The Journey
It was ten years ago when the idea behind The Magic of Ireland first came into being. This was an exciting time for Irish culture as Irish dance productions were seeing unparalleled budgets and were playing previously unimagined locations. At this time, Peter Jacobs was busy promoting one of the most successful Irish dance shows of all time - Gael Force. He was not surprised by the audience's overwhelming response to the production for he was familiar with the appeal of Irish music, having promoted the infamous Daniel O'Donnell for years already. Yet, his intuition told him that these large-scale productions lacked something that would endure past the initial craze. He felt that the very thing that was attracting audiences was being glazed over in order to meet the requirements of larger venues and higher ticket prices. To his mind, these shows were ignoring the most important elements of Irish dance and music cherished by audiences worldwide. In fact, the haunting sound of the pipes, the energizing sound of the taps, the deep rhythms of the bodhrán and the shrill cry of the fiddle – the best of the Irish experience - were unfortunately being over-produced, and pre-recorded. Thus, began the germination of an idea to create a fresh and authentic show – eventually to become The Magic of Ireland.
In years to come, Jacobs would continue to promote other acts as he refined his concept of offering an authentic and all-live Irish dance show. In 2001, Jacobs decided to step into the role of producer and began hiring dancers and musicians for his own Irish production. Despite a series of false starts, Jacobs persevered and finally fell upon two people who were to become instrumental to creating The Magic of Ireland – musical director October Browne, and Dance Director Catherine Couperus. Both women shared Jacobs' vision of creating an intimate production that would showcase the best of Irish culture in an atmosphere that suited the energy and spirit of the tradition.
A multitalented musician, Browne had performed for years both in North America and across the water where she was born. Her extensive repertoire was put to good use as she developed intricate musical arrangements for the production. She quickly found the best musicians from around the globe and put together a band that was up to the challenge of performing a broad range of Celtic tempos and styles, all absolutely live. The result is an exciting and widely acclaimed group of four musicians – on 11 instruments, and featuring the fiddle player from the movie The Titanic - who continue to impress and keep audiences clapping night after night.
Catherine Couperus was originally hired as a lead dancer in the production but Jacobs soon discovered that her vision and talents extended much further. A Champion Irish dancer, Couperus was also an experienced performer having danced for renowned acts such as The Chieftains and having toured extensively in the past. Her experience had also taught her that audiences deserved a show that demonstrated a high standard of dance while at the same time respecting the traditions that had inspired audiences for centuries. As Dance Director, Couperus' goal was to find dancers with the ability to convey, from the stage, their enthusiasm and love for Irish dance. An exhaustive search resulted in a cast of 10 award-winning, champion dancers from around the world. Since the show began, these dancers have been instrumental in developing an intimacy with the audience and creating an atmosphere similar to a genuine Irish Ceili. The dancers' enthusiasm, energy and precision on stage have been highly acclaimed both by audiences and reviewers.
The most exciting thing that The Magic of Ireland offers is its sense of spontaneity. It is a true group effort and all the members of the troupe collaborate together both on and off the stage. The beauty of the show is that it is impossible to guess exactly what the evening has in store; perhaps an unexpected seisiún amongst the musicians, or a dancer might suddenly be motivated to jump up on stage unannounced. Always evolving, The Magic of Ireland reflects the spirit of Irish tradition and has brought into being what began as a simple idea. It is exactly what an Irish dance show is meant to be – authentic, live, and a sheer delight.
