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BELISAMA IRISH DANCE DRAWS CROWDS, SELL-OUT PERFORMANCES
Live Music by Post-Folk Notables Laura Cortese and Jono Manson a Hit!
April 2012
SANTA FE, NM.

With attendance swelling over 1,000 throughout the weekend and a sell-out Sunday finale, Belisama Irish Dance presented an energetic, crowd-pleasing concert of live Irish dance, fiddling, and song at James A. Little Theater St. Patrick's Day weekend, March 16-18, 2012. More than fifty Belisama dancers took the stage in Santa Fe for the sixth annual 'Rhythm of Fire,' featuring national champion performers and internationally award-winning choreography. Among audience favorites were 'Gillie,' newly updated for 2012 World Championships in Wexford, Ireland; a cappella 'Belisama Stomp' by Stomp's own Sean Curran; and 'Donegal Slip' by Michael Patrick Gallagher of Riverdance renown.

Also joining the three-show run was special guest musician Laura Cortese of Boston, recognized as one of the most intriguing and versatile musicians in New England's post-folk scene. Her highly visible work on fiddle, vocals, and bass includes appearances with Uncle Earl, Tao Seeger, Band of Horses, and more. Appearing alongside Cortese in Sunday's show was Jono Manson, prolific singer/songwriter and seasoned performer of New York City and Santa Fe. A local favorite, Manson has performed with Sheryl Crow, Dave Mathews, Taj Mahal, Pete Droge, Lenny Kravitz, Neil Young, Blues Traveler, Emmylou Harris, Ani DiFranco, Crystal Bowersox, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, and many others.

Boston Fiddler Laura Cortese to Perform Belisama Irish Dance Concert St. Patrick's Day Weekend!
March 2012
SANTA FE, NM.

Better Than Green Beer: Live Irish Song & Dance. Celebrated contemporary fiddler, singer/songwriter Laura Cortese will make a special guest appearance at Belisama Irish Dance's sixth annual 'Rhythm of Fire' concert this St. Patrick's Day weekend, March 16, 17, and 18th at James A. Little Theater in Santa Fe. Cortese is recognized as one of the most intriguing and versatile musicians in New England's post-folk scene. At home in numerous traditional styles, her highly visible work on fiddle, vocals, and bass includes appearances with Uncle Earl, Tao Seeger, Band of Horses, and—as part of Pete Seeger's 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden—Patterson Hood and Michael Franti. Her music is a hybrid of roots undertones and contemporary style, and simply put: "Laura is a totally rockin' fiddler, fun, high-energy, and really amazing songwriter. We are thrilled to have her join us for 'Rhythm of Fire!'" said Belisama Irish Dance Artistic Director Adrienne Bellis.

Appearing through Santa Fe Performance Exchange three times in the past two years, Cortese is looking forward to her next show back in The City Different: "I feel honored to bring my musical twist to such an artistic and engaging presentation of Irish dance. I wish we had Belisama Irish Dance in Boston!" She will present several of her own songs as musical sets during the evening with Belisama, as well as play with featured dances. This is a concert not to miss!

Belisama Irish Dance
March 2012
SANTA FE, NM.

INTERNATIONALLY AWARD-WINNING BELISAMA IRISH DANCE TO PERFORM SIXTH ANNUAL 'RHYTHM OF FIRE'

Belisama Irish Dance presents the sixth annual 'Rhythm of Fire' performance, March 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2012 at James A. Little Theater at the New Mexico School for the Deaf in Santa Fe, Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. Recognized for internationally award-winning Irish dance, Belisama will perform both world premiere works and signature favorites from their repertoire. Styles span traditional Riverdance to contemporary, and the program includes live music. A fast-paced, high-energy show for the whole family, 'Rhythm of Fire' will feature compositions by Artistic Director Adrienne Bellis, choreographer Michael Patrick Gallagher—former lead of Riverdance and current lead dancer in 'Celtic Woman: Believe' on PBS and DVD—and Celia Kessler, Associate Artistic Director for 'Rhythm of Fire.' Gallagher commented, "I was delighted to be asked to choreograph a number for the upcoming Belisama show. Belisama is one of the most innovative Irish dance groups currently performing in the western US, and the high caliber of the dancers made it a very easy and enjoyable experience."

Set to the melodic accordion and triangle sounds of Beoga tune 'Soggy's,' Gallagher's updated work for Belisama revisits a choice piece of new-traditional Irish music. "I had worked with the same piece of music for a show I did back in Ireland called 'The Rising Step,' so it was interesting for me to revisit it with new dancers, a new perspective, and a new energy," said Gallagher. A more avant-garde, raw arrangement, Kessler's 'Mecanix' highlights mechanical undertones with the cadence of dancers' feet. "'Mecanix' unites the industrial rhythm of hardshoe with lyrical softshoe, and their ability to complement and play off each other. It's light and dark, graceful and powerful, and the interaction between hardshoe and softshoe dancers lends itself to a dynamic experience," said Kessler.