For those who might not know, Riverdance is an Irish-based tap performance. The show we went to last night celebrates the show’s thirty-year mark. My parents own a video of Riverdance performances and watching it it’s hard not to get up and try tapping with them; live it’s even more captivating and enthralling! I wonder what it is some people possess that enables them to “make something” of themselves or be “the best of the best.” Like practice one thing (tap) for hours upon hours and come out on top. Time and money is probably a factor, but I’ve put a lot of time and money into my writing and have never come close to being “first.” So there has to be more to it–to make yourself the first out of so very many people that have put in as much, if not more, time, money, energy and dedication.
As we took our seats a woman with a small updo sat in front of me. An annoyance, but small. Then directly in front of me sat a much taller woman! Throughout the performance I had to lean either far left or far right. But out of this inconvenience came an idea for a book! Or short story though I struggle to keep my stories short. I had intended for it to just be a romance but of course as the story took shape fantastical elements worked their way in. I’m not sure if it would be publishable as I’m not sure many people would like it.
But we went again the next night because we got much closer seats. It was so much better!! Watching it from farther away was comparable to watching a movie, but louder. Closer, it was real. We could clearly see their faces, them interacting–the fact that they were interacting with each other during the performance was very impressive. It seems so easy to lose place without full concentration, even with the steps completely memorized. Next time we’re planning to watch them on the big stage–in New York City!
Mikaela Nicole 