Reviews

GRAND PRAIRIE – The economy has tanked, Democrats are duking it out, gas costs more than $3 a gallon. So what else is new? Fortunately, not Riverdance.

JASON JANIK/Special Contributor

The dancers of Riverdance brought Irish step dancing, music and stories of Celtic history to Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie on Friday night.

Springing into the world's attention a little more than 11 years ago, it remained its same corny, exuberant self Friday night at the Nokia Theatre, a propaganda machine of everything Irish and especially the quaint art known as Irish step dancing.

Riverdance plucked a squeaky-clean dance form from the narrow halls of competition, pubs and VFWs and made it flashy.

I exaggerated in saying that since last seen in these parts nothing has changed. There have been minor alterations, all cosmetic, and all to the good. The hair, for example. No more huge masses of curls, but now long straight locks. The dress has gotten simpler, in rich chartreuse, bronze and emerald green. Perish the thought of replacing black tights with flesh-colored, however. Daring the Irish are not.

The images that loom on the giant screen evoke an idyllic Ireland, of calm shores, immaculate hills and valleys, and a lone cottage.

The same deep voice provides the story line of how famine, wars and hardship propelled a mass immigration to the New World. It's more of a sketch than a story, tossing in bits about a Celtic warrior, a beautiful countess, and once on the other shore, square dancing, tap and even – where in the world did that come from? – flamenco and Russian folk dance. Never mind, the music is terrific and the dancing high decibal.

Calm always awaits a storm, and there are plenty of storms. Most are of the heavily amplified type, of feet pounding the floor with pent-up ferocity, of men striding down a platform like warriors on the way to battle, and that famous Michael Flatley act. Dark haired and ramrod stiff, Craig Ashurst has the unenviable task of taking on the Flatley flash. Alas, he comes storming out from the side with speed but nothing like the power of Mr. Flatley – not that Mr. Flatley's manner wasn't pure hokum. And when Mr. Ashurst pugnaciously thrusts out a straight arm and swivels his head, the effect is comic

Mr. Ashurst is no slouch on fast footwork, however, flying across stage like a meteor. His pretty companion, Maria Buffini, whips off scissor leg beats, bounds straight up like a gazelle and showers the stage with much-needed charm.

Ironically, the showstopper is American tap. Fueled by a jazzy saxophone, Karen Callaway Williams and Jason. E. Bernard let loose with breezy ease, tapping for the sure pleasure of being alive.

Not even Riverdance is immune to change. It is calling it quits later this year.

Or so it says.

Margaret Putnam is a Richardson-based writer who covers dance.

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