On Thursday, 28 September 2011, Riverdance leads Padraic Moyles and Maria Buffini as well as dance captain, Niamh O’Connor assisted by Fiona McCabe conducted an onstage dance workshop with 18 Pretoria University of Technology Musical Theatre students at the Teatro at Montecasino.
Reviewing Riverdance is like going to a beloved restaurant, gobbling down your favourite dish of the past seven years and being asked to write a review.
by Leon van Nierop, Artslink.co.za – Artslink
September 25th, 9:00 am, a bus pulls up outside the South Sun Montecasino Hotel. Twenty dancers and crew emerge into the early, South African morning sun and make their way into the hotel.
Hello Johannesburg, Riverdance has returned!
Riverdance, the thunderous celebration of Irish music, song, and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe, and described by the Washington Post as “A Phenomenon of Historic Proportions” returns to tour North America in the Fall of 2011.
The greatest celebration of Irish music, song and dance touring Australia and New Zealand for the last time.
For the first time in nine years the pounding feet and swirling music of Riverdance, which has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe will tour to Newcastle, Hobart and Adelaide, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from May 2012.
Riverdance enjoyed sell-out success during its first tour to South Africa earlier this year resulting in a two-week return season at The Teatro at Montecasino opening on Tuesday, 27 September. As a consequence of exceptional demand the show’s return season has just been extended by a week of eight performances, making its Johannesburg season a full three week run, ending on Sunday, 16 October 2011.
At the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, the thick velvet curtain is still drawn and the sold-out crowd silent in anticipation. A haunting Irish flute rings out through the old wooden hall and those famous dancers burst onto the stage, arms by their sides, nimble legs kicking in unison, feet deftly navigating the old boards. The dance is mesmerising, and when it’s done the audience can’t stop clapping.
There’s no better way to celebrate the beginning of spring than in the company of Riverdance, the original large scale Irish dance show that brings foot flashing energy, sensuality and a spectacle of colour to the Teatro for a remarkable second season this year.
The enormous popularity and unprecedented response by the South African public to Riverdance led to a complete sell-out of the show’s January 2011 season.
The newest members of the Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe had a chance to check out the New Riverdance Mobile App at dress rehearsals in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin last week.
Just launched, Riverdance HD for ipad is available for free download on itunes. The App is also available on itunes for iphone and on the Android marketplace for all other smart phones.