Dancing through time

“A Taste of Ireland” will bring Irish culture to audiences in the Rio Grande Valley at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the McAllen Performing Arts Center, located at 801 Convention Center Blvd.

Callum O’Neill, one of the lead dancers and deputy dance captain, described “A Taste of Ireland” as a live Irish dance and music production that tells the country’s history. 

“It’s set right from the beginning of Ireland, from the Irish folklores of the fina, and then it transports the audience through the history of Ireland,” O’Neill said. 

The show takes the audience through significant moments in Irish history, from the Great Famine and the Easter Rising to present day.

According to O’Neill, what sets the show apart is its commitment to live performance and audience engagement.

The show creates an interactive experience where “there’s a lot of [chances] for audience participation.”

“There’s a lot of moments in the show where, you know, there’s, like, a bit of back and forth between the audience,” O’Neill said. “They can heckle us, you know, like, every night’s different.”

Beyond the spectacle of dance and music, the show aims to take the audience on an emotional journey.

 “So, obviously, we hope they get to understand a lot more about Ireland’s history, but we also want to take them through that emotional journey of what happened through Ireland,” he said.

The routines are high energy and intricate, demanding a high level of fitness and artistry from the performers, O’Neill said.

He told The Rider one of the show’s producers, Kaylee Moore, said it best, “‘you have to be as fit as a footballer, but pretty as a ballerina.’”

O’Neill added the tour has been a resounding success, with audiences expressing their gratitude and enjoyment. 

“You know, the crowds have all loved the shows.” he said. “Like, we’re always hearing positive reviews about the show, which is always amazing to hear, because we go out after the show as well to get pictures and stuff. And honestly, everyone absolutely loves it.”

O’Neill also emphasized the importance of dance as a means of cultural exchange. 

“Irish culture, you know, everyone, has a little bit of Irish in them, or is interested about the culture, like you look in any corner of the world, and you can find an Irish Pub in any culture of the world,” he said. “So for us, it’s really important, because we get to spread our culture. Everyone gets to learn more about it, and it just, it just really embraces being Irish.”

Sharing stories and messages within the show is a source of passion for O’Neill, particularly those that shed light on lesser-known aspects of Irish history. 

“It’s just, obviously, there’s a lot of things that people don’t know about islands, like the famine,” O’Neill said. “… Stories that people have never seen before, and even like the folklore, like the fina … or like children of Leo. … It’s just, it’s just nice to see that all of this is actually being shared on stage.”

O’Neill’s personal passion for Irish music and dance began at a young age.

 “From the minute I stepped into my very first dancing class, I just seen how everyone was in unison with each other, and I was like, it was just so fascinating to be able to sit there and watch it,” he said.

A career highlight for O’Neill was the company’s Broadway debut. 

“I just remember the day of the build up towards the show like it was such an exciting moment for the company, and like everyone was just buzzing,” he said. “Everyone was like, at the best form, and everyone was just so excited, because it was such a major step for the company.”

Tickets for “A Taste of Ireland” can be found at Ticketmaster.com.