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Dolly
Parton Performing With Rhythm of the Dance
Musicians Live at Dollywood USA. |
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Morgan
Comer |
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 Stephen
Carolan |
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Margaret
McCarthy |
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Dolly
Parton Performing With the Rhythm of the Dance Troupe
(Dollywood USA) |
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Behind
the Scenes - On Tour. |
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| Morgan
Comer |
I
started dancing at the age of five as part of an after
school activity for the Boyle O’Dowda School
of dancing. As I got older I became more involved
in dancing and obtained a passion for it. I enjoyed
it so much because it offered a great social life
and I enjoy listening to Irish music. When I moved
to Belfast I danced for the Doherty-Reid School winning
my first major title, the British National Championships.
From that point I became more dedicated to dancing
and more focused on perfecting my abilities. From
an early age I loved performing on the stage but it
wasn’t until after watching Riverdance and Lord
of the Dance that I decided I would like to do show
dancing after I finished school years and my competitive
career. |
My
sister, Natalie, joined the widely known Rhythm of
the Dance which is how I came to watch the show and
eventually joined in July of this year 2007. I joined
this show because I thoroughly enjoyed the dancing
and the music used in the show. So far it has been
an amazing experience meeting new people and visiting
many different places and countries and performing
for many people. I hope to continue show dancing for
as long as I can because of the enjoyment it brings
to me when I’m performing on stage. Morgan Comer. |
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| Stephen
Carolan |
I
started dancing at the late age of 8. My cousins had
all previously started dancing before me so they are
the ones responsible for getting me hooked! Riverdance
and Lord of the Dance were also big influences, especially
the legendary Michael Flatley and 9-times World Champion
Colin Dunne. My love for dancing evolved when I entered
my teen years. I started to become more interested,
dedicated and focused on reaching my goals. The dancing
world offers great opportunities to meet new people,
see different places as well as experiencing being
on stage. I also love the music and so when I was
16, I began to play Traditional Irish Music on the
keyboard. I danced for Scoil Rince Ard-Rialla and
in 2005, I won my first World Title. In April of 2007,
I reached the peak of my competition years winning
my second World Title with maximum points. It was
after this that I decided to retire from competition
and enter a new phase of dancing. I decided to take
a year out of college and join the world renowned
show, Rhythm of the Dance. Performing with the show
is a wonderful experience, and dancing in front of
so many people in so many different countries makes
it all worthwhile. Also, I have made lots of great
friends here and I hope to perform for as long as
I can. Stephen Carolan. |
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| Margaret
Mc Carthy |
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My
name is Margaret McCarthy. I am 21 years of age from
Cork in Ireland. I am with Rhythm of the dance for
the past two years. It has always been my ambition
to travel and play music. And when I got the opportunity
to do so in 2005 I took it. At the time I was doing
a B Mus degree in University College Cork. And when
I approached my lectures to get time out to do the
travelling they agreed that it would be great benefit
to me and I would learn a lot. Being only 19 at this
time my parents were anxious that I would be with
a group that would look after the musicians and dancers. |
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I
spent two weeks rehearsing in Dublin to get to know
the show, meet the cast and make new friends. We all
got on well. Back home to pack my bags for my first
tour was very exciting, but also it was very lonesome
in leaving my family. We all met in Dublin airport
before the flight. Our tour manager Mike Smyth was
there to organise and check us all in. On landing
in Holland, a coach was there to collect us and take
us to our hotel. This I found great as everything
was just organised for us. Our flights, bus coaches,
dinning and anyone with special needs were catered
for. This includes myself, as I am a ceoliac and needs
special diet. Mike was always on hand with it. |
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The
excitement was building at the thought of the show.
We got a coach to the venue. I was flabbergasted when
I saw the size of the venue. Two big screens were
positioned right and left of the stage. It had seating
capacity for 5,000. The nerves began to kick in. We
had sound check at 4 o clock and later we got warmed.
At 7 o clock the hair and make is done. The tights
are on, our hard shoes for dancing were on and we
got all our costumes together. Looking around everyone
was ready for the show. The theatre was filling outside.
There was a hustle and bustle! Irish music was playing
in the background. The show started and the audience
absolutely loved it. |
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In
the show itself, I play the fiddle and banjo. I dance
with the troupe and I also dance and play the fiddle
at the same time. This is a unique piece that gets
reaction from the audience. It is a Hornpipe, which
is danced on hard shoes, and the costume I wear for
this is a special costume designed for me. The change
of costumes in between each dance routine has to be
done quickly. As shows went on I got better at this.
When the show finished we got a great applause and
several anchors. Flowers were presented to us. I was
dumbfounded, as I had never experience anything like
this in my life. I thought to myself “This is
the life for me”. After the show Mike Smyth
took me out to meet the audience, take pictures and
sign autographs. Much the same routine is held at
every venue. We just move on by coach. On to the next
hotel and the next venue. This I have been doing over
the past two years and enjoying every minute of it.
There’s a lot of travelling on buses, trains
and planes. But with a good tour manager and good
organisation everything goes off smooth. |
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To
date the countries I have travelled to are Holland,
Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria,
Spain, Poland, Israel, Palestine, Russia, Japan, Ukraine,
France, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Portugal where I was
residency for 7 weeks in the Algarve, also played
at the Wild Geese Festival, Ireland, Ryder Cup 2007
in Ireland, America (New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
California, San Francisco, New Jersey, Philadelphia,
Virginia, Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee) I performed
in Tennessee for six weeks in Dollywood and we did
150 shows. I also performed with Country Legend Dolly
Parton, which is an experience I will never forget. |
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I
had one week off to spend at home with my family.
Now were heading for France, Serbia and Croatia, which
takes us to Christmas 2007 in which I will be back
to spend with my family please God. I would recommend
going on tour to any musician, dancers or singers.
It helps you to perform with people, meet different
nationalities. Get you used of set up on stage with
sound engineers, lightening technicians etc. And at
the same time its not all work. On our days off, tours
are arranged for us. We have visited many historical
places including Alcatraz, Auschwitz, Berlin Wall,
Eiffel Tower and many museums and historical buildings
in different cities etc.
So there’s a small insight into what life is
like on the road with Rhythm of the Dance, please
check back again soon for the next instalment …….. |
All
the Best, |
Margaret
McCarthy. |
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