By Michael Keegan-Dolan; Choregraphed and performed by Michael Keegan-Dolan and Rachel Poirier
Directed By Rachel Poirier and Adam Silverman
How to be a dancer is a memory dance and theater piece. Michael Keegan who came from a big familyrecalls how he always wanted to be a dancer but his feet were a problem. He was told that with his pigeon-toed feet, it might be very hard to be a dancer but that's what he desired the most and inspite of all odds he joined a ballet school where he was the oldest boy in the class.
In a bare room, there is a huge crater and Michael and his dance partner Rachel Poirier (extremely energetic and skilled in more than one way to say the least) opens it and take out certain items, such as flowers, tools and even a colorful children bicyle.
They set up the stage. right infront of us. Poirier happily rides that bicycle in a joyous manner. She is an amazing and fascinating presence throughout.
The story is about Michael growing up as an Irish boy surrounded by lots of brothers and sisters and
big dreams to dance. He was told by a teacher, " Is there anything else you might like to do with your
life?" But no, that's all he wanted, He was obsessed with dancing.
He eventually moves to England where in the 1980s he is not welcomed because the violence of
I.R.A. He was an outsider, a foreigner and lonely but with persistence and circumstance he turns to choreography and theater and dance and eventually achieved great success as a dancer, and a choreographer.
His last appearance as a dancer was in 1994 but he rose to acclaim as a choreographer of Opera and started his own company, Teac Damsa with Rachel Poirier.This is the story of his life told by him with great sense of humor and pathos. He is a superb story teller,
He doesn't dance much in the piece, but is a master of spoken words.
It's the most mesmerizing Rachel Poirier who is blessed with incredible talent of all kinds. She can sing, she can act, she is an expert with handling the props, jumping up on the crater, coming down with ropes and she can dance. Oh! can she dance? Yes, and yes again.
The highlight of the show is a fifteen minute solo dance by faboulous Rachel Poirier to Ravel's "Bolero". It's breath taking, she is lighter than air, she floats, she moves like a dream, she is so absorbedthe moment and throughly enjoying and enjoyable. What an ability, what a talent! It was amazing to watch every move she made on that stage. She is totally blessed with talent and grace. Both Rachel and Michael choreographed the dance and thay did a marvelous job.
Everyone should make an effort to see this vibrant show. I loved it.
REVIEWED
By
BINA SHARIF
ATCA MEMEBER
Editor/Publisher: artsinternational.blogspot.com
Email: binashariff@gmail.com
Mobile: 212-260-6207
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