Showcasing music and glittering dance routines that tap into the charms of the ‘Emerald Isle’, The Magic of Ireland is set to perform at the Memorial Centre on March 29.
Andrew Vickers and Sinead McGeachy will lead dancers through routines that allow audiences to see the complex rhythmic patterns intrinsic to the artform.
At just 14, Vickers began dancing with the Riverdance Troupe while still attending high school. In 2000, he took the lead role in To Dance on the Moon and Dance of Desire.
In 2008 he performed with Frankie Gavin and The Hibernian Rhapsody accompanied by the Dubai philharmonic orchestra at the inaugural Dubai Irish Festival.
Vickers’ crew is backed by a quartet of multi-instrumentalists (strings, percussion and whistles) boasting James Mckie, Duncan Cameron and Roman Tome led by Toronto native and guitarist Michael O’Grady — an accomplished, professional singer/songwriter and multitalented musician.
Most of the night’s rollicking musical numbers are vehicles for dances spanning The Busking Boys, Whirly, We’re Jammin’, Star Dance, Hooley at the Crossroads, Tico Tico, Bells of Dublin, Echoes of Erin and Desire.
McGeachy’s performance credits include The Needfire and appearances with John McDermott, The Rankin Family, The Chieftains, The Irish Rovers and The Wolftones.
The Magic Of Ireland has been described as a show that displays the core of Celtic music. Ultimately, Irish dancing has been a tradition as long as there has been music to perform to and thanks to a renewed surge of popularity over the past several years, the precision of the dance and the percussion of the steps fuels the pulse of the music and its ancient compelling rhythms.
To that end, The Magic of Ireland evokes an atmosphere steeped in legend, folklore and enchantment.
New cast members to the show include award-winner of the 2009 Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year Troy MacGillivray and Canadian Grand Master fiddle champ of 2009/10 Julie Fitzgerald.
For ticket information, check out www.blackknightinn.ca or call 403-755-6626.
-Weber
