HONG KONG FIRST TO EYE FANCY IRISH FOOTWORK OF RIVERDANCE - THE SHOW

The kings and queens of fancy footwork hit the Hong Kong stage this October with Riverdance - The Show. Hong Kong will be the first stop on their 2000 Asia tour.

Endorsed as a “Spotlight Hong Kong” event by the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA), Riverdance – The Show, reinforces Hong Kong’s status as the Events Capital of Asia.

The current Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe are all World Champions and hail from Ireland, Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. With three Riverdance companies — The Liffey, The Lee and The Lagan — Riverdance–The Show has been seen by nearly 10 million people worldwide since its launch in Dublin, Ireland, in 1995. There have been more than 3,500 performances in more than 90 venues in 18 countries. During its season on Broadway, Riverdance – The Show was second only to The Lion King.

Exhilarating performances by The Liffey company led by internationally renowned dancers Breandán de Gallaí and Joanne Doyle will take place for a limited season from 13 October at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

Starting on their quick-step to fame as the interval act of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, Riverdance lifted the hearts and touched the souls of their international audience. Since then they have never looked back, transforming their small act into a full-length stage show that has enraptured millions by capturing the energy, mystery and spirit for which the Irish are renowned.

Garry Van Egmond Enterprises, the promoter responsible for the three biggest concert tours to Australia in recent years, is bringing Riverdance – The Show to Hong Kong.

With its star-studded production team, co-promoters IMG Arts & Entertainment — a division of the International Management Group — is ensuring that all of the visual and audio pleasures of Riverdance – The Show touches the senses of audiences at each performance. The venue will be reduced to contain only 4,500 seats to create a more intimate style of auditorium. The set — weighing more than 25 tonnes — will be one of the largest ever seen in Hong Kong, requiring an entire Boeing 747 freighter to transport it from Europe. Two thirds of the Hong Kong Coliseum will be dedicated to production.

Producer Moya Doherty, the brainchild behind the Riverdance phenomenon joined Radio Telefis Éireann (RTÉ), the Irish National Public Service Broadcasting Organisation in the 1970s. After a stint with London’s TVAM breakfast television service, she returned to Dublin where she was appointed to handle Eurovision. The rest, they say, is history. Since Eurovision Riverdance – The Show has gone on to be one of the most successful stage shows of all time. In recognition of her achievements, Doherty was voted 1997 Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year.

The music for Riverdance is composed by Bill Whelan. He is a record producer whose work encompasses everything from Kate Bush and U2 to operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan. Riverdance – The Show is an abstract and impressionist history of Ireland and its people, from the dawn of civilisation to the present time. He recently completed the score for the Terry George/Jim Sheridan film, Some Mother’s Son, the soundtrack for which was a Top 20 hit. Whelan won the 1997 Grammy award for “Best Musical Show Album” for Riverdance – The Show CD.

Saturday and Sunday matinee ticket prices are (Category A) HK$550, (Category B) HK$350 and (Category C) HK$225. Tickets for the Tuesday to Sunday evening performances are (Category A) HK$650, (Category B) HK$450 and (Category C) HK$250.

Premium reserve tickets for the evening performances cost HK$1,500, whereby patrons enjoy special privileges such as prime seat locations, a private reception area, pre-performance and interval champagne and hors d’œuvres, and a souvenir programme as a memento per couple. A limited number of family packages and student tickets are available for categories A & B for all performances.

Tickets are available through tixMart on (852) 2815 1516 and through URBTIX outlets on (852) 2734 9009. It is also possible for overseas visitors to make advance reservations through the URBTIX hotline on (852) 2734 9011 (Hong Kong time 10:00am to 8:00pm daily). Overseas patrons will be faxed a form to confirm their booking information and credit card details (payment by VISA or MasterCard are accepted). Tickets will then be reserved for up to three days. Upon receipt of the fax confirming payment, redemption letters will be faxed long with location maps of the venue for easy collection of tickets. The service fee is HK$20 per reservation.

Riverdance – The Show is sponsored by Omega and co-sponsored by Texon Media, TVB Pearl, 104-FM Select, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Harbour City, Orange and GreaterChina Technology.