Rising ‘Riverdance’

It had to happen: “Riverdance” groupies.

“It’s crazy,” said Eileen Martin, co-star of the Irish step-dancing production. “They travel from city to city and follow us around. There’s this sweet man and lady from Boston; we see them again and again, and you’re like, ‘I don’t believe they’re here again.’ ”

The hugely popular extravaganza--which promoters boast has been seen by 6 million people worldwide since it premiered in 1994--starts an 11-day engagement Wednesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, the show’s first time in the county.

Some critics have said it’s time to call a halt to the high-stepping, ‘90s-style jig-fest that is “Riverdance.” But still it enthralls audiences around the world--even, evidently, in cities where it’s toured before.

“The show broke box-office records in Des Moines last week,” director John McColgan said recently by telephone from his Dublin home, “and it gets a standing ovation every single night.

“What differentiates ‘Riverdance’ from other spectacle productions like ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Les Miz,’ ” McColgan said, “is that all of the artists in this, whether they are Irish, African American, Russian or Spanish, come from a deep-rooted tradition, and they are not really playing characters. They are representing their tradition and their own skill with a great pride and naturalism.”

“Riverdance,” featuring Martin and partner Pat Roddy, loosely tells the story of the Irish diaspora spurred by the mid-19th century potato famine that hit much of Europe, especially Ireland.

Their spines ramrod straight and thighs and feet flying, the 80 cast members also exuberantly tap out the evolution of Irish dance, illustrating how African American, Russian and Spanish dance forms left their marks.

The show began as a seven-minute song composed by Bill Whelan, first performed in 1994 at Eurovision, an annual European song competition. One year later, it was transformed by McColgan, his wife--producer Moya Doherty--and eight choreographers into a stage show.

Its first and biggest star was Michael Flatley. Was, as many know, because Flatley moved on to create his own star vehicle, “Lord of the Dance.” While he was still with the original troupe, Flatley danced opposite Jean Butler, whom Martin replaced in 1996. The Boston Globe gushed over Martin, a 5-foot-4 brunet: “She sails forth effortlessly, as if propelled by the wind.”

‘A Good Audience

Feeds the Need’

During a recent interview from an Arizona tour stop, the bubbly Martin, 23, recounted in a breathless brogue how she too had danced in Eurovision, then went on to understudy Butler, a redhead who is 7 inches taller.

“Taking it over yourself, you had to put your own stamp on it,” she said. “I think because I’ve been dancing since I was 4, I’ve got my own style, so once you start dancing, that comes through. It just sort of happened.”

The daughter of an Irish dancer, Martin was accustomed to success before “Riverdance.” She won her first World Irish Dancing Championship at 12 and garnered myriad awards throughout Great Britain.

But the standing ovations never get old, said Martin, who leads one of three casts now touring the United States and Europe. In fact, it’s the audience’s enthusiasm that helps the company keep the show fresh, she said.

“A good audience feeds the need to keep going,” she said.

Some dance purists have charged that “Riverdance,” performed with a show-stopping Vegas flair by dancers in mini-skirts, has abandoned its folk-art roots.

Martin disagrees.

“When it started, a lot of the Irish dance teachers weren’t very happy; they thought maybe it was going to ruin traditional Irish dancing, but I don’t think it has. The steps are all the same; it just contemporized it and made into a stage show. Also, the traditional costumes are very heavy--they’re hard to dance in, so they made them a bit sexier.

“When I started dancing, it was a hobby for me,” she added. “When you’re younger, you don’t really think of what you’re doing; you just go and do it because you love it.

“When ‘Riverdance’ came along, it made us all realize how popular Irish [culture] was. Even in the States, people come back[stage] and want to tell you about their Irish roots. It’s very touching for us; we didn’t realize people were so interested.”

No One Knows How

Long It Will Last

Martin doesn’t want what she calls her dream job to end for a good long while.

“No one knows how long we’re going to last physically,” she said. “The show is very, very strenuous; it’s hard on the body.

“At the moment, I really want to stay with this for a few more years,” she said. “But it could end at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning. You keep that in the back of your head. It’s a risky business.”

* “Riverdance--The Show” opens Wednesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. Also Thursday-Saturday and June 8-9, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. $45-$70. Through June 13. (714) 556-2787.

Times staff writer Zan Dubin can be reached by e-mail at zan.dubin@latimes.com.