Colin Dunne probably wouldn't like the comparison but whilst watching his solo show "Out of Time" at Portlaoise's Dunnamaise Theatre on 30th November 2011 the thought struck me that Dunne's show is about rhythm. Dance is about rhythm and the most outstanding performance in the current season of the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" is a young drummer - Harry Judd of the boy band McFly.
Dunne has been dancing for 40 years. At the age of ten his achievement winning World, English and Irish championships in Irish dance earned him an appearance on Blue Peter. He trained as an accountant but never practiced, having established the basis of a career in dance by the time he qualified, instead touring with Irish traditional music bands like The Chieftains. In 1995 he took over Michael Flatley's role as lead dancer in Riverdance. It is Dunne you see in the "Riverdance -Live from New York" DVD recorded in 1996.
Master of Traditional and Contemporary Dance
Since then he has explored the relationship between Irish traditional dance and contemporary dance with Yoshiko Chuma and Michael Keegan Dolan. He continues to teach at the University of Limerick and has delivered master classes in USA, Europe and Russia. Out of Time premiered in January 2008 and was performed at London's Barbican Centre in February 2009. Dance critics reviewing the show in English national newspapers variously described it as "astonishing … engaging … seductive" (Telegraph); "a liberation" (Jenny Gilbert, Independent); "absorbing … sensuous [with] moments of revelation and power" (Judith Mackrell, Guardian). Gerald Dowler in Dance Scene International called it "amazing … fascinating" and "mesmerising".
For this "Ordinary Joe" who loves dance in all its manifestations as well as music that has rhythm, from Folk and Jazz to Rock and Blues it was enthralling to see a man use the whole stage, old film and modern audio technology as he explored the history of traditional Irish step-dance, parodying at times for sure, but also showing how the form can be developed to utilise all four limbs and the whole upper body rather than just the feet.
As I said at the beginning, the show is essentially about rhythm, including the rhythm of words as he delivers a spoken essay on the nature of Irish dance, the words capturing the rhythms of his naked feet as he skips around the stage.
Five Performances Remaining in Irish Tour
When Dunne wears tap shoes they are mic'd up to amplify and produce echoes of his steps and leg swings. Costume changes are undertaken at the side of the stage whilst black and white film of dance contests is projected onto the side of a white box which at other times provides Dunne with a platform on which to beat out rhythms with his bare feet.
The show's Irish tour continues with five further dates: 3 Dec., Letteerkenny, An Grianan; 7 Dec., Tralee, Simsia Tire; 10 Dec., Galway, Town Hall; 15 Dec., Longford, Backstage Theatre; 17 Dec., Ennis, Glor Theatre.
Frank Parker - Frank writes regularly on a diverse range of subjects which he researches thoroughly.
