Is Riverdance Too Glitzy?

by Rebecca @ Diddlyi

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Is Riverdance Too Glitzy?

25 July 2009 No Comment by Rebecca @ Diddlyi

Is Riverdance too glitzy? Well, one New York Times dance reviewer thinks so. After positively reviewing a “charmingly low-key” lunchtime St. Patrick’s Day performance from the Nail O’Leary School of Dance, the reviewer goes on to say that perhaps Irish Dance needs to stick to the basics and move away from the glitz and glam of Riverdance.

Here’s my take: Granted Riverdance was undoubtedly created to be a spectacle, I truly think that at the same time Riverdance does a pretty great job of keeping traditional Irish dance intact in the midst of show business. The NYT’s reviewer suggests that there is a need for Irish Dance performances to get back to basics with straight arms, simple costumes, and simple performances. The fact of the matter is that these types of performances already happen all over the world every day anyway (as do the flashy ones) and a lot of those basics are in Riverdance! Furthermore, I really don’t think Riverdance is dazzling in an over top way at all. I hardly think the costumes, sets, and dances are so flashy and glaring that they take away from the skilled performance and beauty of the Irish dance. For example, are these costumes too much?

Admittedly, you all know I’m not a Irish dance expert, purist, etc., but from what I’ve learned from Diddlyi, I just don’t think this is true. In reality, maybe modern day feiseanna have more glitz than Riverdance! So, what do you think? Is Riverdance too glitzy that it takes away from the dancing?