Riverdance, the high-energy celebration of Irish dancing, returns to the Sony Centre tomorrow — for the final time. The show that introduced the world to the art of dancing with weirdly straight arms will have four performances at the centre before disppearing from the Toronto stage forever.
Over its 16-year history, Riverdance has become a phenomenon, and probably helped the rest of the world stereotype Ireland for years to come.
And Toronto certainly was clamouring for it — five tours have stopped to play sold-out shows here.
With its roots in traditional folk dancing, Riverdance began as interval entertainment at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. The performance was given a standing ovation and a place in history (which must have left a bitter taste in mouths of that year’s winners, Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington, as they currently tour in, um, somewhere). From that one gauche, tacky song contest, a mainstream — if overly sparkly — crowd pleaser was born that has now been seen by 22 million people.
The spectacle, which has not been without its controversies, became a part of pop culture in the ‘90s. For anyone not familiar with Riverdance, think of it as an older generation’s version of Brit Pop: the dramatic departure of original star Michael Flatley was akin to a Gallagher brothers’ bar fight but, y’know, with more sequins.
Riverdance now has a warm and fuzzy place in the hearts of all ‘90s lovers. The experience was unlike anything else before it, a high-octane dance show featuring manly men in tights with all the mysticism of a Spinal Tap concert. While it may be a mass-market phenomenon, it is an excellent way to celebrate pseudo Irish culture. That, and drinking Guinness while listening to “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”
Sony Centre, 1 Front St. E. April 19-21. $34-$89.
