No lack of stamina, versatility in Irish dance dazzler

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

•	'Spirit of the Dance' An international dance spectacle with Irish origins, featuring the Irish International Dance Company 7:30 p.m. today, tomorrow; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday $25-$45; discounts for groups of 20 or more (call 732-7733) 528-0506 On Maui: 7:30 p.m. March 19-23 at Castle Theatre, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; $10-$45. (808) 242-7469

But no wonder.

The Irish International Dance Company, which opened an eight-show, six-day run to a standing ovation, is all movement, high energy, and nonstop vigor. What's amazing is that only one pair of pants gave way.

If you saw the company in 2001, be assured that this show's totally different, from top to bottom, with a cast of 20 — 15 women, five men — engaged in a cavalcade of dance styles.

Virtually plotless, the production features three "character" leads who sing — Alison Parker is Spirit, Joseph Miller is Danny Boy, and Caroline Coombs is the Temptress — and they relate just a shred of a storyline, with Spirit in a quest for peace and hope. In these war-threatening times, "Spirit of the Dance" offers comfort and solace.

Still, the mood is upbeat, not morose. World tensions aside, "Spirit" is basically a cultural endeavor with worldly visions but Irish roots. The dancers are meticulously choreographed to tempos that are unmistakably Celtic but they journey all over the map and excel in a context or two that might just as well have come from your aerobics class or from your martial arts sensei.

My favorite moment came just before the final curtain, beginning with a tribute to Bob Fosse (black bowlers, black outfits, white gloves) as the entire ensemble pranced in Fosse measures, with the flick of a wrist, a twist of a hand, and angular body poses that resulted in theatrical brilliance.

Think "Chicago," without the jazz.

In the related segment, "Applause," the cast sat on the lip of the stage and used hands and handclaps, and arms and arm-links, to "dance." This might be a bit borrowed from Tommy Tune, who used the hand dance in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," as well as his own theatrical revue — but, hey, it works.

Ethnic bolts prevailed. Most popular, of course, were the Celtic inserts, with line dancing rivaling the Rockettes, with jigs and clogging reminiscent of "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance." And though it was all too brief, there even was a pinwheel formation.

A Scottish "Highland Fling," with performers clad in kilts and plaid outfits, brought out a bagpiper and a high-kicking, slightly playful display involving swords.

For seductive and exotic pleasure, a flamenco section — in black and red costumes, of course — was the height of Spanish passion and emotion.

Occasional vocals were interspersed with the choreography, but the singers doubled as dancers, too, and were never out of breath. Parker and Miller were a romantic pair in a duet that featured "Danny Boy."

At times, "Spirit of the Dance" seemed to be "Stomp." With thump-thump percussion-highlighted music, the dancers engaged in to-and-fro challenges, using their bodies and their feet as weapons of contention. The give-and-take was a quick reminder of how dance can be fun.

At other times, the ensemble appeared to be a drill team, with cadence delivered with precision and style. That's where the stamina comes in — so don't try this at home.

There were Viennese waltzes, a tad pale compared to the other dazzlers in the repertoire, and sizzling salsa, too. For American audiences, there was a country-western hoedown, with requisite cowboy hats and glitzy fringed bell-bottom pants on the women.

Disco was the inspiration of a "Spirit of the Dance" megamix, with a pulsating dance floor tempo punctuating the soundtrack. Only the revolving mirror ball was missing.

Running just under two hours with intermission, the show is presented on a spartan stage, with a half-dozen scrolls set against a back curtain, but lighted with lamps that also are "choreographed" with military precision and finesse.

The dancers, of course, provide the color, the fire, the fury, the romance, the fun, the sadness, and the spirit of life itself.

Produced by David King, who also composed the original music, "Spirit of the Dance" is directed and choreographed by Alan Harding, whose vision clearly is to spotlight and share the joys of dance.