Friday, October 30, 1998
Trinity gives UCLA campus taste of true Irish tradition
DANCE: Royce Hall show will help troupe receive accolades,
credit its due
By Danielle Myer
Daily Bruin Contributor
If a psychologist administered a word association test with the
phrase "Irish Dance," the average person would immediately think
"Riverdance." But the popular Irish step-dancing show isn’t the
only step-group on the block.
For those living in a Riverdance bubble, meet the Trinity Irish
Dance Company.
On Sunday at Royce Hall, the Trinity Irish Dance Company, the
inspiration behind Riverdance and innovative Irish step-dancing as
Americans popularly know it, heel-clicks its way to UCLA.
"I always had sort of a left-of-center approach to my
choreography," artistic director Mark Howard says. "I was always
trying to let Irish dancing move forward and breathe."
Reacting to the lack of step-dancing troupes in the United
States eight years ago, artistic director Mark Howard stepped up to
the challenge and formed the first all-American troupe, siphoning
classically-trained dancers from his private dance academy.
Before Riverdance or Lord of the Dance were a glimmer in an
artistic director’s eye, Howard waited in the wings, working with
his company (which ranges from 20-25 years of age) to create
innovative routines and revolutionize the Irish step dancing
world.
One of the progressive routines (that Trinity conceived in
Chicago and worked into its program) marries traditional Irish step
with street tap-dancing. T.V. viewers may remember seeing the
musical "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk" and "Riverdance" come
together at this year’s Grammy’s to perform a routine much like the
kind Howard and the Trinity dancers created years ago.
Because of this Chicago base, Trinity reaps the benefits of
urban, midwestern America. By leading an American troupe in an
urban center, Howard can use contemporary American dance styles
(like ballet folklorico) and use them to inspire his own
creations.
Howard says this leads to a visually stimulating performance,
rather than a traditional, stoic, competitive dance.
"It could only happen (in America) because we are exposed to so
(many genres)," Howard explains. "We see all these things that they
don’t see in Europe."
Though the troupe has yet to take an extended, serious European
tour, it travels to Europe to compete in festivals. Irish
television stations recruit them, taking heed of their
international reputation as one of the best step dancing
troupes.
Dance Captain Sheila Ryan, one of the founding members of the
company, recalls performing in Ireland last April, where she won a
gold medal at the Irish step dancing world championships.
She says one of the dances really blew judges away with its
synchronicity and progressivism.
"That’s a really cool feeling, when you go to the world
championships in Ireland, when you’re not from Ireland, and you can
bring something to the table," Ryan says. "You really have to be
good for them to recognize you if you’re from outside."
Juxtaposing tap and Irish step or African rhythms with Irish
melodies demands that Ryan and the rest of the company involve
themselves with many different cultural genres and historical
knowledge.
Many of the dances tell historical stories about Irish
immigrants in America or Spanish immigrants in Ireland, so the
dancers also need to understand the historical context of their
performance.
This progressive nature of the Trinity Irish Dance Company has
kept it on the forefront of the Irish step-dance movement.
"Among Irish dancing people, Trinity has been known for quite a
while," says Christine Byrne, owner of the Byrne School of Irish
Dance. "Howard may not have gotten the recognition outside of the
Irish dance community, but he will now."
Previously turning down numerous offers to record a performance
special for HBO or low-budget television productions, the company
is now planning to make a video with a five or ten-minute montage
about the history of progressive Irish dance and Trinity’s
influence on Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
Howard explains that other Irish step shows took a different,
mainstream route – one that isn’t all bad. By immediately vying for
a commercialized image, Riverdance and Lord of the Dance not only
profited, but also raised awareness of the Irish step-dancing
movement.
"Michael Flatley borrowed heavily from a lot of things that were
going on here (at Trinity)," Howard says. "Riverdance would not
exist if it was not for Trinity Irish Dance Company … but we
would not be where we are now without Riverdance.
"They grew directly out of us, but we benefited from that
commercial success," Howard says.
Though the mainstream audience hasn’t heard much about Trinity,
the company is highly regarded on the Irish dance circuit and some
people behind the scenes attribute Riverdance’s success solely to
Michael Flatley’s commercial image, not the fact that it’s a better
company.
"It was just a matter of timing," Byrne says. "Flatley was the
flamboyant figure that they needed to put Irish dancing on a world
stage, to create a show … but he wouldn’t have been able to do
that without the groundwork laid by the Trinity dancers."
So why do the dancers continue to perform and strive to change
the way people view Irish step dancing when they aren’t gaining the
same recognition as Riverdance or Lord of the Dance?
According to Sheila Ryan, it’s simple.
"Being a part of the organization has given us an opportunity to
validate what we’ve spent all this time doing," Ryan says.
"A lot more people are seeing (Irish dancing) and seeing what a
beautiful art form it is," he says.
Mark Howard and his company aren’t concerned that Riverdance has
received more commercial attention and popularity. For them, the
art is not about performing in front of a small group or a huge
crowd.
"I want the Trinity Irish Dance Company to be here long after
Riverdance, evolving as something that only exists to create and
innovate," Howard says.
It’s time for Trinity to make some noise.
ON-CAMPUS: Trinity Irish Company will perform at Royce Hall on
Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Central
Ticket Office or by calling (310)-UCLA-ART.IMG Artists
The award-winning Trinity Irish Dance Company steps up to
perform two shows on campus at UCLA.
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