If you haven’t seen a live show of RIVERDANCE, now in its 15th year, this is your last chance to see it in the USA! The show’s final San Diego stop is this weekend, December 2-4, and shouldn’t be missed. Read the entire article for a special ticket offer just for you!
The high energy meticulously choreographed Irish dancers and their fast-moving feet are a special breed, but there’s more to these dancers than meets the eye. Take for example RIVERDANCE cast member Fiona McCabe. She joined the production touring the U.S. and Canada in 2007, and began dancing with the O’ Shea School of Irish Dance, Dublin at the age of 4.
As is to be expected, McCabe holds many titles and qualifications as a seasoned dancer: Solo championship titles including 2 All-Ireland, 5 Leinster, 4 British and runner-up in the All-Scotland and American Nationals. She is also a World Céili Dancing Champion. She is a qualified Irish Dancing teacher with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha; she’s an accomplished Classical Pianist and she sings.
What you might not expect to read in the dancer’s bio, is that she also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiotherapy from the prestigious Trinity College in Dublin after graduating in 2006. In fact, McCabe auditioned for RIVERDANCE in 2004 while still at college. “I just can’t sit still!” Fiona told me during our telephone conversation from Napa Valley.
The 28-year-old dancer is the middle child sandwiched between a brother who’s a Doctor and a sister with a degree in Pharmacy. But the ‘middle child’ theory doesn’t hold water in her case; she’s driven and has proven she is multi-talented. “I also practice acupuncture,” she added after I asked if she had other hidden talents.
Besides her favorite performance in Providence Rhode Island where her parents and relatives came to see her, Fiona has performed in Belgium, China, Germany, Ireland, Lebanon, South Korea and the UK. I asked her if there was a difference between the audiences in the countries she’s visited and she told me, “The most enthusiastic audience is the U.S. When I see kids dancing in the aisles and hear the loud clapping it makes me feel great, and I see they really appreciate the performance. When we went to China, it was different; the clapping was brief there. I understand it’s a cultural difference and I respect that,” she noted.
RIVERDANCE is on a farewell tour and will hold its last performance in June of 2012.However, there will be 2 other productions continuing to tour the world. I asked Fiona if she had plans once the production ended. “I’ve been trying to keep up with my degree” she said. On a short break from touring with RIVERDANCE, the qualified physiotherapist told me she accompanied the Irish Olympic Boxing team to Russia where she was part of the medical group looking after the athletes.
And if your think her talents end there, you are mistaken. As it turns out Miss McCabe and I have something in common, we’re both bloggers! On her free time, she manages to write up blog posts for the RIVERDANCE website and does it with the same style and flair as she has for dancing.
As RIVERDANCE takes the final curtain call, don’t be surprised if you see Fiona McCabe’s name listed among those heading to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She might just be the one nursing an athlete back out to the field in time for the game’s final call.
NOTE: Fiona McCabe will be the principal dancer during the Sunday, December 4, matinee performance at 12:30PM!
HERE’S A SPECIAL TICKET OFFER JUST FOR YOU!
Take $20 off section A and B for all performances except Saturday evening. Use code “IRISH” Online (from Ticketmaster), by phone or in person. The website is http://www.broadwaysd.com/ and you can click on the link to buy tickets from the RIVERDANCE page.
December 2-4.
Friday at 7:30 p.m
Saturday at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday at 12:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
San Diego Civic Theatre, 3rd and B Street, Downtown San Diego
Tickets available September 6 to Broadway/San Diego season ticket holders and groups, and are available to public on September 25.
Ticket prices vary. For current prices, please www.ticketmaster.com
Disclosure: I was a guest of BroadwaySD for the press presentation to review this show.
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