Riverdance bids goodbye with farewell tour

The Irish dance phenomenon Riverdance, which has been a staple on Broadway and touring circuits, is closing after this tour. The troupe brings its farewell performance to Knoxville on Feb. 17 and 18.

Marty Dowds, principal male lead and dance captain for Riverdance, says the production has kept him in shape and helped him see the world through the years.

Marty Dowds has been touring and performing on stage with Riverdance since 1997. In that time, he's traveled the world, played thousands of shows, and entertained millions of people with his iconic Irish dance. But this tour will likely be Dowds' last. Riverdance is closing after this tour.

"It's been an amazing journey," said Dowds, principal male lead and dance captain for Riverdance. "I never thought it would go for that many years. It was an amazing trip."

Riverdance had its world premiere at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, in February 1995, where it opened to critical acclaim and featured an exciting blend of dance, music and song that drew on Irish traditions. More than 15 years and 10,000 performances later, Riverdance has become a staple on Broadway and touring circuits.

Dowds said this tour has been emotional for the dancers and crew members, mainly because they're traveling through cities they would "never come back to."

"It's the last chance to enjoy the cities we're in," said the 28-year-old Dowds. "It's kind of sad. We may never be back."

Besides the tour stops, Dowds said he would miss "dancing in front of an audience" the most.

But now that Riverdance is closing, Dowds won't necessarily stop performing - he'll just have a different kind of audience. He plans to teach others the dance he loves through workshops and private classes. He credits Riverdance for creating the market for Irish-dance instruction.

The touring life has provided Dowds with a nonstop rush of amazing memories, including visits to the Great Wall of China and the Kremlin in Russia. But, ironically, he said that one of the toughest things about touring was actually taking a break.

"It's nice to have time off to relax," said Dowds. "But it's difficult to make the transition (back to touring). It's hard on the body."

Dowds said that whenever his tour ended, he had to stay in shape because the tours are so physically strenuous.

"On time off, I try to go to gym," he said. "You have to go to gym."

Dowds began his dance training at age 9 - which is actually late for Irish dancers to start the profession. "Most start when they're 3 or 4," said Dowds, who grew up in Donegal, Ireland.

What started as a hobby for the young Dowds got more serious when he began entering competitions - and that's when he got his big break.

After winning the World Irish Dance Competition in 1997, he joined Riverdance the same year. At the time, a then 17-year-old Dowds was shocked to be doing what he loved so much on the world stage.

"It was amazing," he said. "Something an Irish dancer would never expect in a lifetime."

But now it's time for Dowds, and the rest of Riverdance, to say goodbye to something they've loved for a long time.

"We've been on the road for so long," said Dowds. "All good things come to end. This is a good thing that has to come to an end."

Stephen Woodward is a freelance contributor.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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