When the first incarnation of the Irish dance show aired as part of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, its fleet-footed cast merely filled time between singers. That seven-minute performance caught viewers’ imaginations, though, inspiring the husband-and-wife production team of John McColgan and Moya Doherty to expand it into a stage show that opened in Dublin in early 1995. Since then, “Riverdance” has been seen by more than 25 million people in 11,000 performances, grossing over $1 billion. Not bad for an art form tracing its origins to pre-Christian times that used to be confined to Ireland and places with large Irish populations. Dancer Lauren Smyth remembers seeing the original “Riverdance” broadcast when she was 8 years old and growing up in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. “I made the decision there and then that that’s definitely what I wanted to do when I got older,” she said in a recent interview from Chicago. “I wanted to make my career something that I’m passionate about and travel the world with it.” Of course, by that point Smyth was already on the path to her dancing destiny: “I came from a very musical background. My aunties had been singers and my gran played Irish music, and my mum was a dancer when she was younger. It was only natural that she’d send me to Irish dance lessons in our town when I was 4 years old, but obviously I didn’t know what it was going to lead to 20 years down the line!” After performing the lead role in a similar show, “Rhythm of the Dance,” for three years (and a brief stint in “Celtic Legends”), Smyth fulfilled her dream of joining the cast of “Riverdance” in 2010. She and her 24 castmates will stop next next month at the Forum in Binghamton for three shows as part of “Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour.” During her six years in with “Riverdance,” Smyth has traveled all over the world, from Hawaii and Israel to South Africa and New Zealand. She’s seen audiences of all ages and backgrounds connect to the spectacle of the show, which also includes singers, Russian dancers, tap-dancers and a flamenco number. A score composed by Limerick native Bill Whelan underpins the entire production. “The music is just unbelievable — it’s still so magical and still give you goosebumps even though you’ve heard it every day,” Smyth said. “I love performing ‘Reel Around the Sun,’ which is the first number in the show, and ‘Countess Cathleen.’ It’s a testament to how timeless the music really is. It’s a one-of-a-kind kind of thing, isn’t it?”  Even if people have seen “Riverdance” before, this 20th anniversary tour features new costumes, new lighting, new projections and one new number that puts the ladies in the spotlight. “We have a new girls’ number in the show. It’s called ‘Anna Livia,’ and it’s about the personification of the River Liffy that flows through Dublin,” Smyth said. “It’s an a cappella number and a real chance for the girls to show their strengths. That’s in the second half of the show, and it’s been going down great with audiences here in America.” Although she has been a dancer almost since she could walk, one thing that Smyth had to adjust to when joining “Riverdance” was the increased athleticism required to perform many of the numbers. “I’d toured with smaller shows before, and that built up my experience and confidence, but when I joined ‘Riverdance’ I definitely noticed a peak in the intensity of the dances. That took a few months to adjust to,” she said. CONCERTWATCH: David Lindley moves from sideman to center stage “Irish dancing is becoming a lot more athletic, so even over the past six years, I’ve seen a real increase in the standard of the show. People are doing so much more behind the scenes now, going to the gym or working out backstage before and after the show. People like to do yoga and Pilates as well, and eating right. It’s been crazy watching that change happen.” She credits the support of her castmates for encouraging her to do her best both on and off the stage. “The friends you make is one of the best parts of touring for me. You’re making friends for life,” she said. “We’re not just working together — we’re traveling together, we’re eating together, we’re going to different events and different nights out together. It’s really a family on tour, and we’re here to support each other and bring out the best in each other.” There are currently two “Riverdance” troupes, with the other traveling around Great Britain and Europe. This U.S. cast is in the middle of a nine-month tour (with three weeks off around Christmas) that will be entertaining audiences until July. Smyth, for one, doesn’t mind her life on the road: “When you’re at home, you kind of don’t know what to do with yourself. It can be hard.” Follow Chris Kocher on Twitter: @RealChrisKocher If you go •What: “Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour” •When: 7:30 p.m. May 3-5 •Where: The Forum, 236 Washington St., Binghamton •Tickets: $40, $55 and $65; available at the Arena box office, ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. •More information:broadwayinbinghamton.com; riverdance.com; broomearenaforum.com Chatty Kathy: Comedian ready to spill secrets in Elmira Exhibit shows the West through Ansel Adams’ eyes By the numbers Since “Riverdance” began performances in Dublin in 1995, the show has: • Played 11,000 performances. • Been seen by over 25 million people in over 467 venues worldwide, throughout 46 countries across 6 continents. |
