celtic sign image by Roques Jean Chris from Fotolia.com
"Riverdance" first opened at the Point Theater in Dublin, Ireland in February, 1995. The show is rich in Irish history and has become a saga of its own in the dance and music world.
Irish History
"Riverdance" tells Irish history. The dance tells the story of Ireland from the rise of Celtic culture, progressing through the immigration to America, to the present day, in which Irish-Americans return home to visit their native land.
The Music
Bill Whelan composed the music for "Riverdance" and won the 1997 Grammy award for "Best Musical Show Album." The spectacular fiddle performances are the work of Eileen Ivers, who is hailed by "The New York Times" as "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin."
The Dance
"Riverdance" showcases Irish step dancing. Step dancing traces it roots back to pre-Christian Ireland where it was taught by traveling dance masters.
The Stars
Michael Flatley and Jean Butler were the original solo stars of "Riverdance." Michael Flatley went on to produce and star in "Lord of the Dance," "Feet of Flames" and "Celtic Tiger." Jean Butler produced and starred in "Dancing on Dangerous Ground."
Performance History
"Riverdance" first began as a seven-minute performance. The full-length show opened in Dublin to sell-out performances and premiered in the United States at Radio City Music Hall on March 14, 1996. The show celebrated its 5,000th performance in March, 2002. In 2010, the show is performing its Farewell Tour.
History : Stepping is a form of dance distinct to both participants and audience. Stepping uses the entire body, including feet, legs, arms, hands and voice, to produce sounds and various beat routines. Stepping is generally done in a very serious formation with two or more people in the troop, and dancers generally complete complex complementary rhythms in their routines. Stepping has a long and rich history, and is very popular among cultures that trace their lineage back to Africa throughout the the world.
Early Roots
Khaleelah Jones, September 2008: Welly Gumboot Dance in South Africa
Stepping began by drawing on a combination of military drill exercises, African foot dances that used the entire body as an element of expression and articulation, and popular dance moves and routines from the early 1960s.
Significant Sources of Inspiration
Particular sources of inspiration can be found in the Welly "Gumboot" Dance, a popular dance for South Africans, who perform routines heavy in whole body articulation in Wellington Boots, called "gumboots" in South Africa. R&B dance sensations the Temptations have also been cited as a source for stepping, as their routines in the 1970s were heavily whole-body ordeals, making rhythms with all parts of their bodies on stage.
Moving into Modern Times
In the late '80s and '90s, African American fraternities and sororities starting using stepping as a way to build brother or sisterhood. Stepping is very intensely about listening, teamwork and skill building, and became popular among Greek organizations that stressed these traits in its members (Johnson 2007). Stepping became very popular as these Greek organizations began competing with one another in local and national competitions open to spectators who were amazed by the order and rhythm of step.
Popularizing Step in the Late '90s
Since the beginning of step competitions, step has become more popular. Now, step can be seen not only live but on movies, TV shows and in other popular media. Many movies have been made centered around step, such as "Drumline" (2002) and "Stomp the Yard" (2007), and the television show "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" featured an episode with a step team.
Moving Into the 21st Century
Major television station BET has begun airing step competitions. Step has also become an accepted form of dance, as dancers on "America's Next Dance Crew" and "So You Think You Can Dance" compete using step routines.
The lion dance is an important tradition in Asia, especially in China. Lion dancing experts with the National Freestyle Championship Series say the Chinese people regard the lion as a symbol of bravery and peace, and the loud banging music and firecrackers are meant to scare away evil. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and happiness. The lion dance is performed during festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year, weddings and grand openings of businesses.
History
According to the National Freestyle Championship Series, lions were introduced into China when Persia began trading with China nearly 2,000 years ago. At that time, the ambassador from Persia sent lions and other animals to the emperor of China as a gift. After the introduction, there are several different stories about the origin of the lion dance.
The Goddess
The New World Encyclopedia says the lion dance originated in China sometime during the Tang Dynasty, between 618 to 907. According to the encyclopedia, in this version, there was a lion in heaven that was curious, playful and often caused mischief. According to this story, the Jade Emperor was annoyed, had the lion's head chopped off and threw the remains down to Earth. Fortunately, the goddess of mercy saw what happened. According to the story, she went to Earth and tied the lion's head back onto his body with an enchanted red ribbon---which she said would protect the lion and frighten away evil spirits.
The Emperor's Dream
Another popular story about the history of the lion dance is that it originated from an emperor's dream. The Ling Nam Siu Lum Kung Fu Academy on Long Island says around 700 A.D., the emperor had a dream in which he was saved by a mysterious creature. He was told that the creature resembled a Western lion. After that, the lion became a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
The Monk
The Lieu Quan Lion Dance Team in Washington tells another story about the history of the lion dance. In this one, every day at noon, a lion would come down from the mountains to terrorize the people of a small village. The people of the village called a high-ranked monk to help them. He told them to get pots, pans and kettles to make noise and scare the lion the next time he came down. It worked. Then, as the lion ran away from the noise, the monk followed it back up the mountain to train it. A week later, the monk said he tamed the mountain with his magical fan and that the lion would only come down during the new year, to scare away evil spirits and bring joy, happiness and prosperity.
The Protector
In addition, there are many variations of a story that has the lion as a protector. The New World Encyclopedia says some of the stories tell of cases where the lion saved people from danger. Others tell of people dressing up like a lion to scare away a ferocious creature, or of a lion defeating an enemy king.
Fun Fact
According to the encyclopedia and other sources, people watching traditional Chinese dances sometimes confuse lion and dragon dances. Lion dances are done with two dancers. Dragon dances are performed by three or more people.
Pick up balloons filled with helium, and tie with long ribbon. Let the balloons fly up to the ceiling of the party room, and let the ribbons hang down. Purchase your choice of ballerina theme party decorations such as a ballet slipper piñata. Get small pink gift bags for party favors. Fill the bags with lip-gloss, plastic rings, and pink candy. Create tu tus for the guests. You can find tulle or other martial to make a simple tu tu at any fabric store. Cut a strip of fabric, and glue or sew a ribbon on the top to fasten the tu tu around the waist. On invitations, ask guests to wear a leotard, tights, ballet slippers, or similar comfortable shoes.
At the party:
As the guests arrive, give the children a pink tu tu to go over their leotard. Have an older student or local instructor give a simple lesson. There are also many ballet tapes for children. You can get one, and help guide the children. Have the children take a picture with their instructor. Serve a lunch tea party style. Use small pink plates, napkins, plastic teacups, and pink plastic utensils.
Menu:
Pink punch, sandwiches cut into a ballet slipper shape with a cookie cutter, berry muffins with jam, and fruit salad.
Cake:
Have a bakery create a ballet slipper cake with pink frosting. Serve with strawberry and vanilla ice cream. When the guests leave, tie a balloon to their party favor bags!
Sesame Street Disco Party 4-7 years
Invitation:
create a CD on your computer of some of your child’s favorite songs. Fold paper into the DC case with all the details about the party. Parent can rent Sesame Street costumes and be the main dancers. Cover the walls of the party room in black plastic sheeting (available at any hardware store), and you can even put up strobe lights to get the disco effect. You can paint shapes and designs on the sheeting. Use white paint so it shows up with the strobe lights. When the guests arrive, give the girls feather boas and the boys top hats and gallery bow ties.
Menu:
Finger foods and juice served in plastic test tube glasses (available at any dollar store).
Party favors:
A small gift bag filled with musical instrument erasers, pencils, and a small musical instrument (maracas, drum, or a tambourine, etc.). Put on the CD and have a dance party with both parents and children!
Disco Diva Dance Party 7-9Years
Prep work:
Choose bright theme colors, such as bright pink and orange. Prints such as polka dots and zebra strips are also fun to mix in. Use these colors and patterns to create balloon arrangements, and other decorations such as table coverings and plastic dishes, paper plates, napkins, party favors, etc. Record your child’s favorite songs on a CD for use at the party and even as invitations. Mail out the CDs with an invitation in bubble wrap envelopes. These envelopes can be found in fun colors as well! You can use the CD jewel case to insert the invitation details. Use your color scheme to create a DISCO DANCE DIVAS! sign for your living room, or wherever the party will be held. You can ask the families invited to have their child arrive in their favorite dance clothes, or you can use a dance outfit as a party favor. You can find inexpensive outfits or accessories at the dollar store or a discount store. Another option is to make t-shirts.
Hint:
Post-Halloween sales are a great time to stock up on costumes and party accessories! Find discounted party supplies: Oriental trading www.orientaltrading.com You can use a separate room in the house as a dressing room. After changing into their costumes, it is time for hair and makeup. If you have boys at the party, they can choose to have their hair done or play a game while the girls get done up. Use brightly colored make up and glitter powder.
Project time:
Create something for the costume such as a beaded necklace, bracelet, or vest.
Time to dance:
Divide the children up in groups and send them to different rooms to put together their own dance routine! Have a parent in each room to help out. Send a CD player with each group (guests can bring more are needed) and choose a song from the party CD for each group. Give them 30 minutes to come up with a routine. Then, have everyone come back to the main party room and show off their routines. Videotape and then do group pictures. After the performance, the children can watch the dances on TV while they have a pizza dinner. You can set out a large mat or tablecloths on the floor for dinner.
Party favor ideas:
Use brightly colored gift bags and fill them with dance and party related gifts such as; candy, body glitter, plastic rings, body jewels, lip gloss, etc. Tapes of the performance can be sent out as thank you notes. The memories, video, and CDs can be enjoyed long after the party!
Cheerleading Birthday Party 8-11 Years
Make pennant shaped invitations out of construction paper. Include time, date, and include that dressing up is optional.
At the Party:
Take felt material, and cut it in to a pennant shape. Glue on ribbon and foam sick-ons, which are available in cheerleading shapes. Hire a cheerleader from your local high school to teach a couple of cheers! Set up a concession stand. Use a plastic tablecloth, and write concession stand in permanent marker. Serve pizza and sub sandwiches. Put snacks, like chips, into a megaphone. They can be found at party stores. Choose team colors. You can use your local high school team colors, or choose your own. Get all your decorations in those colors. Make a cake in the shape of a megaphone! The cake can be cut into a shape after they have cooled. Then, after cake, the partygoers can perform their cheers for the adult
You may already have a wealth of wonderful memories when it comes to tap dancing. There’s something about watching the magic that happens when those feet start to tap that literally takes your breath away. From the moment an audience is drawn to the floor where some of the most amazing melodies of the feet are created to the very last tap or stomp of the performance, many times we are riveted to the screen or the individual on the stage.
Tap dance has been an enjoyable pastime for many people for years. Children who admire tap have often creative attempted to emulate tap shoes with their own homemade versions with thumb tacks inserted into the bottom of the toes of their shoes. Although this is not a safe practice for many types of shoes, for thicker soled types, it has given children the opportunity to create their own tap magic on the sidewalks, in the basement and sometimes to the chagrin of their parents, nicely finished wood floors in their homes.
Tap dancing greats like Savion Glover, Gregory Hines, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly have given us performances time after time that we have applauded with standing ovations. In movie theaters we’ve gone back again and again to see their feats and watch in near unbelief as they have defied what seems to be the logic of gravity with their moves.
Do you remember the first time you saw an excellent tap dancing performance? Perhaps you were a child and found yourself riveted to the performance. If so, then you most likely stared with starry eyes and wondered how they made it seem as if they were dancing on air. It was a wonder to behold just to see them dance from one side of the stage to the other and back again without ever missing a beat. And if you were lucky, the audience rose to their feet, clapped and cheered so long that the dancer would return to the stage and perform again. That’s if you were lucky.
Tap dancing today is regarded as one of the most interesting forms of dance in existence. People of all ages and sizes can participate in this form of dance that lets you start with the simplest of moves of the feet. A toe tapping delight for those who like to get into it, tap dancing can take it to the next level with feats that require significant practice to accomplish.
There is no question that there’s something about the professional dancer who comes out in front of a crowd to perform that he or she is enjoying what they do. From the young, talented artists today like singer/performer Mya to the greats of days gone by, the smile on their face and the beat in their feet makes you want to get into the act and enjoy yourself.
Let's all practice dance floor etiquette! Many dancers and many styles of dancing can be accommodated on the floor at the same time. This means that we have to follow traditional dance floor etiquette. Let's always be courteous and we will all have a great time dancing!
Dances that move in a continuous forward movement should be danced in the outer lanes (counter clockwise which is also the line of dance). There are two lanes depending on the forward movement of the dancers: the outside (fast) lane and the inside (slow) lane. Progressive dances which are danced in the two outer lanes are Waltz, Fox-trot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and the Two-Step. These dancers generally have the right of way, but should not cut through the floor center!
The floor center is where line dances, spot dances, and "position" dances are held such as the Jive, West Coast Swing, Slow Dancing, and Cha Cha. Do not dance in the outside lanes unless everyone else is doing them at the same time!
If we all follow the golden rules of dance floor etiquette, then all can enjoy dancing to the fullest.
Most dance music is based on 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 music time. In 2/4 and 3/4 time the first beat of a bar is emphasized and can be clearly heard in the bass = drum, bass or bass guitar. This is the beginning beat of the music and is the beginning step of the dance.
In 4/4 time the most emphasized beat is the first beat and there is then less emphasis on the 3rd beat. Again this can be clearly heard in the bass instruments. As always, the first beat is the beginning step of the dance. In some music the bass instruments will play every beat in the bar. Listen to the music - you can hear and feel the beginning beat of the bar and go from there.
The most important thing to remember is to move to the beat - listen for the bass instruments and they will show you the way. Remember there is nothing worse when dancing than to be "off the beat" -- so listen and enjoy!
He’s the fellow who was dragged practically kicking and screaming into class. Never, in his wildest dreams did he envision himself doing a Foxtrot — whatever that is. Nor did he ever think he’d ever allow himself to be persuaded to take group lessons.
Yes, he desperately yearned to be a good dancer, driven as he was by images of couples weaving down a dance floor with effortless ease and, yes, to the applause and admiration of everyone. With a gigantic effort of will, he summoned the courage to enquire about lessons and, over the bemused advice — and ridicule — of friends, signed up for a series of group sessions, along with a friend.
The class was scheduled for the evening and, throughout the day, he mentally psyched himself up to muster the courage to even pass through the doors of the community hall where the lessons were to be held. The idea of getting lost on the way to the place appealed to him. After all, he tried, didn’t he? It wouldn’t have been his fault if he accidentally took the wrong turn ... would it?
Attractive though the suggestion was, he sternly drove it out of his mind. As he drove into the parking lot, he could feel his resolve drain away but the sight of his dance partner’s car gave him fresh courage. In the course of exchanging pleasantries, he was inwardly happy to discover she was just as nervous as he was.
As he slouched up the stairs he heard voices, laughter and music. A lady sat behind a desk and gave them a welcoming smile. This made it a little easier to cover the last remaining couple of meters and commit to a defining moment in his life.
His mind a mass of conflicting ideas, he barely heard the lady’s voice as she spoke to them. Mechanically, he affixed his signature at the bottom of a form the lady handed him as she chattered in practiced monotone about the rules governing the group lessons he'd committed himself to taking.
On entering the hall, he was a overwhelmed by the size of the crowd. He fought back the momentary panic and fled to an empty corner with his partner in tow, hoping they hadn’t been noticed. From this vantage point, he took stock. He quickly spotted the instructor; she wore a microphone set as she talked animatedly with a group of people. They obviously knew each other. In as sea of strange faces, this only added to his feeling of insecurity.
The class began. The instructor seemed friendly enough even if, to him at least, her disdain for the ability of men — any man — to ever learn to dance was obvious. She first did a demonstration of the Foxtrot with another lady. Unsure who he was supposed to be observing, he was a little perplexed and bewildered.
Acutely aware that regarding men as idiots at best was a national past-time, he resigned himself to a stressful evening. Subsequent remarks by the instructor confirmed that she fully subscribed to this mentality. ("I’ll say this again so you men will understand," was one of her favorite remarks. It was said in jest, of course, and always drew laughter).
She then segregated the students, men on one side, ladies on the other. Reluctantly, he watched his partner leave his side. He felt alone in this strange and seemingly hostile world; the last thing he ever wanted to do was look clumsy and awkward all by himself. His first priority was to get right up against the wall, behind everyone, and become as inconspicuous as possible.
As the lesson began, he struggled to make sense of the instructor’s words: Slow, slow, quick, quick. What in heaven’s name is that!?
As fellow students around him moved to the cadence set by the instructor, his feet and eyes seemed glued to the floor. He suddenly seemed unable to tell his left foot from his right. He couldn’t quite shake the feeling everyone was ridiculing his clumsy attempts to master the Foxtrot. His enthusiasm began to flag until the instructor invited the students to partner up.
He searched frantically for his partner and, to his horror, saw a stranger connect with her. "That’s great!" he muttered to himself. Before he could even begin to entertain the idea of slinking way, convinced no one would ever want to dance with a clumsy ox, a pretty young lady positioned herself before him and proceeded to introduce herself. He mumbled his name and quickly explained he was new at this. "So am I," she replied. He wasn’t sure if she was merely saying this to put him at ease but it made him feel better to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Yes, the first dance lesson can be a painful experience ...
He’s the chap who’s too painfully shy to walk up to a lady and ask her for a dance. She’s bound to laugh at him. Besides, someone told him ballroom dancing was really for graceful people: he felt as graceful as a baby elephant.
Only members of the social elite ballroom danced, he was reliably informed. He’d spent the better part of his day cleaning other peoples’ teeth. That hardly made him feel special.
He had it on authority that musical training and exposure to the correlation between rhythm and timing was the only way one can be a good dancer. His only connection to music and timing was when he’d absentmindedly tap his screw driver on the car’s fender to the strains of heavy metal music as he deftly assembled the carburetor.
At his first dance social, he knew he had to make an effort to dance with different people, if only to master the intricacies of leading, timing and, of course, floorcraft.
I haven’t have a hope, he muttered to himself as he shuffled across the room. He didn’t know which was worse: rejection, or having to go through with the dance. Half that fear was laid to rest when the lady graciously accepted his awkward invitation without asking him him complicated questions like, "How many lessons have you taken?"
His frame felt like molasses and, after congratulating himself on taking the first step, his mind went blank: he had no idea what to do next. Panic ensued. The sound of laughter echoed through the hall. They’re making fun of me, he thought. He wanted to simply disappear ... The lady smiled graciously at him and discreetly counted out the beat as she hummed the tune. Ah yes. That’s better. Timing and foot/sound coordination was beginning to seem less of a mystery.
The first dance need not be an excruciatingly painful experience.
Time passes. The odd word of encouragement. That act of random kindness when an experienced dancer graciously pulled him to the middle of the floor and had him doing things with his feet he thought magicians could do only with their hands, that momentary sense of exhilaration when she complimented him on his frame and the Foxtrot seemed easy and (dare he say it?) fun!
By now, he wanted more — much more. The thought of taking private dance lessons at one of the numerous dance studios suddenly seemed pretty attractive ...
Yes, no pain, no gain.
So, the next time you see someone clumsily weaving his way down the dance floor, give him room to manoeuvre. Be patient with him and, most importantly, help him when you can—always keeping your own humble beginnings in mind.
Remember, you could well be looking at a future Fred Astaire (or Ginger Rogers) as you tip your hat to the unknown dancer.
"Riverdance" showcases Irish dance and music. 
