Riverdance/Lord of the Dance
Julie Mangin
Can anyone out there give me the straight dope on the difference between
these two shows? It wasn't until today, reading the Double Toe Times,
that I found out that Michael Flatley, who appears on the Riverdance
video, is no longer involved with Riverdance, and has opened a competing
show, called Lord of the Dance.
What was the reason for his departure?
What are the differences/similarities between the two shows?
Does anyone know of any newspaper or magazine articles that compare the
two shows?
Thanks,
Julie Mangin
jma...@access.digex.net
http://www.access.digex.net/~jmangin/
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"I prefer the phrase old-time music to old-timey music which sounds
perilously close to old-tiny music." --Mark Graham
Billmers family
Julie Mangin wrote:
>
> Can anyone out there give me the straight dope on the difference between
> these two shows? It wasn't until today, reading the Double Toe Times,
> that I found out that Michael Flatley, who appears on the Riverdance
> video, is no longer involved with Riverdance, and has opened a competing
> show, called Lord of the Dance.
>
> What was the reason for his departure?
>
> What are the differences/similarities between the two shows?
>
> Does anyone know of any newspaper or magazine articles that compare the
> two shows?
Sunday January 5th Boston Globe addressed this very issue today in the
Art and Music section. Perhaps you can find it in your library. Seems he
was not a happy camper and wanted BIG Bucks to stay with Riverdance.
--
Laura Billmers
William Lloyd
In article <5amfbh$3...@access2.digex.net>, Julie Mangin
<jma...@access2.digex.net> writes
>Can anyone out there give me the straight dope on the difference between
>these two shows?
I have only seen the videos of both shows, not the real thing, but based
on that limited view:
Lord of the Dance is more rocky, more flash, less traditional.
It gives greater scope than 'Riverdance' for Flatley's charsima to work,
and this can be either a good thing or not, depending on how much
respond to charisma. The music in 'Lord of the Dance' is less
interesting in my opinion. The stage sets are more colourful, bold and
brash. The choreography is more dramatic in the sense that there is a
'story'. there is a mock fight, a confrontation between the forces of
good and evil, and a jealous rivalry between the fair woman and the dark
woman for Flatley's favours.
The press reported that Michael Flatley left Riverdance after a
disagreement over contracts - it was presumed that he wanted more money,
and that he considered himself the mainstay of the show. I have spoken
to people who saw both stage shows, and while the new man lacks a
certain arrogance and elan, he is a superb dancer and the show is still
excellent.
--
William Lloyd
C J Brady
> Julie Mangin wrote:
> >
> > Can anyone out there give me the straight dope on the difference
between
> > that I found out that Michael Flatley, who appears on the Riverdance
> > video, is no longer involved with Riverdance, and has opened a
competing
> > show, called Lord of the Dance.
> >
> > What was the reason for his departure?
> >
> > What are the differences/similarities between the two shows?
> >
> > Does anyone know of any newspaper or magazine articles that compare
the
> > two shows?
>
> Sunday January 5th Boston Globe addressed this very issue today in the
> Art and Music section. Perhaps you can find it in your library. Seems he
> was not a happy camper and wanted BIG Bucks to stay with Riverdance.
> --
> Laura Billmers
NOT SO!!! He wanted freedom of artistic expression which the Riverdance
director(s) would not allow him. How can an artist of his calibre, who
choreographed most of Riverdance anyway, be kept straight-jacketed just
because the promoters wanted the BIG Bucks by not allowing him to make
changes? Michael created his own show - aptly named 'Lord of the Dance' -
and took modern Irish step dance a million miles further forwards than it
ever was. The excitement and sexual energy in his new show far surpasses
that in 'Riverdance.' Chris.
C J Brady
between
> >these two shows?
>
> on that limited view:
> Lord of the Dance is more rocky, more flash, less traditional.
> It gives greater scope than 'Riverdance' for Flatley's charsima to work,
> and this can be either a good thing or not, depending on how much
> respond to charisma. The music in 'Lord of the Dance' is less
> interesting in my opinion. The stage sets are more colourful, bold and
> brash. The choreography is more dramatic in the sense that there is a
> 'story'. there is a mock fight, a confrontation between the forces of
> good and evil, and a jealous rivalry between the fair woman and the dark
> woman for Flatley's favours.
>
> The press reported that Michael Flatley left Riverdance after a
> disagreement over contracts - it was presumed that he wanted more money,
> and that he considered himself the mainstay of the show. I have spoken
> to people who saw both stage shows, and while the new man lacks a
> certain arrogance and elan, he is a superb dancer and the show is still
> excellent.
> --
> William Lloyd
But what you don't get a feeling of on the videos is the ambiance of the
venues and the excited inter-reactions between the performers and the
audience.
'Riverdance' was almost as sanitised and 'pure' as modern Irish step
dance ever can be. Technically it was brilliant but there was little real
emotion in the dancing. And the dancers were all too stiff and
expressionless. You could sit back and watch it and think "that's nice,
that's clever, that's pretty, etc."
On the other hand 'Lord of the Dance' was electric in more ways than one.
The sexual energy was oozing off the stage into the audience. The dancers
all looked as though they were enjoying every minute - and they actually
smiled!! The music and dancing wanted to make you get up and dance
yourself - as in fact some of the audience did when we saw the show. The
use of laser displays, CO2, strobe, and flourescence was shear
inspiration - especially for an Irish dance show. And the use of black
leather costumes - with shades of S&M - leant a whole new dimension to
Irish dance which is all too often sanitised out of tradition by
expressionless little girls and boys in pure white (or green) dresses.
Don't watch videos - see the Shows!! Chris.