Riverdance pounded the Chrysler Hall stage with their feet, and filled the air with the music of their band and their voices.

This performance was a collection of 19 dances and musical performances, and had more variety than I was expecting. The show was a combination of the Irish Dance Troupe, The Riverdance Singers, The Riverdance Band, The Moscow Folk Ballet Company, The Riverdance Flamenco Soloist, and The Riverdance Tappers.

The performance began with “Reel Around the Sun.” The stage was dark, and a dry-ice fog rolled across the floor. The Irish dancers slowly walked onstage in two diagonal lines, with halting steps (their posture and arms were so stiff that their entrance had a military feel to it). A voice boomed through the theater as the projection changed into the sun – “The sun. We must sing his praise.” The music increased in tempo, and the dancers began.

The highlight of the show for me was a piece called “Trading Taps,” which was essentially a dance-off between the Riverdance Tappers (Jason E. Bernard and Kelly Isaac) two male “American style” tappers, and three of the male Irish Dancers. This was absolutely phenomenal. The Tappers were so smooth. Their style was loose and cool; their arms swung as they leaned and slid and turned around the stage. Their feet moved freely and quickly through their intricate steps. Their expressions were animated and genuine; they really connected to the audience. The Tappers and the Irish Dancers took turns out-dancing each other, each group rolling their eyes and “yawning” while the other performed. The Irish Dancers again moved unbelievably fast; their feet were flying. I especially loved the step where they jumped straight up, and clicked their heels several times before coming down again. Although their facial expressions had become more natural, the Irish Dancers still maintained their upper body stiffness, which was a huge contrast to the Tappers (I would have loved to see the Irish dancers break out of their tight posture, let their arms free and slide and lean along with the Tappers). Both groups were awe-inspiring, and the audience yelled, cheered, and clapped through the entire piece.

The finale brought everyone back together, and each group had their turn to perform one last short combination before they all came together. The show certainly ended on a high note, and the members of Riverdance bowed to a standing ovation. I had difficulty relating to the regimented demeanor of the Irish Dancers, and the performance had a stuttering flow at times, but the overall talent of the company was unmistakable. At the end of the show, I was on my feet.