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| For this month only, because Robert Lewis has taken on the job of Webmaster, and the monumental task of re-designing ACCESS to the MUSIC ZONE, as well as covering this month's Feature Artist, the World Beat Column consists of three Live Shows Reviewed by G. Horstman. |
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| Label: | Polygram Video Soundtrack - Phillips CD and Cassette |
| Available: | Any Major Music or Video Store |
| Rating: |  |
Las Vegas, NV |
| Unless you've been living under a rock somewhere, by now you've probably heard of, and seen, the Irish Dance Spectacular "Michael Flatley LORD Of The DANCE - at least on TV or Video. However, nothing compares to seeing this show live. If you thought it gave you chills watching from your living room, to be in the audience is an experience you won't soon forget! As this show continues it's U.S. tour, hopefully the show closest to you is not sold out. The two shows in Vegas sold out so fast, a third matinee show was added at the last minute, and that's how this reporter was able to bring you the real scoop on this feast for the eyes and ears. |
| Michael Flatley's history has been touted far and wide, but in case you haven't heard the story, just a few facts. Flatley, from Chicago, is Irish-American, started to learn Irish Dance at the age of 11 (far too late by world standards), and was the first American to win the All-World Championships in Dancing at the age of 16. He is the youngest person to ever win a National Heritage Fellowship, received recognition from the American National Endowment for the Arts as his countrty's greatest performer, a Master of Dance Award for his contribution to his art, and declared by the National Geographic Society as a Living Treasure. He also holds the world record for Tapping Speed in the Guiness Book of World Records. And that doesn't even count the fact that he created, choreographed and produced "LORD Of The DANCE!" |
| Based on Celtic Legend, "When time stood still and Erin was Goddess of all . . The stories had all been written, and everyone knew their parts. But the ancient clans heard rumblings and the Spirit's dream was troubled. A new dark power had emerged to challenge The Lord of the Dance. The Spirit travels through time and space to help the Lord of the Dance protect his mythical people. |  |
| The performance begins with "Cry Of The Celts" as the Spirit awakens six sleeping dancers with her small flute theme and fairy dust. The girls do a short jig in the traditional soft toe shoes, and as they leave the stage The Lord of the Dance bursts onto the scene for a short solo performance. The rest of the Clan (Dance Troup) joins him on stage for a vigorous tap number that ends with the memorable line across the stage using their trademark raising and lowering of crossed arms and stomping that moves up and down the line. |
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Erin The Goddess enters to sing of Irish Legend in a voice as sweet as honey. She appears at various times during the show to continue the stories in a beautiful emerald green gown and cloak, which changes slightly with each retun. |
| Erin-Anne Buckley |
| During "Celtic Dream," a soft flowing number with flowing chiffon costumes to match, we meet Saoirse, The Irish Colleen. This dance is again in the traditional soft shoes, and many intricate patterns are formed by The Girls before Saoirse appears for a brief solo. |  |
Bernadette Flynn |
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As the Colleens leave the stage, the audience is assaulted with flashing blue light and dark music as the Dark Lord and his Warriors take the stage. Using the hard tap shoes to accentuate their entrance, they move through a number of militaristic formations as they take over the Celtic idyll. |
| Dark Lord-Daire Nolan |
| After exhibiting their power, the Warriors leave the stage and Morrighan, the Gypsy seductress appears. Her solo number, accompnied by Celtic crossed with Hungarian sounding music, accentuates her part as a future seducer of the Lord of the Dance, and an influence on the Warriors' ladies. |  |
Gillian Norris |
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"Strings of Fire" is the next treat for the audience. Maired Nesbitt and Cora Smyth move to the front of the stage playing electric fiddles, harmonizing and working between each other, to light a fire with their music. Unbelievably fast fingers fly over the strings as they launch into a sprightly interlude that's combination Hoedown and Celtic strains. |
Cora Smyth |
| During "Breakout," the females of the Clan are again together in brightly colored, soft dresses, to dance in hard taps this time, in a variety of intricate movements. Morrighan appears on the scene to challenge Saoirse at which point the Clan girls banish her by stripping of the dresses and proceeding with a seductive, but lively, dance of their own, dressed in black halter tops and shorts. Saoirse attracts the attention of the Lord of the Dance as she slowly moves to the side of the stage. |
| As the Clan girls move to the sides of the stage, the Lord of the Dance and his Warlords take over (after the Lord plants a kiss on Saoirse) and also do a very precise and less militaristic number. The Lord does solo bits, then directs his troup to do their thing, as he continues to flirt with Saoirse, then joins his Warlords again. This number is all done without any musical accompaniment, and is really amazing to watch. Of course the Warlords are showing off in front of the ladies of the Clan! |
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The dancers disappear, and Erin returns to sing more legends. Once she has finished, the Spirit returns to play the flute theme, then fades away as the two female leads return for a soft shoe jig, soon followed by four males in the hard taps. A dance made up of interesting combinations with several lifts follows, and then The Lord of the Dance appears to do an amazing solo number with those "fastest tapping in the world" feet. The rest of the Clan joins him to finish the number in the full line across the front of the stage for the finale to the first act. |
| Opening the second act, the Spirit has wandered into the territory of
the Dark Lord. With eerie lighting and a dark tone to the music, two of
the Warriors steal her flute as she helplessly trys to jump and get it back
from them. They toss it back and forth with the Spirit between them until
one of them breaks it and throws it on the ground. She bends to pick it
up and is surrounded by Warriors who won't let her break out of the ring
they've formed around her. The Lord of the Dance arrives to help her get
away. The Dark Lord and his Warriors line up on one side of the stage, as
The Lord of the Dance and The Warlords take the other and move into the
"Hell's Kitchen" number. A mock fight takes place in the form
of dance challenges until the spirit pushes the warring factions apart.
When only The Lord of the Dance remains, she hands him her broken flute.
He examines it carefully, puts his hands behind his back, and brings out
her flute, whole once again, and gives it to her. During "Fiery Nights," Morrighan the Gypsy returns for another sensuous solo, and is soon joined by couples from the Warriors camp. She influences the Warriors ladies in her manner of dance, then slips away as the ladies use their wiles on the Warriors. This is followed by "The Lament," another electric fiddle duo, but this time with a slow, sad, yet hauntingly beautiful number - a precursor of things to come. But first is "Stamsa" with it's country fair atmosphere, brightly colored clothes on both men and woman (and each couple matches in color), with bright, happy Celtic music and intricate dance moves woven into the reel. Erin returns once again to sing "She Moves Through The Fair." "Stolen Kisses" follows with Saoirse together with The Lord of the Dance in a loving performance for each other, until Morrighan arrives to steal him away with her seductive moves. Undaunted, Saoirse lures him back to her and the dance and song end with them together once again. |
| Suddenly, The Warriors appear and capture The Lord of the Dance. They drag him to The Dark Lord as they again perform their militaristic maneuvers to the music of a twisted version of the Spirit's theme on what sounds like an oboe. The Warriors steal the Belt that signifies The Lord of the Dance, as The Dark Lord looks on from the top of the stairs. He slowly descends and stands over The Lord, then has him forced to the top of the stairs where he makes him disappear as his Warriors put the Belt on him. |  |
| The Spirit appears and spreads her fairy dust, and the Lord of the Dance
reappears in front of the Dark Lord. He challenges him to see who IS the
real Lord of the Dance and deserves to wear the belt. They proceed to dance
back and forth, copying each others moves. Finally the Lord of the Dance
begins his fast tap in a circle and the Dark Lord can't copy him. He runs
from the stage and Saoirse and the Spirit come to congratulate the Lord
and return the Belt. Soon hooded figures carrying candles arrive on stage
to perform an intricate victory march and the entire cast moves into "Planet
Ireland," the Finale. In gorgeous silver and black costumes, they perform a more modern dance with the hard tap shoes made famous by "Riverdance" in an unbelievably precise and difficult number. The violinists are at the far sides of the stage, play joyous Celtic music with the band, and the number ends on a high note with hands in the air. Of course there had to be an encore. Three to be exact - probably because they had another performance in just a few hours. Moving into the line dance performed in the First Act, the troup again does the crossed arm raised and stamping feet in a precise rhythm directed by Flatley, who himself is striding across the front of the stage with his legs high in the air. The end to this short burst of dance has everyone with one leg in the air, and with a signal from Flatley, every foot hits the floor at once. The precision throughout this show is so awesome it's hard to describe. This group must spend hours practicing to have 38 people stop on a dime, bow together, etc. After the third encore, a blast of indoor pyrotechnics shoots up from the front of the stage and when they die down the stage is empty. This is the most spectacular, wonderful performance of this type that I have ever seen. For the music (which I probably should have commented on more, because it was great!), and the dance, and the sheer energy and professionalism exhibited by this dance troup, you won't see anything better - not even "Riverdance." The tickets are expensive, but you sure get your bang for your buck. Then you can always buy the video, and go home and re-live the occasion over and over again. One note here, there was a special number in the middle of the show that's not in the program or the video. Michael Flatley is also an Orchestra trained flautist, and he joined the violinists and the drummers from the band for an impromptu musical number about half way through the First Act. This was also superb, and it's a shame it was left out of the video, but I believe this was added later when the tour in the States began. The video was filmed over a year ago in Ireland. This collaboration between a guy from Chicago and dancers and musicians from Ireland, will literally take your breath away! |
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