Sunday, December 14, 2008

Lord of the Dance comes to Vancouver



Wow, that was magnificent. Michael Flatley reaches into the ancient and remixes it with a touch of the modern and creates a masterpiece. Well done. I was hesitant going to the Lord of the Dance because although there is no question Michael Flatley has great talent as a dancer his overpowering arrogance made him impossible at times to watch or listen to.

Nevertheless, now he’s the director and he has a new person playing the lead role. Three cheers. Now it is more about a balanced celebration of talent than being all about Michael Flatley. I always thought it was Flaherty. I’m not sure where the name Flatley comes from. Regardless, the final production is without question magnificent.

Riverdance was the original and did a marvelous job of incorporating the drums into the Irish dance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaHmcCp77JE

This story is a good versus evil battle based on the old Hymn Lord of the Dance. That tune is played in the beginning and throughout the show on a tin whistle.

The song is really about Christ:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fzRZuGEr04&feature=related
Irish Dancing is similar to Scottish Highland dancing except the Irish keep their hands at their side symbolizing being in slavery to a foreign power. Despite the foreign occupation and oppression the Irish culture persisted and the dance went on so it did.

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