“Spraoi”, Irish Dance Camp Summer 2008

Michael Pat Gallagher with Carol Leavy-Joyce are delighted to announce a new and exciting open workshop in Dublin this summer, August 11th - 15th.

Carol Leavy Joyce:
(Irish Dance Choreographer) is a Teacher and Adjudicator of Irish Dance. During her dancing career she won 3 World Titles and danced with the Roddy School, Co. Louth. She was Dance Director and then Assistant Director with Riverdance - The Show, where her responsibilities included auditioning and training the Irish Dancers and monitoring their performance in the Show. Carol also contributed new Choreography to the show.

Included are tickets to see Riverdance at the Gaiety and the chance to meet and work with some of the cast.

When:11th through the 15th of August 2008

Where: Dublin, Ireland
Dance House
Liberty Corner
Foley St.

Who: Any dancer with basic Irish Dance experience through to Open Championship level.

What’s included?
• 5 hours tuition a day
• Drilling on technique and execution of all aspects of soft and hard shoe
• Strength and flexibility training
• Work on Stage Skills/Performance
• Yoga and Pilates Instruction

Price: 390 Euro per student

Registration forms plus full fee must be received by Monday the 30th of July to confirm placement. All cheques should be made payable to “Spraoi Irish dance Camp”. Download and Print out the Workshop Registration Form, and send the completed form along with cheque to:

Spraoi Irish Dance Camp
#1 Kempton Rise
Navan Road
Dublin 7

:: Click here to Download and Print Workshop Registration Form ::

For any other questions please contact:
e. info@irishdanceworks.com

Past News:

Riverdance in Ireland, 2007!

Michael Pat will be touring with Riverdance in Ireland this summer. He has already appeared at: Letterkenny, the new Sports & Leisure Centre from 23rd May to the 28th May 2007, and will be appearing at: the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney from 31st May to 23rd June 2007, the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin from 26th June to 25th August 2007 and returning to the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney from the 2nd September to the 17th September.

See: www.riverdance.com/htm/tours_tickets/tourdates.php

Riverdance in Asia!

Tokyo, October 12th 2005, saw Michael Pat along with Dearbhla Lennon open the new Corrib Co. of Riverdance to a packed house in Orchard Hall, Shibuya. This was the first stop a seven week sold out tour of Japan and marks the fourth visit of Riverdance to the country. It was actually Michael Pat`s second trip to Japan this year having completed a whirlwind 10 day promotional tour back in June.

It has been just over two years since Michael Pat finished touring with the Lagan Co., but in that time has performed constantly with The Flying Squad.

"It is great to be back performing with the show, and the cast and crew of the Corrib Co. are a wonderful mix and experience and new energy. The audiences have been wonderful, often still clapping five minutes after we have finished the finale. It is an amazing cultural experience spending this time touring the country and really getting an insight into the way of life here."

After the run in Japan, the Corrib Co. then travels to Taiwan for a three week tour marking the first visit of the show there.

Check back regularly for some of Michael Pat`s adventures and highlights in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Kicking it up with Dolly Parton!

Back in April of 2004, I made my debut with Ragus, in Dollywood, Tennessee. The show was there as part of the annual Festival of Nations with music and dance groups from around the world entertaining the masses in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Dolly was there herself to open the park for the season and performed with us on press day. So impressed was she by the show we put on that she came back the next day to open our first performance for us. “Oh the Irish love to party”, was the title of one of the songs she sang and believe me we didn’t disappoint in this respect as the Festival continued.

On any one-day, over 10,000 people passed through the gates, with us performing shows in the Celebrity Theatre twice a day. Tara Barry was the lead female so it was great to get to dance with her again. The entire cast {not including Tara, however, despite my best efforts!} was to be found riding the many rollercoasters in the park between shows. One of the main attractions was the brand new $7 million ‘Thunderhead’, wooden rollercoaster, which got a thumbs up from all of us.

There was great energy and camaraderie amongst the cast and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience to perform with the group. My only regret was that I couldn’t stay for the entire Festival. You see, rehearsals were starting in Dublin for The Shaughraun, and I was already in trouble for missing the first two days, so I had no choice but to pack my bags and say goodbye.

The show was a great success and the word is that Ragus will be making a return visit to the Festival next year..

The Shaughraun takes Dublin by Storm!

After a hectic rehearsal period, The Shaughraun opened to rave reviews and standing ovations on June 2nd in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Expertly directed by John McColgan and choreographed by Colin Dunne, The Shaughraun is a 19th century melodrama in which the audience are invited to cheer the heroes and hiss the villains.

President Mary McAleese was in attendance along with a host of celebrities on opening night. It was the second time in less than a week that we had the opportunity to meet the President as we’d already spent a very enjoyable evening in the Aras the week before, with some of Ireland’s greatest actors as part of the Abbey One Hundred celebrations.

The show is a veritable reunion of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance performers. Along with myself, the dancing cast includes Joanne Doyle, Dearbhla Lennon, Colin Ryan and Anthony Sharkey. The music, which is composed by David Downes, is brilliantly played by Brian Connor, Ken Edge, Robbie Harris and Mairead Nesbitt. Along with some two dozen actors, a magician and not forgetting ‘Patch’ the dog, there is plenty of action to keep everyone entertained.

The style of the dance numbers is quite different to what any of us had done before and it took many hours of rehearsal and a lot of patience on Colin’s part to get the end result. Forget straight legs and well-placed feet; if you come to see the show you’ll be in for a surprise! Having said that though, it was a great experience for all of us to have this opportunity to work with Colin and see how his study of modern dance had influenced his approach.

The Shaughraun stars Adrian Dunbar, Anita Reeves and Don Wycherley to name but a few and runs at the Abbey Theatre until July 31st.However, rumours abound of a possible Westend or Broadway run.

If you find yourself in Dublin over the summer be sure and stop by!