The Irish dance phenomenon: Celtic crossover - includes related article on Web sites

Dance Magazine, Oct, 1997 by Jann Parry, Gary Parks

"Irish dancers are only just beginning to learn what we can do in the theater," says Dunne. "What we need to do is develop a structure, maybe a training academy that teaches theatrical as well as academic technique, and that encourages experimental choreography. We can learn from other dance forms how to be expressive, how to take our traditions forward, instead of just passing exams and winning trophies."

RELATED ARTICLE: IRISH DANCING ONLINE

Irish dance isn't only breaking new barriers onstage. There is a wealth of material about it on the newest of information resources, the Internet. Both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance maintain official Web sites. The one for Riverdance is at http://www.riverdance.com. Lord of the Dance's site is at http://www.lord ofthedance.com/index.shtml. And Trinity Irish Dance Company has a site at http://www.trinity-dancers.com.

A good general description of the various forms of Irish dancing can be read on the page called A Brief Overview of Irish Dance at http://www.inx.net/~mar didom/rcidance.htm. This page is part of a larger Web site, Rince Ceol Amhran (Dance Music and Song), published by the Irish Arts Center of New York at http:// www.inx.net/~mardidom/rchome.htm. (For further information on dance at the Irish Arts Center, call Linda Downes at (718) 441-9416.) The Irish Arts Center pages include lists of books and music you can consult, as well as links to many other sites on the Internet.

And if Irish music is your interest, point your Web browser to Ceolas, which claims to be the largest online collection of information about Celtic music. Hosted at Stanford University in California, it's located at http://celtic.stan ford.edu/ceolas.html and includes a link to Stanford's IrishNet.

You can also find out more about Irish dancing in your area by calling the local Irish consulate (it's in the business section of your telephone directory's white pages under "Consulate General of Ireland") or by contacting the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, Dennis Dennehy, President, P. O. Box 258, Oak Lawn, IL 60454.