[NEohioPAL]Phenomenal Sensory Experience

[reynolds,victoria]

Dear NEOhiopal Subscriber:

What do you get when you combine 5,000 years of Irish history with 162
pairs of dance shoes and 3,132 inches of shoelaces, mix 685 costumes and
800 individual costume accessories, and bring in 41 Irish step-dancers
who each dance 10,000 individual steps during a 120-minute thunderous
performance?
=20
A phenomenal sensory experience. But then, that's what Riverdance - The
Original International Phenomenon - is all about. And when this
internationally acclaimed show triumphantly returns to E.J. Thomas
Performing Arts Hall at The University of Akron for a six-day run from
November 25 through November 30, audiences will gasp at the sheer force
of energy from the dancing, the music, and the extraordinary sight of so
many bodies in motion.
=20
Now on sale, tickets for Riverdance are available through the E.J.
Thomas Performing Arts Hall Ticket Office at 330.972.7570. Tickets can
also be purchased at all Ticketmaster Centers, via Charge-By-Phone at
330.945.9400 (Akron), 216.241.5555 (Cleveland), or online at
www.ticketmaster.com.=20

Performance dates and ticket prices for Riverdance - The Original
International Phenomenon at E.J. Thomas Hall are as follows:
=20
Tues., Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m., $55, $50, $40, $30=20
Wed., Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m., $55, $50, $40, $30=20
Fri., Nov. 28, 2 p.m., $55, $50, $40, $30=20
Fri., Nov. 28, 8 p.m., $60, $55, $45, $35=20
Sat., Nov. 29, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., $60, $55, $45, $35=20
Sun., Nov. 30, 2 p.m., $60, $55, $45, $35=20
Sun., Nov. 30, 7 p.m., $55, $50, $40, $30=20

In the merciless world of show business, no amount of hype or marketing
can sustain a show beyond its immediate impact. To survive and evolve,
it must be fueled by a deeper source of energy. The force of Riverdance
is not only generated by the dancers themselves, it's also fed by a deep
river of tradition that's flowed for centuries.=20
=20
Although Riverdance had its world premier in Dublin in 1995, the
movement continues to captivate audiences around the world. That's
because even as it grows and changes, it shapes and refreshes the
culture from which it sprang. A celebration of Irish music, song and
dance, Riverdance focuses on the evolution of Irish dance and its
similarities with, and influences on, other cultures. With that in mind,
the show's 41 dancers include 32 Irish Dance Troupe members, six Russian
Folk dancers, two American tappers and one Spanish Flamenco dancer.
=20
Interestingly, Riverdance didn't start out as an idea for a show.
Rather, it all began as a way to fill a seven-minute spot at the 1994
Eurovision Song Contest. But in those few moments, it sparked a movement
that spread like wildfire all over the world, delighting people of all
backgrounds with its magnificent music and spectacular steps.=20
 =20
Riverdance debuted at the Point Theatre, Dublin, in February 1995, where
it opened to unanimous critical acclaim. The Broadway production of
Riverdance had an unprecedented, successful 18-month run at the Gershwin
Theatre. Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty, and directed
by John McColgan, to date, over 15 million people have seen Riverdance
performed live. More than 6.5 million have purchased video versions of
the show. As for the music, Bill Whelan won the 1997 Grammy Award for
the "Best Musical Show Album" for his original music and lyrics.
Riverdance-The Album, on Celtic Heartbeat/Universal Records, has sold
more than two million CDs worldwide, and is certified Platinum in the
United States.
=20
The Chicago Tribune applauds Riverdance as "an explosion of sight and
sound that simply takes your breath away." The London Times proclaims it
as "a family evening unlike anything else!" Without question, Riverdance
is an experience like none other.
=20
Currently, there are two touring Riverdance companies. Each company has
become an extended family within itself, because the dancers, musicians
and singers don't simply perform together - they travel the world
together, looking after each other, sharing their energies and
aspirations, pushing each other to new heights, and to the highest of
standards. For the performers, the thrill of the dancing itself is
magnified by an inner pride that comes from knowing they are bringing
the dance and music of their own countries to the world at large.
=20
And that is the phenomenon of Riverdance that re-energizes the tradition
from which it springs. This show has watered the roots of Irish dancing,
creating a previously unimaginable excitement, drawing in a new
generation, releasing new energies, opening up new possibilities. In
turn, these forces have fed back into the show itself.
=20
To learn more about Riverdance, see the official website at
www.Riverdance.com. For more information about the performances at E.J.
Thomas Hall, call 330.972.7570, or get details online at
www.ejthomashall.com.