A great big high kick toward his face is Liam Fitzgerald’s favorite part of the night.
And as one of the principal dancers in the traveling show “A Taste of Ireland,” he regularly gets to put his legs to the test during improvised dance-offs. It’s especially fun because the principal dancers have small mics taped to their tap shoes, all the better to help the audience hear the clickity clacks.
“Lots of shows have pre-recorded taps,” Fitzgerald said from the road. “Our show is completely live tap. Each night there is an opportunity, especially during the boys’ number, to do our own bits. Each night we get to do something different.”
“A Taste of Ireland” will come to Pikes Peak Center on Wednesday.
Fifteen dancers, a guitarist, fiddle player and vocalist unspool Ireland’s history through Irish music and dancing and screen projections, including its beginnings, mythical tales and other historical events, such as the Irish Potato Famine. Traditional songs include “Danny Boy,” “Tell Me Ma” and “Wild Rover.” The highly decorated cast features a mix of dancers from Lord of the Dance and Riverdance, as well as Irish dancing champions.
“Everyone seems to love Irish dancing shows,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s a lot of demand. A lot of people in America have Irish backgrounds at some point. A lot of people feel connected with their ancestry when they come to the show.”
Fitzgerald found his footing at 3 in his godmother’s Irish dancing school in Sydney, Australia, where he grew up. The dance is in his genes.
“My mother Irish danced,” said Fitzgerald, 21. “My sister was Irish dancing, so I got taken to Irish dancing one day and never left.”
Dancing provided the opportunity to travel to competitions and make good friends, but it also helped quench his desire to make noise.
“I like how you get to be creative,” he said. “With lots of styles it’s about creating shapes with the body. In Irish dance you have to make certain shapes but you also get to make noises with your feet. It’s that added layer Irish dancing has.”
His favorite number comes in the second act.
“It’s an all boys a cappella number,” he said. “We get to interact with the audience and the other boys on stage. We might ask the audience a couple of questions or make fun of the other boys’ dancing or be impressed. We get to break the fourth wall.”
Contact the writer: 636-0270
Contact the writer: 636-0270