Last night my SO and I had the pleasure of attending a performance of "Riverdance".
"Riverdance" is in its final tour and our immediate geographic area was fortunate enough to have booked a three-night run. Not being familiar with the 'story line', we went expecting just a lot of Irish dancing.
Except, our expectations were way low and were infinitely exceeded.
I was blown away by the skills demonstrated by the small-but-mighty band, which consisted of five musicians: Keyboard/synthesizer, percussion, violin, soprano sax, and another man who played various Irish/ethnic instruments, the names of which I cannot fathom. These musicians played for well over two hours with nary a note of music before them. And this was not a performance of jazz improvisation where each performance will be slightly different. These dudes were accompanying dancers whose routines depend on accuracy and repetition - where each beat must be accounted for or dance routines will flounder and disaster will strike.
The fascinating percussionist was like most of the really good percussionists I have taught: Hyperactive and bordering on lunacy. He had a myriad of instruments to play and he moved through his 'area' as if he was powered by nitroglycerin. He bounced, he leaped, he jumped........he was a bundle of energy from beginning to end. He had the percussionist's ultimate dream - to have two dozen or more percussion instruments before him - and try to play them all within a three-minute window.
The dancers all appeared relatively young and their winnowy bodies moved with grace, agility, precision, incredible strength, and eye-popping speed. At times, just keeping track of their feet movements was all my human eye could manage.
The footwork was amazing, to say the least.
My SO and I did not realize that singers would also be present in the show, so we were thrilled to hear the superb vocals that were part of the story line. Each vocalist was spot-on but a stand-out was an African-American baritone. His part did not come until about the last third of the show and what a show-stopper he was. He was imposing in stature and vocal prowess. He could have sung for hours and I would never have tired of listening or watching.
A first-class evening from beginning to end, made possible by a wonderful lady named Diane. Thank you, Diane!
Ancora imparo
