'Riverdance' fans turn out for Cape Girardeau show

Rita Burk of Cape Girardeau said she and her husband Marl don't get out and drive much after dark anymore because of his eyesight. But the Burks made an exception Tuesday evening.

The Burks were among an enthusiastic crowd of 1,633 on hand at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau to see "Riverdance," the production that has thrilled audiences worldwide and helped to popularize Irish stepdancing.

Rita said she and Marl had seen "Riverdance" previously, and they weren't about to miss Tuesday's performance.

"I'd like to see it every time they come to Cape," Rita said. "It was the best performance I've ever seen."

David Peyton of Sikeston, Mo., was seated in the first row with his wife Krystal. The Peytons saw "Riverdance" in Columbia, Mo., a few years ago and were hooked.

Dancers perform during Act 1, Scene Two: The Heart's Cry, during "Riverdance," featuring The Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe and The Riverdance Band, at the Show Me Center on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

"I may have been the first one to get a ticket," David Peyton said.

Chester Brown of Carterville, Ill., said he saw "Riverdance" at Madison Square Garden in New York City and decided to bring his friend Peggy McBee, also of Carterville, to Cape for the performance.

"I think it's marvelous they way they can keep that body straight and move those feet," Brown said.

While "Riverdance" is noted for its trademark Irish stepdancing, the show is not all about the footwork. The dance numbers were interspersed with some beautiful choral and instrumental performances.

The audience held its loud applause mostly until the end of each scene, but occasionally showed its appreciation with spontaneous applause during a scene, such as Craig Ashurst's quick-stepping performance early in the production.

Ashurst, who has been performing in the lead role since 2007, and England's Chloey Turner were the principal dancers in Tuesday's performance. Twenty-three other Irish dancers performed, along with two American dancers and one Spanish flamenco dancer.

A five-piece band accompanied the dancers during the performance, which featured two acts and 19 scenes.

Tuesday evening's performance included not its trademark Irish stepdancing, but two other forms of stepdancing that are related -- tap and flamenco.

One of the most popular scenes in the production occurred during a scene called "Trading Taps." Acclaimed American dancer DeWitt Fleming Jr. joined Michael E. Wood in exchanging their best tap steps with Irish dancers in an international version of a tap-dancing challenge.

"Riverdance" has been performed before millions since its debut in Ireland in 1995.

The current North American tour, performed by the Shannon Company, will perform in 76 cities in the U.S. and Canada before the tour ends in June.

Pertinent address:

Show Me Center, 1333 N Sprigg Street, Cape Girardeau, MO