Signature Irish dance show has a salsa side

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

"Spirit of the Dance" is best known for its fancy Irish footwork. But flamenco and salsa also are on tap. The cast of the touring company that will perform here are mostly from Britain. 'Spirit of the Dance' An international dance spectacle with Irish origins Premieres at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; repeats at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. March 14, 2 and 8 p.m. March 15, and 2 and 7 p.m. March 16 Hawai'i Theatre $25-$45 528-0506 On Maui: 7:30 p.m. March 19-23 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; $10-$45. (808) 242-7469

"We've pretty much traveled all over the world," said Caroline Coombs, resident director of the 22-member company for the past four years, who is making her first trek here. Indeed, the pulse of the world is increasingly finding its way into "Spirit."

"Dance speaks a universal language," said Coombs, who also is the Irish-dance lead in the company.

"We went to Korea last year, and while the audience couldn't learn words to some songs, it responded to movement and dancing," she said. "The story line comes across, so there's no language barrier."

As resident director, Coombs is in charge of just about everything. The dancers. The choreography. The show in general. Often, as she was while in Idaho last week, the mouthpiece, conversing in a telephone interview.

Coombs, who's originally from London, said the current company includes a majority from England, but there are some Irish, some Scottish, and three Americans in the cast.

She especially enjoys the travel and the horizons of new experience it brings.

"I've been all over Europe, all over the U.S. and Africa," she said. "But this will be my first time in Hawai'i working, though I visited on holiday once.

"Audiences are universally hospitable, she said. "We always get a great welcome; the people (of the world) may be different, but they share the same warmth and friendliness."

She credits the wide range of dances that appeal to an equally wide range of audience types, from young to old, including families.

"I think it's all because we have so many types of dances," Coombs said of the company's repertoire. "There are Latin American numbers and some great costumes, too, so we can respond to both the dance audience and to the young children."

The dance card taps flamenco, salsa and, of course, the signature Irish dances seen by more than 25 million around the world. To date, six dance troupes are on tour, with theatrical outposts in Branson, Myrtle Beach and Las Vegas.

The production earned hurrahs when it made its Hawai'i debut in 2001.

The show was to play in Washington state and California before heading for the Hawai'i Theatre next week, with Maui performances also slated.

"The tours are year-round," said Coombs. "After Hawai'i, we have a week in Alaska, and shows in Missouri. Then we shut down. But start up again, with a U.K. tour, South Africa, Asia again. We also hope to play Broadway again later this year."

The occasional pauses in the tour are necessary to regroup, restage numbers and insert new segments. "On the road, it's too busy to rehearse new material," she said. "Whenever we have the free time, we're either at a gym or at the hotel's gym, keeping in shape.

"We treat ourselves as if we're athletes. We get as much sleep as possible. Eat healthy food. Build up energy builders with pasta and bananas."