Emerald Storm

Emerald Theatre

WARNING: The tapping in this show is infectious, you will leave doing a time step. This is a feel-good dance show that is just a good vibe and is filled with some talented dancers.

Bring your tap shoes, girlies, because it's time for a night out at the theatre to see the vibrant new show 'Emerald Storm' by Adam Garcia. It's a tap and Irish dance fusion that will get you toe-tapping and singing along to familiar tunes. There's a song for everyone. The dancers and singers throw in their personality, it adds so much colour to this fun show. There's a range of dancers with different skills; they bring a range of personalities and energy. This show does not follow a storyline; it's a mix of question-and-answer sections, a bit of comedy, and a few dance-offs. The range of dance styles expands in the second act, and the show's quality improves in this act. It's great to see a dance show that is mostly tap; there isn't enough tap in shows these days. This is a show of energy, talent and variety.

There is a selection of dancers who stand out for their skill and vibrant personality. If you have seen the show, you will know exactly who the first dancer to mention is... Bayley Graham. This dancer's tap skills are off the scale, something like you've never seen before. He somehow manages to make tap look very cool. As soon as he enters the stage, he STEALS THE SHOW, and your attention is fixed on him. The confidence, talent and clear comfort he gets from being on stage is lovely to watch, but the way he makes tap his own and his skill is divine. That being said, the term 'talent' is a difficult one, because talent implies that it comes naturally, and it's clear that he has worked extremely hard to get to his standard of tap skill and his ability to display character through tapping.

Another standout out of course, was Olivia Graydon with her amazing Irish dancing. She is the main focus in the Irish dancing sections, and you can't keep your eyes off her fast-moving feet. She has so much charm, and she puts you in a trance with her dance. Graydon seems to lead the Irish dance sections and Graham leads the tap moments. It's great to watch their competative streaks in the dance battle sections. They work great as a dance pair and you kind of want to see more of it. The choreographers, Adam Garcia and Samantha Heather, have worked together to separate the two styles, but then fuse them, and it's interesting to watch their similarities. It's also very clear that the dancers enjoy performing their choreography and the creative control they have to make it their own. Each dancer reflects a different personality.

The way the show plays out is intriguing. There isn't a clear message or storyline; it just seems to be playful. It goes from dancing to Tom Ball singing, and sometimes both. It's clear it's set in a bar/pub, because the characters will have a drink from time to time. However, that's about as clear as it gets. It just comes across as a showcase of dance styles, singing and a variety of songs. On the other hand, the audience clearly enjoys it and can sing along to familiar songs. This is actually a clever tactic to get more people interested in dance by hooking with the popular songs. The first act is mostly tap and Irish dance, which does eventually get a bit repetitive, but then act two picks up and adds in other dance styles. This keeps the audience engaged and excited for what comes next. Bringing this variety into Act One would make the show stronger, as at times it feels like Act Two deviates too much from the Irish and tap style. A downside that doesn't help you appreciate the choreography to its full extent is how you want to focus on the dancer's feet to see how they are creating this beat, but the light bulbs that outline the stage make this difficult, especially if you are at the sides and close to the stage.

It goes without saying that this show will have a dance, song or moment that will get you tapping along. It's a show that is just a bit of fun and displays how hypnotising tap and Irish dance can be. The theatre it is set in, whilst the stage does cut off moments, is still a great venue for the style of the show. Tom Ball sings a section of the songs from the show, and his voice is incredible, but sometimes in the dance sections, he does feel a little out of place; he doesn't necessarily give off his character's 'Boss' energy. It was also great to get the backing dancers to take the songs further, and their voices are out of this world. It's also great to go to the show early so you can get involved with the pre-show entertainment. It is a fun evening out that is a bit different. There is also an opportunity after the show for you to dance with some of the cast and maybe even learn a little tap yourself. This is a great dance night out, and you will absolutely know a good handful of the songs! Get involved with this tap storm of a show, Emerald Storm.