Defying Gravity – Orlando Magazine

Amy-Mae Dolan, the dynamic lead dancer for “Riverdance,” started her coaching as an Irish dancer on the wee age of twenty-two months. You learn that appropriately, not 22 years, 22 months.

“My mother likes to inform the story as a result of I wasn’t even two years on the time,” begins Dolan in a pleasant Irish brogue. “Mother was an Irish dancer, and my cousins are dancers. My mother went to choose up my cousin Colin from dance class, and I got here alongside along with her. All of the sudden, I used to be lacking. They couldn’t discover me, they usually have been checking to see if I used to be within the automotive park.”

After a frantic search, her mom found that younger Amy-Mae had joined a category. “I used to be truly within the dance class attempting to bounce with the older youngsters,” she says, laughing. “And that was the place it started, and I haven’t stopped. I’ve danced each single day since then. It’s an enormous a part of my life.”

If the title fooled you, this story isn’t about “Depraved” (working January 25 to February 12 at Dr. Phillips Heart for the Performing Arts). We’re speaking about “Riverdance,” which is again and higher than ever.

twenty fifth Anniversary “Riverdance” Solid

Picture courtesy of Mike Smith, “Riverdance”

Celebrating its twenty fifth Anniversary with contemporary, new music and costumes, “Riverdance” is that distinctive mix of dance, Grammy award-winning music, athleticism and track culminating in a must-see theatrical occasion for the entire household.

Because the lead dancer, Amy-Mae Dolan made her “Riverdance” debut in 2016, turning into its youngest-ever principal feminine dancer at age 19. Hailing from Co. Tyrone, Northern Eire, Dolan gained the World Irish Dance Championship and a number of other different notable titles. Evaluations have described her “lyrical phrasing is without delay majestic and silken,” and her “power and smile (is) boundless.”

Amy-Mae Dolan, “Riverdance” principal dancer

Picture courtesy of Mike Smith, “Riverdance”

The dancers make it look straightforward, floating on stage, legs shifting with navy precision. However attaining that crisp, flawless approach takes dedication and arduous work. Dolan admits that whereas life on the street is thrilling, it takes a number of self-discipline.

“I believe the easiest way for us to be the perfect Irish dancers on the earth is to do it each single day,” she says.

Whereas the present itself could be a exercise for any mere mortal, that is only one small a part of the extreme coaching routine for this “Riverdance” solid.

“We dance the present each evening, however most significantly, each single day we have now rehearsals on stage at the least 45 minutes.”

Dolan says they could drill one thing as particular as a easy kick for 20 minutes to ensure it’s precisely the identical.

“We have to do a number of cardio and working, something that will get your legs shifting good and quick. Then mix that with the likes of yoga and Pilates to get that robust posture, that posture that doesn’t transfer. However primarily what we have to do is simply dance Irish dance each single day, drill and work on approach.”

The outcome? A rare night on the theater, witnessing the miraculous energy, grace, and magic of “Riverdance.” When you haven’t seen the present, the expertise is unforgettable.

And Dolan loves each minute. “At 9 years outdated, I used to be dancing each day for 2 to 3 hours, doing Pilates, yoga, stretching cross coaching on the aspect. It’s a sport and an artwork type mixed, which makes it extraordinarily unbelievable to observe and, such as you mentioned, defying gravity.”