The poet William Butler Yeats once wrote that Irish dancers had death in their eyes and fire in their feet. And now, many have dollars in their pockets.
Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” (which just ended another stay here) and “Riverdance” (which visits again in November) have made millions.
This bothers Mark Howard just a bit. As a 17-year-old competitive Irish dancer, Howard started the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance in 1979. It won world championships and appeared often on the “Tonight Show.”
In 1990, Howard created the professional nonprofit Trinity Irish Dance Company. He is its artistic director (and its conscience). Howard has praise for the dozen or so local Irish dancing schools and he remains a gentleman when reminded that many of the “urban inspired,” “progressive dance” routines in “Riverdance” and “Lord” were borrowed from Trinity.
“Sour grapes? No, not really,” he says.
“It was tough to see these shows making millions, but I see us being around for the next 30 years, pushing the boundaries.”
“Lord” and “Riverdance” are Trinity’s glitzy commercial cousins; “Disney on Ice” compared to the Bolshoi Ballet.”
`Riverdance’ couldn’t have happened without us,” he says. “But we are undoubtedly benefitting from its success.”
Recently, Trinity was signed by International Management Group and, on Monday, takes the stage at New York’s Joyce Theatre for a week of performances.
“It’s the most prestigious dance venue in the world,” Howard says.
Prestige can mean more than money.
