Featuring dancers and musicians from the Comox Valley and Campbell River, Rhythm & Roots at the Tidemark Theatre on June 12 is the story that so many Canadians and people worldwide can relate to; in fact 70 million people around the world can claim Irish roots.
In Rhythm & Roots, the fictional Tierney family flee Ireland in 1847 to escape the Great Hunger, and set sail for St. John, New Brunswick. Surviving a perilous journey on an overcrowded, sorrow-filled ship, the indomitable Tierneys overcome terrible hardship and prosper in their new homeland.
While the family is fictional, Tara School of Irish Dancing dance director, Margaret Mullen says she did in-depth research when writing the script, so the production authentically portrays the events and struggles of the people of Ireland.
Generations of the Tierney family prosper in New Brunswick and migrate throughout Canada and North America. Throughout their ordeals and over generations, the Tierney`s find comfort in the rhythm of the music and dance of their homeland.
They are fortunate indeed to have strong roots, Canadian roots, Irish roots and the rhythm of the dance 鈥� they have it all.
This heart-warming story will be portrayed by richly costumed dancers whose precision and skill will set the audience clapping its hands and tapping its feet in time to the stirring music.
The Tara Dancers have been working on the production since September and will be bringing exciting new choreographies to the Tidemark stage. Using music from leading dance shows and live music segments, all choreographies are original works of the dance director.
Mullen says the live music segments are always a highlight of their shows and this year`s 'below deck' scene will feature music by Strathcona Symphony`s Blaine Waldebauer and the Hyatt family.
Multi-talented Summer, Emma and Shayla Hyatt are also lead dancers in the performance and young dancer, Shayla Hocking, will surprise with her fiddling, dancing skills.
Rhythm & Roots will take the stage at 2 p.m. For more information, call 250-287-7465 or visit www.taraschoolofirishdancing.ca.
鈥� Tara School of Irish Dancing
