Celtic Illusion combines dance and magic
Anthony Street doesn’t have time to deal with jet lag because he’s too busy creating a North American version of his hit Australian dance and magic show.
In 2011, Street created Celtic Illusion, a show that combines Irish dance with stage illusions, and it has been touring Australia and New Zealand on a regular basis ever since, even popping over to Hong Kong. Street has had his eyes on North America for the past few years but couldn’t find a co-producer who had faith in the concept.
That’s when Street contacted Calgary producer and promoter Jeff Parry who agreed to work with Street if he hired Canadian dancers and created it in Calgary.
“As soon as Jeff came on board, I sent out audition notices to dance schools in America and Canada to fill the 11 dance positions. We have Erin Roberge, Mackenzie Lillie and Rachel Cawker from Alberta. There are six male dancers plus myself and six female dancers in this company.
“I brought my production manager and lighting manager from Australia and Georgia May, who is the lead female dancer and my assistant in all the illusions. I am stacking this Canadian production because I want it to be the best it can be.”
When he was 20, Street joined the international company of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, eventually taking over the role Flatley had created for himself.
“Before I was a dancer, my great passion was magic and illusion but when I worked with Lord of the Dance for four years, magic got pushed to the side. When I decided to create my own show in Australia, it dawned on me I should combine my two passions because I might not get time to create two separate shows.”
Street admits Celtic Illusion is a bizarre concept but one that has proven irresistible to audiences “who want to see how the two concepts work. It may be curiosity that brings them to us, but it’s the energy and thrill of what they witness that keeps bringing them back.”
Celtic Illusion will open at the Jubilee Auditorium on Feb. 24 before it embarks on a 14-city tour of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The curiosity factor certainly seems to have kicked in because ticket sales are robust in every city. Calgary is one of the fastest-selling cities so a second show on March 7 at the Jubilee has already been added.
Parry admits he’s dumbfounded by the response to Celtic Illusion.
“In my 40 years as a promoter and producer, no show without a big name star or big name title has sold like this one and that is right across the board in our first Canadian cities. The plan is to take the show internationally as I did with our Beatles show, Rain. People have no idea what this show is all about but they absolutely want to see it.
“I’m really proud when we do take this show internationally, it will have the Calgary stamp on it.”
Street says part of his determination in creating this North American version of Celtic Illusion is to give young dancers the opportunities and rewards he reaped through Lord of the Dance.
“The many companies of Lord of the Dance created so much work for young dancers. It was a busy, exciting scene back then but it has eased off considerably in recent years. I’m trying to create a show that will provide for today’s young dancers the kind of opportunity I enjoyed and, for audiences, I want to give them a high-energy music, dance and illusion show.”
Tickets for Celtic Illusion are available through ticketmaster.