An Irish step dance spectacular is coming to Weymouth next week. The cast and production team of RHYTHM OF THE DANCE tell JOANNA DAVIS what the audience can expect from this celebration of Irish culture.

RHYTHM of the Dance is a two-hour dance and music celebration of Irish culture through music and dance which was created in 1999 and inspired by the epic journey of the Irish Celts throughout history.

Featuring world champion dancers, a traditional Irish band and singers, this richly costumed show has been consistently rated as one of the most popular and successful Irish step dance tours in the world and performs across the UK this summer.

Rhythm of the Dance presents the ancient and modern by combining traditional dance and music with state of the art technology to give audiences of all ages a unique experience.

The multi-award winning show has, over the last 19 years, performed to more than six million people in more than 58 countries across the globe.

Lead dancer Amy Marie Prior, 21, performed at the Hennigan O’Loughlin School of Irish Dancing in London.

She subsequently won six world medals and five southern regional Oireachtas championships. Amy turned professional when she was 18 and completed her first tour in Russia and Europe in 2015 and in 2016 joined Rhythm of the Dance as lead female dancer.

Amy said she loves meeting people on the different tours from different countries and becoming a family with everyone in the show.

She added: "Taking that final bow at the end of the show is what makes me appreciate my job and realise how lucky I am."

Her favourite part of the show is a soft shoe solo which leads into a duet, she says.

"I also really like the Bodhran number in the second half as it’s one of the musicians and the boys against me in our heavy shoes. It’s always said to be a favourite number with the audience."

Amy names the five things she can’t live without while on tour as firstly her blanket. "It goes everywhere with me and it’s perfect for long trips on the bus," she said.

Next in the line of importance- "The ice bucket that I get into filled up to my hips after every show! This helps my muscles and especially my feet so I’m not sore the next day.

"I also rely on glucose tablets and my blood sugar monitor – I suffer from hypoglycaemia which is low blood sugar. It can be tough to keep my sugars at a reasonable level when burning so many calories off during every show."

Other key items for Amy are her earphones so she can 'zone out' before the show when stretching or getting ready.and her makeup and dancing shoes.

Choreographer Dane McKiernan is also a lead dancer in the show. He has been dancing since he was six and began touring the world in 2007 with the National Dance Company of Ireland’s Rhythm of the Dance. In 2009 he joined ‘Riverdance’ and in 2012 was part of the modern Irish dance group Prodijig which won Sky TV’s Got to Dance. He subsequently toured with Prodijig in the show ‘Footstorm’ and returned to Rhythm of the Dance in 2014 as lead dancer and choreographer.

He said: "With Rhythm of the Dance I most enjoy having a creative outlet with the choreography and watching the show come alive every night onstage."

Dane's favourite part of the show is the opening number: "Newgrange at Dawn starts with acapella rhythms and builds to a full company routine with the band. It definitely wakes up the leg muscles and lets them know they have another two hours to go!"

Touring involves plenty of travelling and getting to see new places almost every day, which Dane enjoys.

He said: "It’s only after a couple of years you start to become familiar with some places you would have probably never thought to visit."

Dane loves to watch the audience reaction throughout the show.

He said: "I especially love it after the opening scene because for the first time you get to see if they are going to be a vocal or reserved crowd. "Depending on the country or region, some audiences are especially vocal whereas others are quite reserved until the end of the show. The world tour we just completed had standing ovations after every single show and that’s just the best feeling after performing for two hours.

"When the audience are enjoying the show, it definitely lifts the cast on stage to perform at the highest level; it’s all about creating that energy every night!"

Producer Kieran Cavangh explains that Rhythm of the Dance came about after he was asked by the RTE (Ireland’s national broadcaster) to assemble an Irish dance troupe to accompany the RTÉ Concert Orchestra to America in 2009.

"It was such a success I developed and produced Rhythm of the Dance thereafter," he said.

His favourite part of the show is the Sean nós dancing - a very traditional-style Irish step dance in its earliest formation, he said.

The show has travelled as far afield as China, India and Russia.

Kieran said: "It’s hugely gratifying to visit countries like this and see the audience very excited watching the show; it makes me feel very proud. "As a producer it’s really exciting to see your show onstage, performing to sell-out audiences who love what they see.

"And this show works everywhere – I think the combination of world class dancers, traditional Irish step dance and great music means the show is like no other. We’re looking forward to our 20th anniversary in 2019 and we already have a full dance card!"

*Rhythm of the Dance, Weymouth Pavilion, Wednesday June 27. Call the box office for tickets and more information.