I had the great fortune of ending a rather dismal 2020 in the most positive and memorable way possible. This holiday season, Riverdance launched two unique virtual programs designed to instruct, inspire, and entertain dancers of all ages: The Christmas Experience, a three-day dance workshop, and The Next Level, a two-day motivational webinar. Both programs were held via Zoom as derivatives of their summer school usually held in July. In fact, I was set to attend their academy in the summer of 2020 before COVID-19 hit, so participating in these programs meant so much to me. Above all, the Riverdance Christmas Experience and Next Level programs gave me the opportunity to receive world-class instruction and invaluable wisdom from renowned dancers regonized for their passion and dedication.
The Christmas Experience
For the three-day dancing programme, I was part of the Avoca group which comprised of about 23 students primarily located on the East Coast of the United States. About half of the group, including myself, were new students who had not before been exposed to the Riverdance choreography. Our group was led by Andy O’Reilly, who has been a member of Riverdance and Heartbeat of Home for 13 years. During this time he has undertaken principal and dance captain roles and has performed thousands of shows across the globe. A seasoned veteran of the stage, Andy made such an impression on me with his professionalism, sheer talent, and positivity.
“The Riverdance Christmas Experience and Next Level programs gave me the opportunity to receive world-class instruction and invaluable wisdom from renowned dancers”
My biggest apprehension going into the program was that the online platform would remove the personal aspect of Irish dance performance. In reality, we did have to troubleshoot Zoom a couple times. And since students had to stay muted during instruction, I missed hearing the natural flow of conversation and the background noise of hard shoes working through beats. Likewise, doing the program from home meant that I had to wear sneakers. There also was not as much individualized attention, but you could unmute at any time with questions.
However, Andy played an important role of assuaging the technological barrier. He was always upbeat, smiling, lively, funny, encouraging, and supportive – everything you would want in an instructor and mentor. He did a great job breaking down the steps while facing different directions and angles, which was especially beneficial for learning over Zoom. He kept us engaged and maintained the professional flow even when inevitable technical problems arose.
“I realized how I had never felt this excited to work hard”
Admittedly, it was hard not to feel overwhelmed when putting the steps together for the first time. However, I still found success and happiness with the program by bringing my best energy each day. Not only did I just learn the routines from the production, but I felt as though I was living the steps with the iconic Riverdance music.
The Next Level
Following the three-day Christmas Experience dance program was a two-day interactive webinar called, “The Next Level”. I was impressed by the brilliant leadership from the hosts: Padraic Moyles, associate director of Riverdance, and Anna Mai Fitzpatrick, a principal dancer from the show. What made this event stand out from other webinars I have attended was the attention to detail and engagement. The Next Level featured energizing exercises, workouts, social challenges, and interaction using Zoom reaction emojis as well as posting questions and comments in the chat box. I truly felt like an active participant in the experience rather than just a passive listener. Speakers from all across the Riverdance community covered an array of topics: mindset and wellbeing, fitness and nutrition, adversity and opportunity, goal-setting, the art of performance, productive practice, creativity, and resilience. Each guest put their own spin on presenting information, from PowerPoint presentations, to videos and journaling activities, in both masterclass format and straight-up storytelling.
Bringing it All Together
During my five days with Riverdance, I quickly adopted a learn-it-all mentality, the first step in my commitment towards the Next Level. I will never forget how after the first day of the program, I realized how I had never felt this excited to work hard. It is true that there is a different kind of pressure between show dancing and competitive dancing, but I embrace this challenge with open arms. I am ready to commit to becoming the most vibrant athlete and dancer I can be, and then pushing a little more.
To me, this production, the brand, the community, is the epitome of what I believe to be, “The Next Level,” which involves a cycle of hard work, collaboration, and realizing potential. I dream of the opportunity to become a professional dancer and turn my lifelong passion into a career.
But this means so much more than dancing on a stage under lights and in front of an audience. The Next Level is about being a part of something bigger than myself, making it to the other side of a dream and coming back to share in that joy with others. I have never wanted something more in my life as an Irish dancer. When I think of what I want The Next Level to mean for me going into 2021, Patrick O’Mahony’s closing remarks from the webinar resonate the strongest: Give the dance the best you have, and the best will come back to you.
“I am ready to commit to becoming the most vibrant athlete and dancer I can be”
Above all, I am going to commit to myself, from dreaming big to creatively finding ways to help me realize those dreams. Visualization is key. I am going to commit to being original, and to being my best. If you are a dancer out there who is unsure about an online Irish dance experience, whether it’s a virtual seminar, Zoom classes, or a professional program like this, do not be afraid to try. It may be just what you need to propel you into the next level.
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