Riverdance
May 15-20, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets
dance
Like Cats, Riverdance is a theatrical phenomenon that evokes strident opinion — even from people who've never seen the show. "A show built around Irish step dancing? Sounds OK for 20 minutes," you may say. "But after that, what's the big D?" Apparently quite a lot, as may be surmised by Riverdance's spectacular success and longevity. Not to mention the fact that it's spawned equally popular spin-offs (Lord of the Dance) and helped advance the appeal of an entire genre of percussion-based performance, such as Stomp and Tap Dogs.
Best known as a celebration of Celtic culture, Riverdance is actually much more broad-minded, with scenes relating to various world cultures — it features fiery flamenco and Russian folk dance — that enable the mood to vacillate from somber to ecstatic to parts in-between. Still, in the end, this is a tribute to music and movement of the Emerald Isle. Large groups of highly fit folks performing precise clog dancing create vibrations that explode with effervescent energy. Meanwhile uilleann pipes, fiddles, drums and horns build ebullient walls of sound. Featuring an array of fantastic footwork, the choreography dazzles via both sight and sound. Considering that Riverdance has been touring for a dozen years now, it's safe to say this show's got legs.
May 15-20, $27.50-$77.50, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelcenter.org.
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