Traditional Celtic dance will boogie into the 20th century next month when the StepCrew performs at the Center for the Arts.
The StepCrew, which consists of seven dancers, a five-piece band, three fiddle players and vocalists, is set to take Celtic dance to the next level. The production transitions from modern interpretations of traditional Celtic music and dance to original musical compositions created just for the show.
'They're all really highly accomplished performers. Some of them have been with Riverdance, others are with different groups,' said David Wedekindt, director of marketing for the CFA. 'It's more than just dance, it's the music too.'
The group is relatively new to the performance scene. According to Wedekindt, they have only just started touring and have never performed in Buffalo.
The crew also includes a female vocalist and features some of the leading musicians on the scene today. Founding member Cara Butler may be a familiar face for some of the audience – she made her television debut in a Folgers coffee commercial.
The founders are all from different areas of talent and have come together to put on a spectacular show.
'They all come from different groups, but they've all assembled to kind of create a super-group,' Wedekindt said. 'It's exciting to see them all together and I think people are going to be pretty amazed at what they see, especially for something brand new and making their local premiere.'
The StepCrew will also present a pre-performance talk in the screen room.
'They'll talk about what they're doing that night, the background of the performers, how they train, everything from what a typical day is like for them. It's kind of giving people a behind the scenes,' Wedekindt said.
The StepCrew is only one of many dance groups that will perform at the CFA this fall.
'There are different styles of dance and different people have their favorites,' Wedekindt said. 'We try to give the public a flavor of everything that is out there and we've made a very conscience effort to keep ticket prices affordable.'
Tickets for The StepCrew are $23.50 general admission and $13 for students. The performance will be held in the Mainstage Theatre.
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Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
