Celtic Nights more than just a dance

A show that's part culture lesson and part entertainment will hit the River Campus stage next week when Celtic Nights brings its show to the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall.

Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Southeast Missouri State University, books main stage productions for the River Campus years in advance.

After watching videos of Celtic Nights performances, in early 2012, Cerchio booked the company from New York agency Columbia Artists to perform "Journey of Hope" at the River Campus at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"The video was good, the artistry was good, so it was pretty much very easy to book a company that had that level of performance," Cerchio said.

The River Campus hosts international ensembles every year, and Celtic Nights ranks as an international offering, which means it focuses on a particular country or ethnic style, he said.

River Campus box office manager Ellen Farrow said considering many people are of Irish or Scottish heritage, audience members will enjoy the storytelling songs, and can expect phenomenal, traditional Celtic singing.

"It's very peaceful [and] a lot of fun," Farrow said. "The tenor of the music, it's just soothing."

Celtic Nights' "Journey of Hope" will be performed by 12 singers and dancers, showcasing the story of people trying to find their place in the world.

Cerchio said that unlike other Irish companies that feature very hard, traditional and rhythmic dancing, Celtic Nights' performance will not focus on dance. Instead, "Journey of Hope" will feature a variety of Irish culture, including dance, music and costume.

"Instead of having to travel to Ireland to see this type of dance, we bring it here," Cerchio said. "It's the whole culture -- it's not just one thin line. It's multiple -- you're seeing the music, you're seeing the dance, you're seeing the traditional dress of the Celts. It's not something you're going to see walking down the street."

This is the first time Celtic Nights will make a stop at Southeast.

Audience members should not be worried about understanding the Celtic culture and music of "Journey of Hope," Cerchio said.

"Sometimes people over-analyze this stuff," he said. "It is, ultimately, an entertainment. It's a slice of a different culture. It's a slice of a different world, if you want to look at it that way. It's beautiful, it's fun, and all those emotions go through you when you see a company like this."

There are a limited number of tickets for Celtic Nights' "Journey of Hope" available for purchase from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., by calling 651-2265 or by visiting RiverCampusEvents.com.

adowning@semissourian.com.

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