Mesa Arts Center hosts toe-tapping Riverdance

From the first notes of the low whistle to the last tap of the jig shoes, “Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour” is pure entertainment. With few spoken words, tales of the Irish people and their travels from the homeland are told mostly through dance and song. The show also features Spanish, Russian and African-American dance.

I first became fascinated with Riverdance when I saw a special on PBS featuring Michael Flatley, the American stepdancer, choreographer and musician of Irish descent. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows like “Riverdance” almost 20 years ago.

The dancers’ footwork is mesmerizing—and when the entire troupe is on stage in their jig shoes (hard, tap-like shoes), the sound is thunderous.

One of my favorite pieces is “Thunderstorm,” where the male troupe performs with perfect precision. Every step and click is executed flawlessly; at times, their feet are moving so quickly you wonder just how the human body can do it!

There are also pieces performed in soft shoes (ghillies), where the dancers cross the stage in quick bursts of leaps and jumps then stay in one spot and execute incredible, quick steps and crossovers where their ankles appear to bend and twist.

The “Firedance” piece showcases the flamenco dance talents of Rocio Montoya. When the piece begins, the dancer is a silhouette of movement and grace. Montoya’s performance varies from the Irish dance style because the movement of her arms is an integral part of the dance—unlike the Irish dancers who keep their arms rigid by their sides.

The audience was a mix of ages. Judging by the standing ovation at the end, it seemed that everyone enjoyed the performance.

“Riverdance” is a great show for children because of the fast movements and high energy of the dances along with the introduction to different international dance styles and cultures. Kids will also enjoy the incredible musical performances featuring a wide range of instruments—from the familiar violin to the Uilleann pipes (the national bagpipes of Ireland), which require the musician to elbow the pipes’ bellows, resulting in a haunting sound similar to  bagpipes.

What you need to know

• Dates: today through Sunday Jan 17; times vary
• Tickets: $47-$77
• Location: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa
• Contact: 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com