Review of Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul at The Ordway in St. Paul, MN

Quote of the Day:  Tonight we're going to turn The Ordway into an Irish pub! Eileen Ivers, performance on March 17, 2013 at The Ordway Performing Arts Center in St. Paul, MN. I felt like I was at an Irish wedding dance. Your heart sings. Your feet tap. Little kids run down to the dance floor in front of the stage. The melodies, both haunting and exciting, course through your veins.

Eileen Ivers, promo photo from her website. Photo by Luke Ratray

 

The daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen Ivers grew up in the culturally diverse neighborhood of the Bronx, New York. Rooted in Irish traditional music since the age of eight, Eileen proceeded to win nine All-Ireland fiddle championships, a tenth on tenor banjo and over 30 championship medals, making her one of the most awarded persons ever to compete in these prestigious competitions.

Being an Irish-American, the intrigue of learning more about the multicultural sounds of her childhood took hold. After graduating magna cum laude in Mathematics from Iona College and while continuing her post-graduate work in Mathematics, Eileen fully immersed herself in the different genres of music which she experienced growing up in New York. Perhaps it was the mathematical mind coupled with her passion for seeking parallels in certain traditional music styles which contributed to what has become the signature sound featured in much of Eileen's recordings since the late 1980's.

(from Eileen Ivers' website)

 

What a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day to be filled with the exhilarating music of Eileen Ivers, her fiddle, and her fabulous band! You can't sit still while listening to this music. Your heart beats a little faster and you have to at least tap a toe. I envied the kiddos who jumped up and dragged their friends and grandparents to the dance floor. Some of those young lads and lasses could really dance a jig and had all the fancy footwork. I'll admit, I was a little intimidated. When I pop on the CD at home, though, I wiggle a little and practice the moves I saw!

 

Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul Band, photo by Luke Ratray

 

You can "Youtube" anything these days. Listen to as much recorded music as you like, but nothing, NOTHING, replaces the experience of live music. The energy in the room was intoxicating. Eileen Ivers and her band really did turn The Ordway into an Irish pub. By the end of the show, the dance floor was filled and overflowing up the aisles and into the balcony. What a rush. What an awesome experience. What an energizing way to celebrate being Irish (anyone can feel a bit Irish on March 17), and cultures beyond the seas and right here at home.

 

Thank you, Ordway, for inviting Eileen Ivers and her band and all of us to have a night filled with festive fun! Check out Eileen Ivers' schedule on her website. I hope she's coming to your neighborhood. You won't want to miss out on this party!!!

 

Go to The Ordway for info on upcoming music, dances, and shows. They have a great line-up yet this year, and next year's schedule looks amazing. I'm particularly excited to see Miss Saigon this fall, 2013.

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

Journaling Prompt: What is your family's heritage? How do you celebrate your own culture and other cultures in your neighborhood?

 

Review of Anytown at the Guthrie

Quote of the Day:  The song changes over time. It changes depending on who you're singing it to. The song changes. This is one of the quotes that flashed on the backdrop as the dancers were performing Anytown at the Guthrie, running through Sunday, June 24. I wish they had printed the quotes in the program along with descriptions of the songs and what the dancers were trying to tell us through their movements. Go to The Guthrie multimedia page for a rehearsal video clip.

The Guthrie Theater presents a Shapiro & Smith Dance production of Anytown, Thursday, June 21 - Sunday, June 24. Pictured: Kari Mosel and company. Photo credit: V. Paul Virtucio

Anytown is a dance performance by the Shapiro & Smith Dance Company using the music of Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band members Patti Scialfa and Soozie Tyrell. It tells stories of American life, the working class, the hardships, the relationships, the emotions of a lifetime.

The Guthrie Theater presents a Shapiro & Smith Dance production of Anytown, Thursday, June 21 - Sunday, June 24. Pictured: Kari Mosel and company. Photo credit: V. Paul Virtucio

Some images were clear to me. I felt the need and longing from Human Touch (opening number), the family conflict in Square Dance, the turmoil and conflicting emotions of When You're Young in the City, and the sexual tension in The Big Muddy. Other images and movements went right past me, I'm sure. I regretted not having a background in dance - for my lack of interpretation skills, as well as an envy of the dancers. They are beautiful and athletic. They look strong and powerful out there, so confident. I can't take my eyes off of them and wonder how many hours of training it must take to be so skilled and poised for an entire show like this.

The Guthrie Theater presents a Shapiro & Smith Dance production of Anytown, Thursday, June 21 - Sunday, June 24. Pictured: Maggie Bergeron and company. Photo credit: V. Paul Virtucio

I loved the staging of Maria's Bed, with the company sitting all proper like they're in church, sweet costumes, hats, jazzy movements, and the dancer in the back on the bed and moved towards the front, like we're one way in public and another in private.

My favorite number was St. Genevieve because it is about a river, how it flows and floods, and like life, you can't really move away from it. The choreography truly looked like a flowing river. And, the final numbers with Laura Selle Virtucio dancing solo, then the company joining her for Born in the U.S.A. and Glory Days were fantastic.

I know I missed some of the meaning and some of the story, and my techie son admits to not understanding much of it, but I chose to sit back and just watch and feel the emotions that the songs and dancers created. That was worth the drive to the cities from my home in Brainerd on a gorgeous summer night. As we left the city, just a hint of light was still on the horizon, golden and hopeful, and as we were heading north, flashes of lightning gave us a preview of the Fourth of July.

And, I had one more date with my oldest son, the HS graduate, who will be heading off on his own adventures, soon. He expanded his horizons just a bit more with this trip to the city.

He tried Thai food for the first time at Kindee near the Guthrie.

His was a milder noodle dish.

I had spicy red curry. Hoo! it heated up my mouth, but I cooled it off with that delicious iced coffee.

We both enjoyed the fried calamari, lightly breaded with just the right amount of spice in the dipping sauce.

(Thanks to our waitress Michelle for the great recommendations.)

Dare to expand your horizons. There is so much of life to taste and see.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Go out and try something new, a food, an artform, or even a drive down a new road. What have you discovered?