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William Michael Joseph Whelan is an Irish composer and musician. He is best known for composing a piece for the interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. The result, "Riverdance", was a seven-minute piece of original music accompanying a new take on traditional Irish stepdance that became a full-length stage production and spawned a worldwide craze for Irish traditional music and dance. The corresponding soundtrack album earned him a Grammy. "Riverdance" was released as a single in 1994, credited to "Bill Whelan and Anúna featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra". It reached number one in Ireland for 18 weeks and number nine in the UK. The album of the same title reached number 31 in the album charts in 1995.
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
Michael Ryan Flatley is an American dancer. He became known for creating and performing in Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, Celtic Tiger Live and Michael Flatley's Christmas Dance Spectacular. Flatley's shows have played to more than 60 million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1 billion. He has also been an actor, writer, director, producer, and philanthropist.
Riverdance is a theatrical show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. With a score composed by Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler, Michael Flatley and the vocal ensemble Anúna. Shortly afterwards, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty expanded it into a stage show, which opened in Dublin on 9 February 1995. As of 2023, the show continues to tour the world.
The Irish community is one of New York City's major and important ethnic groups, and has been a significant proportion of the city's population since the waves of immigration in the late 19th century.
The Point Theatre (sometimes referred to as the Point Depot or simply as the Point) was a concert and events venue in Dublin, Ireland, that operated from 1988 to 2007, visited by in excess of 2 million people. It was located on the North Wall Quay of the River Liffey, amongst the Dublin Docklands. The Point was closed in the middle of 2007 for a major redevelopment and underwent a rebranding as The O2 in July 2008.
Máire Breatnach is an Irish fiddle, violin and viola player. She also sings in Irish on some of her albums. Since the early 1990s, she has recorded five solo albums, participated in many collaborations, and developed didactic material for children, mostly in Irish.
Colin Dunne is an English-Irish dancer and choreographer who is a leading figure in the world of traditional Irish dance, as well as a theatre actor and contemporary dancer. Best known internationally for his performances and choreography in Riverdance and Dancing on Dangerous Ground, he transitioned to contemporary dance after earning an MA in that style as an artist-in-residence at the University of Limerick in 2002. In 2007, he was nominated for a UK Critics Circle National Dance Award for performances at The Barbican in Fabulous Beast's production of The Bull. His first solo show, Out of Time, premiered in 2008.
Irish stepdance is a style of performance dance with its roots in traditional Irish dance. It is generally characterized by a stiff upper body and fast and precise movements of the feet. It can be performed solo or in groups. Aside from public dance performances, there are also stepdance competitions all over the world. These competitions are often called Feiseanna. In Irish dance culture, a Feis is a traditional Gaelic arts and culture festival. Costumes are considered important for stage presence in competition and performance Irish stepdance. In many cases, costumes are sold at high prices and can even be custom made. Each costume is different, with varying colors and patterns, designed to attract the judge's eye in competitions and the audience's eye in performance. General appearance beside the costume is also equally important. Female dancers would typically curl their hair before each competition or wear curled wigs, while male dancers would neatly style their hair to a shape to their liking. Poodle Socks are worn by female dancers while males wear plain black socks. Poodle socks are white socks that stretch to typically 1-4 inches above the ankle, depending on the dancers preference. They also have distinctive ribbing, and can be embroidered with gems.
The High Kings is an Irish folk group formed in Dublin in 2008. The band consists of Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Darren Holden, and Paul O'Brien. As of 2023, the group had released five studio albums, four live albums, two live DVDs, and one greatest hits album. Their first three studio albums appeared at number three or higher on the Billboard world music chart, the first two went platinum in Ireland, and all of their albums charted in Ireland.
Kevin McCormack is a former professional Irish dancer who spent many years as a Dance Captain with Riverdance. The Dublin native was part of the original 24 troupe members for Riverdance's seven-minute interval act at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. A 10-time World Irish Dance Champion, McCormack holds ADCRG titleship which means he is recognised by An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha, the governing body of Irish dancing worldwide, as being qualified to adjudicate Irish Step dancing on any competitive level throughout the world.
This is a summary of the year 2009 in the Irish music industry.
Saint Patrick's Day, although a legal holiday only in Savannah, Georgia, and Suffolk County, Massachusetts, is nonetheless widely recognized and celebrated throughout the United States. It is primarily celebrated as a recognition of Irish and Irish American culture; celebrations include prominent displays of the color green, eating and drinking, religious observances, and numerous parades. The holiday has been celebrated in what is now the U.S. since 1601.
Róisín Mullins is a TV presenter, TV talent show judge, professional Irish dancer, singer, stage show owner and choreographer.
Joanne Doyle is a former professional Irish dancer who is most famous for her lead role in Riverdance. In her 10 years with Riverdance, Doyle became the longest-serving lead in the show's history and danced in over 2,500 performances.
Pat Ahern is an Irish Roman Catholic priest, traditional musician, composer, and the founder, artistic director and producer (1974–1997) of Siamsa Tíre, the Irish National Folk Theatre which performed throughout Ireland and on three continents.
Carla O'Brien is an Irish television presenter and multimedia journalist, working with RTÉ, Ireland's national radio and television service, where she has presented Crimecall since September 2023. She previously presented RTÉ's news2day from 2012 to 2014 and Newsfeed from 2014 to 2017, as well as the Six One News, Nine O'Clock News and One O'Clock News. In her career as a dancer, she was Irish and world champion in Irish dancing, and for some years principal dancer with Riverdance.
The Gardiner Brothers are professional Irish dancers, social media personalities and influencers. Michael and Matthew are Irish-American dancers and choreographers who are currently living in Galway, Ireland. They are both cast members of Riverdance and have toured the world extensively since auditioning for the show in 2015. They are known for their rhythm, innovation and syncopation and have both won the Irish dancing World Championship multiple times.
Morgan Bullock is an American Irish dancer, known for her Irish dance remix of rapper Megan Thee Stallion's song "Savage", which went viral on TikTok and Instagram in May 2020.
"Riverdance" is a song by Irish musician Bill Whelan, originally recorded in March 1993 and first performed as the interval act for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. "Riverdance" is a mostly instrumental composition performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, with an introduction sung by choral ensemble Anúna. The act received such a positive response that Son Records and Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) decided to release "Riverdance" as a single.
References
- 1 2 Wallace, Kelly. "An Unlikely Irish Troupe From The Bronx", CBS, 17 March 2009.
- ↑ "The Keltic Dreams - an Unusual Irish dance troupe". DogoNews. 2008-03-15. Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ↑ "Riverdance and teacher's accent led group to step it out Irish-style". The Irish Times. 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ↑ Gewertz, Daniel (9 June 2006). "Cover story; You don't have to be Irish ... to love this Celtic festival". Boston Herald . p. E4.
- ↑ "RTÉ Television: The Late Late Show". RTÉ.ie .
- ↑ Gootman, Elissa (2008-03-14). "For Bronx School's Dancers, the Moves Are Irish". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ↑ "St. Patrick's Day Parade in Queens - Woodside and Sunnyside" . Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ↑ ""Irish" Andy Lee on "Erin Go Brawl" PPV Duddy-Bonsante headlines St. Patrick's Day Eve show at MSG". 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ↑ "Irish Dancers step out for Donors" . Retrieved 2008-04-06.
