Trinity gives UCLA campus taste of true Irish tradition

Published: Friday, October 30, 1998

Friday, October 30, 1998

DANCE: Royce Hall show will help troupe receive accolades, credit its due

By Danielle Myer

Daily Bruin Contributor

If a psychologist administered a word association test with the phrase "Irish Dance," the average person would immediately think "Riverdance." But the popular Irish step-dancing show isn't the only step-group on the block.

For those living in a Riverdance bubble, meet the Trinity Irish Dance Company.

On Sunday at Royce Hall, the Trinity Irish Dance Company, the inspiration behind Riverdance and innovative Irish step-dancing as Americans popularly know it, heel-clicks its way to UCLA.

"I always had sort of a left-of-center approach to my choreography," artistic director Mark Howard says. "I was always trying to let Irish dancing move forward and breathe."

Reacting to the lack of step-dancing troupes in the United States eight years ago, artistic director Mark Howard stepped up to the challenge and formed the first all-American troupe, siphoning classically-trained dancers from his private dance academy.

Before Riverdance or Lord of the Dance were a glimmer in an artistic director's eye, Howard waited in the wings, working with his company (which ranges from 20-25 years of age) to create innovative routines and revolutionize the Irish step dancing world.

One of the progressive routines (that Trinity conceived in Chicago and worked into its program) marries traditional Irish step with street tap-dancing. T.V. viewers may remember seeing the musical "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk" and "Riverdance" come together at this year's Grammy's to perform a routine much like the kind Howard and the Trinity dancers created years ago.

Because of this Chicago base, Trinity reaps the benefits of urban, midwestern America. By leading an American troupe in an urban center, Howard can use contemporary American dance styles (like ballet folklorico) and use them to inspire his own creations.

Howard says this leads to a visually stimulating performance, rather than a traditional, stoic, competitive dance.

"It could only happen (in America) because we are exposed to so (many genres)," Howard explains. "We see all these things that they don't see in Europe."

Though the troupe has yet to take an extended, serious European tour, it travels to Europe to compete in festivals. Irish television stations recruit them, taking heed of their international reputation as one of the best step dancing troupes.

Dance Captain Sheila Ryan, one of the founding members of the company, recalls performing in Ireland last April, where she won a gold medal at the Irish step dancing world championships.

She says one of the dances really blew judges away with its synchronicity and progressivism.

"That's a really cool feeling, when you go to the world championships in Ireland, when you're not from Ireland, and you can bring something to the table," Ryan says. "You really have to be good for them to recognize you if you're from outside."

Juxtaposing tap and Irish step or African rhythms with Irish melodies demands that Ryan and the rest of the company involve themselves with many different cultural genres and historical knowledge.

Many of the dances tell historical stories about Irish immigrants in America or Spanish immigrants in Ireland, so the dancers also need to understand the historical context of their performance.

This progressive nature of the Trinity Irish Dance Company has kept it on the forefront of the Irish step-dance movement.

"Among Irish dancing people, Trinity has been known for quite a while," says Christine Byrne, owner of the Byrne School of Irish Dance. "Howard may not have gotten the recognition outside of the Irish dance community, but he will now."

Previously turning down numerous offers to record a performance special for HBO or low-budget television productions, the company is now planning to make a video with a five or ten-minute montage about the history of progressive Irish dance and Trinity's influence on Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.

Howard explains that other Irish step shows took a different, mainstream route - one that isn't all bad. By immediately vying for a commercialized image, Riverdance and Lord of the Dance not only profited, but also raised awareness of the Irish step-dancing movement.

"Michael Flatley borrowed heavily from a lot of things that were going on here (at Trinity)," Howard says. "Riverdance would not exist if it was not for Trinity Irish Dance Company ... but we would not be where we are now without Riverdance.

"They grew directly out of us, but we benefited from that commercial success," Howard says.

Though the mainstream audience hasn't heard much about Trinity, the company is highly regarded on the Irish dance circuit and some people behind the scenes attribute Riverdance's success solely to Michael Flatley's commercial image, not the fact that it's a better company.

"It was just a matter of timing," Byrne says. "Flatley was the flamboyant figure that they needed to put Irish dancing on a world stage, to create a show ... but he wouldn't have been able to do that without the groundwork laid by the Trinity dancers."

So why do the dancers continue to perform and strive to change the way people view Irish step dancing when they aren't gaining the same recognition as Riverdance or Lord of the Dance?

According to Sheila Ryan, it's simple.

"Being a part of the organization has given us an opportunity to validate what we've spent all this time doing," Ryan says.

"A lot more people are seeing (Irish dancing) and seeing what a beautiful art form it is," he says.

Mark Howard and his company aren't concerned that Riverdance has received more commercial attention and popularity. For them, the art is not about performing in front of a small group or a huge crowd.

"I want the Trinity Irish Dance Company to be here long after Riverdance, evolving as something that only exists to create and innovate," Howard says.

It's time for Trinity to make some noise.

ON-CAMPUS: Trinity Irish Company will perform at Royce Hall on Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Central Ticket Office or by calling (310)-UCLA-ART.IMG Artists

The award-winning Trinity Irish Dance Company steps up to perform two shows on campus at UCLA.

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