APR. 29/30 MAY 1

KIP AOKI / KAOKI@STARBULLETIN.COM

LORD OF THE DANCE Strike the pose: Lines of lovely lasses will be featured in this popular touring show.

One island to another

The Celtic show
‘Lord of the Dance’
returns

As a performer with the "Lord of the Dance" troupe, Geraldine Bergin may get quick glimpses of more places than most individuals on a tight work schedule. But as the saying goes, perhaps people are the same everywhere -- or at least Bergin can say that about fans of "Lord of the Dance."

Let's dance "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance:" Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall When: 8 p.m. Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 3 and 7:30 p.m. May 1; 7:30 p.m. May 4 and 5; and 8 p.m. May 6 and 7 Tickets: $49 and $59 ($44 for matinees, $54 for Wednesday and Thursday evening shows). Ten percent discounts available for groups of 20 or more by calling 732-7733. Call: (877) 750-4400 or go online at www.ticketmaster.com

Demonstrative devotees worldwide display their affection for the Celtic show in similar ways, either by giving the dancers little trinkets along the tour or announcing new information they have for Web sites dedicated to the show.

But one recent memory stands out as a personal favorite tour stop for the lead dancer, partly because it was a novel experience. And while the spot was in Europe, no, it wasn't Ireland.

Bergin liked the Grecian audiences last year. "(The cheering) was like it was for a football game," she said of the shows held there for the first time. "Most of the time, fans of dance tend to be a little more reserved. But then again, it was held outside. And one of the shows was at 1 a.m."

Despite the enthusiasm of the shows in Greece, the place Bergin is most looking forward to is Hawaii -- as in really, really looking forward to it.

Her previous trip to Oahu for "Lord of the Dance" was cut short. In 1999, the dancer injured herself during rehearsals in Honolulu. Faster than you can say feis (Gaelic for Irish dancing competition), Bergin was whisked onto the next flight home to New York after spraining her ankle.

But now, "the countdown to Hawaii has begun," Bergin said via phone from Pensacola, Fla.

Her proud parents, Michael and Vivienne, had originally flown in for their daughter's planned performance in Honolulu back in '99, even cashing in their frequent flier miles for such an occasion. They have seen her in all three of the "Lord of the Dance" troupes she's been in.

"They are official groupies," Bergin said affectionately.

WHAT BERGIN did know of Irish dancing, she learned from her parents.

"I still get nervous (dancing) in front of them when they're in an audience," she said. "But they're so nice. My mom never criticizes. Sometimes I wish she would."

Both of her parents are qualified to critique her dancing; they are teachers of The Dance. Her mother has even passed her Irish dance studio on to Bergin's sister, Michelle, and the sons and daughters of her other sisters are learning the complicated steps, as well.

"Whether they want to or not," she said.

While Bergin was raised in New York in the town of Bayside, both her parents, who met at a dance, hail from the Emerald Isle. On top of that, Bergin's mother and the mother of her best friend and tourmate Ciara Lennon were also best friends while growing up.

Lennon and Bergin didn't meet until both were actually hired as dancers in the troupe. And Bergin met Lennon's cousin during auditions.

"Who would have thought that the daughters of two best friends would become best friends (themselves) -- one from Ireland and one from the U.S. -- and be able to travel together?"

But as Bergin said more than once during the interview, Irish dancing is not really a dance form that brings in money. "Especially in the days before 'Lord of the Dance,'" she said. The only money to be made was through competitions held on local, regional and international levels at dance schools.

Being in "Lord of the Dance" provides a small safety net. "A lot of the dancers are happy (just) to be in the show," she said.

EVEN THEN, only a few of the best Irish dancers get into the show. Even fewer get to dance with choreographer Michael Flatley, who put together the show in 1996. Bergin was one of the lucky ones, performing in the original dance troupe with the flamboyant creator.

"He's inspirational. He's a perfectionist. But he's very positive and never has a bad word to say," she said. (In the show, Bergin plays "good girl" Saoirse.)

Before "Lord of the Dance," the accomplished dancer had won many a competition in Irish dancing. Although Bergin has performed with the troupe for eight years, she can still easily recall her audition for the show at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

"It was very, very nerve-wracking," she said. "I had never been to an audition before, just competitions."

Bergin and her three sisters were raised on The Dance. "From the day I could walk, the Irish shoes were on. I did always love dancing. But making myself go to regular practice before competitions on weekends, knowing my friends were going out, was hard when I was 16 or 17. But all those friends come and see me in shows and they're so proud."