 4.
“There is a story line, but it wouldn’t be essential
to the “˜Riverdance’ experience,” said lead male
dancer Michael Patrick Gallagher in a recent phone interview from
Arizona, where the company was performing prior to its arrival in
Los Angeles.
“The first act basically gives you an idea of things that
are Irish, and different myths and legends in Ireland,” he
continued. “The second act deals with immigration, when the
Irish people had to leave Ireland in search of employment in
America, and how they came across these other new cultures as they
left their countries as well.”
The story line, however, isn’t what has taken
“Riverdance” to 10 million people around the world
since it’s first performance in Dublin in 1995. It’s
the show’s energetic style, without actors performing
specific theatrical roles, that makes it so unique. There are no
assigned characters, and the story is told through various scenes
of Irish dance and song.
Gallagher, an Ireland native, has been involved with
“Riverdance” for four and a half years, yet has a much
longer history with Irish dance itself. He began taking lessons at
the age of six, something not uncommon in Ireland.
 Merle Frimark Associates Tara Barry (center) performs
with other members of the Irish Dance Troupe" at the Shubert
Theatre in Century City.
“Irish dance is something that everybody does in Ireland
at some stage, it’s just a question of whether they stick at
it or not,” said Gallagher, who won the World Title in Irish
dance at age 11. “I enjoyed the chance that I got to travel
to different countries when I was younger, I really enjoyed
competing.”
And competing was just about as far as anyone in Ireland got
with the traditional dance before “Riverdance” was
popularized, Gallagher said. Not only has the show increased
awareness of Irish culture around the world, it has also helped
people back home in Ireland to appreciate their culture.
“I know back at home, at least, the number of children
attending Irish dance school has doubled because they now realize
there’s something at the end of the road, after the years of
practicing and hard work,” Gallagher said. “They can
make a living from it, which was never possible before
“˜Riverdance’ came about.”
Lead male singer and Ireland native, Aidan Conway, has been with
the show for over a year, and also has a long history with the
Irish traditions displayed in “Riverdance.”
 Illustration by JASON CHEN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
“I actually come from a traditional Irish
background,” Conway said. “My family played Irish music
and I can remember them playing music from when I was very
small.”
“So, it’s very much a big part of me, it makes me
very proud to be able to tour with this company and be able to
bring it to America and the American people,” he said.
“There is a huge percentage of Irish people and Irish descent
in America, so I think they really appreciate this folk and the
tradition and music.”
Not only is “Riverdance” changing the way Irish
dance and music is viewed, but the show is also actually changing
the traditions as well. Though according to Conway most of the
songs are traditional ballads, sometimes even sung in Gaelic Irish,
with topics ranging from love to Irish myths; a new song has also
been added to the show titled, “Rira.” It is one of the
few numbers in which dancing and singing have been mixed
together.
The impact of “Riverdance” on Irish dance cannot yet
be guessed, as the show still continues to affect different aspects
of the artform, including the traditional movements and
costume.
“We now use arm movements to a certain extent,”
Gallagher said. “That never happened before. In competition
you are always judged on tucking your arms by your side, there
could never be a gap between your waist and your arms.”
“Also, before in competition, the males had to wear a kilt
and a jacket, that was the traditional costume, and then when
“˜Riverdance’ came about, everyone (in the show) was
wearing trousers and shirts,” he said. “It was always
an area that people got teased about, that they were wearing
skirts, so actually, now, if you looked at competition, most of the
lads will be wearing trousers and shirts, and that came directly
from “˜Riverdance.'”
Having been around for six years, it’s no surprise that
“Riverdance” has made waves in the Irish dance, music
and song traditions, and, according to Conway, it will no doubt
continue to alter these customs.
“(Riverdance) is very important in the history of music
and dance because it is the most popular show to come out of
Ireland, obviously,” Conway said. “It’s
revolutionized Irish dance and to a certain extent Irish music as
well.”
“It’s integrated Spanish music, Irish music and
Russian folk music,” he continued. “When Bill Whelan
wrote the show, he wrote it to integrate all this music together,
so it’s quite important in that respect.”
MUSICAL: “Riverdance ““ The
Show” is now showing at the Shubert Theatre, 2020 Avenue of
the Stars in Century City, through Feb. 4. Performances are Tuesday
through Saturday at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and
Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $70 to $40 and can be
purchased by calling (800) 447-7400 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.