Heartbeat Of Home Closing Sunday at Fisher Theatre

Heartbeat of Home, the high energy dance show from the producers of Riverdance, closes in Detroit on Sunday. On stage at the Fisher Theatre, the spectacle is part of the Broadway In Detroit entertainment series.

Heartbeat of Home features dynamic and vibrant components of traditional Irish, Latin and Afro-Cuban music and dance. The world-class cast of 37 includes a ten-piece band creating a new and electrifying sound written by award-winning, Golden-Globe-nominated, composer Brian Byrne. The joyous, heart-stopping and high-energy production also features high-definition, cutting-edge projection technology.

Produced by Moya Doherty, conceived and directed by John McColgan with lyrics and narrative by award-winning Irish writer Joseph O'Connor, Heartbeat of Home showcases world-class dancers from Ireland, USA, Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Mexico and Spain and choreography by David Bolger.

The Heartbeat of Home creative team also includes John Carey (Irish Dance Choreography), Alan Farquharson (Set Design), David Torpey/Image Now (Projection Design), Monica Ennis and Niamh O'Connor (Costumes Styling), Peter Canning (Lighting Design), Ciaran Byrne (Sound Design) and Padraic Moyles (Assistant Director).

CAST BIOS

CIARA SEXTON (Featured Irish Dancer) started dancing at the age of three under the instruction of Marion Turley in the West Midlands, UK, winning numerous titles including five World and All-Ireland Championships. Her professional dance career began with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, performing the lead role of Morrighan. Ciara choreographs regularly for dance company, Celtic Feet.

EMMA WARREN (Featured Irish Dancer) is Dublin-born and began Irish dance as a child with the Elaine Kavanagh School of Irish Dancing. Highlights of her career include being a dancer/lead vocalist with Riverdance touring Australia, New Zealand, China and Dublin. She has appeared in Prodijig's Irish and UK tour of Footstorm and was a finalist on BBC's Over the Rainbow.

OLIVIA GRIFFIN (Featured Irish Dancer) is a senior at the University of San Francisco studying Science/Sports Medicine. She is trained in all types of dance including contemporary, modern, jazz, lyrical, classical ballet. She holds several national and international titles and was crowned World Champion of Irish Dance in Belfast in 2012.

BOBBY HODGES (Featured Irish Dancer) started dancing at the age of six in his hometown Bristol, England. After ten World titles, he became a professional dancer when he joined the cast of Lord of the Dance. Bobby was cast as the principal dancer performing worldwide for over three years across five continents. In 2012 Bobby joined Prodijig and helped create their debut show Footstorm.

RYAN McCAFFREY (Featured Irish Dancer/Assistant Irish Dance Captain) began dancing with the Irwin School of Irish Dancing in Calgary, Canada. By the age of ten he was a North American Champion, by thirteen he was ranked 2nd in the world. He starred in the West End production of Dancing on Dangerous Ground and then joined the cast of Riverdance on Broadway.

JASON O'NEILL (Featured Irish Dancer) is from Belfast. Under the tuition of the Armstrong School he won major solo championships at world level. Jason has toured internationally as a principal dancer in Riverdance. He was also part of Prodijig's show Footstorm and he has danced for Queen Elizabeth II, US First Lady Michelle Obama, and the Princess of Hawaii amongst others.

ROISIN LYONS (Irish Dance Troupe) began dancing at the age of three and has attended over twenty major championships including the World and All Ireland Championships and achieved a top ten place every year. She joined Lord of the Dance, performing alongside Michael Flatley in 2010 taking up the lead role of Morrighan in 2012.

CEILI MOORE (Irish Dance Troupe) has trained in music, drama, ballet, Irish, tap, and jazz. She is American National Champion and was placed second at the World Championships. Other career highlights include Dancing Down Under, The Wiggles, Candy Man the Musical and The Military Tattoo.

GIANNA PETRACIC (Irish Dance Troupe) is from Sydney, Australia, and attended the Halloran School of Dance training in Irish dance, ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap and musical theatre. She has won several State and Australian National titles and numerous North American Championship medals. She has also studied at the Australian Ballet School.

NATASIA PETRACIC (Irish Dance Troupe) is Australian-born and began dancing at age three with the Halloran School of Dance. She trained in Irish, tap, jazz, contemporary and also studied with the Australian Ballet School for three years. She won seven National Irish Dance titles and performed alongside The Wiggles for two years and toured with Celtic Illusion from 2011 to 2013.

SHAUNESSY SINNETT (Irish Dance Troupe) is from Goderich, Canada. She has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, musical theatre, acrogymnastics and Irish dance. She has toured the world as a professional Irish dancer and was a lead dancer with Celtic Crossroads and part of Universal Music's release of the show on CD, DVD, and television.

ERIN TREVENA (Irish Dance Troupe) was born and raised in Australia and is trained in ballet, contemporary, musical theatre and Irish dance. She has won four Australian Irish Dance Championships and began dancing professionally at the age of seventeen. She has toured worldwide for over four years, including a lead role in Gaelforce, and she was a semi-finalist in Got to Dance.

STEPHEN BRENNAN (Irish Dance Troupe) from Essex, England is a World Champion Irish dancer and has also won first place at numerous North American, Great Britain, and All-Ireland Championships. His professional career began with Riverdance in 2005. Other credits include Lord of the Dance, Celtic Tiger, Gaelforce and Magic of the Dance. He has performed in twenty-seven different countries.

TOM BROSNAN (Irish Dance Troupe)'s love of Irish dance began at the age of seven and he went on to place second at the World Championships. Football took him in another direction for years but he returned to dance in 2009. He has toured Europe, Australia, and South America and in 2012 he reached the semi-finals of Got to Dance.

WILLIAM BRYANT (Irish Dance Troupe) began dancing at the age of four with the Halloran School of Dance in Sydney, Australia. He trained in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop and Irish dance. He has appeared on the Australian television series Dance Academy and he has won major competitions worldwide including National and State titles in Australia.

BLAINE DONOVAN (Irish Dance Troupe) is from Colorado and found his passion when he began dancing at the age of seven. He has won regional, national, and world championship titles. In 2009 he took up professional show dancing and has performed in different states all over America.

FRED NGUYEN (Irish Dance Troupe) was born in Vancouver, Canada and has been dancing since he was nine with the De Danaan School of Irish Dance. Eight time Western Canadian Champion, two time North American National Champion and he has placed second at both the World and the All-Ireland Championships. He has performed for the Irish Pavilion during the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver.

ANDY O'REILLY (Irish Dance Captain/Irish Dance Troupe) started dancing for the Sean Eireann McMahon Academy at the age of nine. He is an All-Ireland, Great Britain, All-Scotland, and North American champion. His professional career began alongside Michael Flatley in a tour of Celtic Tiger. He performed with Riverdance for Queen Elizabeth II in Dublin and in Radio City Music Hall.

CLARE CRAZE (LatinDance Captain/Latin Dancer) trained in ballet, tap and modern at the Colne Bank School of Dancing and holds an honours degree in Performing Arts Drama from Middlesex University. She studied ballet, jazz, contemporary and choreography at the University of South Florida and performed on Broadway and on tour with Burn the Floor.

CURTIS ANGUS (Latin Dancer) trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and the Millennium Theatre School. Theatre credits includes: Viva Forever, Closing Ceremony of the Olympics, Adidas Fashion Show Caribbean Stories, Verdi's Aïda, Chess, Hairspray, The Darcey Bussell Farewell Performance. Television includes: My Dad's The Prime Minister (BBC), November Sky (Channel 4), Harry Potter Films 2,3,4 and various commercials.

VANESSA GUEVARA (Latin Dancer) is from Mexico. She has studied dance extensively in the US, Cuba, and Africa and has been dancing professionally for sixteen years in contemporary ballet/Latin social dance/Afro Cuban dance. She has danced for a number of high profile events including the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

ANGELO GIOFFRÈ (Latin Dancer) is from Milan in Italy and began dancing at the age of eight. He participated in national competitions and at the age of ten he started training in Caribbean dance. He has a degree in Dance and Television from the Music, Art, and Show Academy in Milan and he has worked extensively with choreographer Maykel Fonts and his Fonts Company.

ROCIO MONTOYA (Flamenco Dancer) started dancing at the age of four in her native city, Granada, Spain. She studied with masters such as Maite Galan, Mario Maya, Eva Yerbabuena and Alejandro Granados. She has a diploma in Danza Española from El Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Granada. At present she is developing work with the dance company Flamencos en Route.

STEFANO DOMIT (Flamenco Dancer) was taught flamenco dancing by his mother at a very young age. By seventeen he had started collaborating with highly-regarded artists and companies in Spain. Credits include: Tercera Llamada and Flamenco Nuevo 2 with Maria Juncal, Sentencia with La Truco, Joyas Flamencas, Retiro Flamenco. Stefano was recently awarded with the first prize in Almeria's Flamenco Festival.

TENEISHA BONNER (International Dance Captain/Afro-Cuban Dancer) has worked with Kylie Minogue, Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, Alesha Dixon, Bobby Valentino, and Jamelia. She has been a member of UK dance company, Zoo Nation since 2004 where she created the role of Spinderella in the award-winning show Into the Hoods - the longest running dance show in London's West End.

KIERAN DONOVAN (Afro-Cuban Dancer) trained at Bird College in London and graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Professional Dance & Musical Theatre. Credits include: Take That (Royal Variety Performance-London), BBC Sports Relief, and The Face (Dundee, Scotland). He has created pieces in the UK for Move It, Breakin' Convention, Joiré De Vivre, Episodes, and Straight Up.

RENAKO McDONALD (Afro-Cuban Dancer) graduated from Liverpool's Institute of Performing Arts. He competed on Sky One's Got To Dance as a member of lyrical contemporary duo Alleviate and performed with Alleviateacross the UK and overseas. He was Assistant Choreographer for ITV's The Nation's Favourite Dance Moments and headlined in the hit show Flashmob at Sadler's Wells' Peacock Theatre.

LUCIA EVANS (Vocalist) was born and raised in Zimbabwe, but moved to Ireland at 19. She won RTÉ's television talent show, You're a Star, and began writing her own songs for her live album, Natural Woman. Lucia has performed at many prestigious events including the 2006 Special Olympics Opening Ceremony in Belfast and Nelson Mandela's visit to Galway in 2003.

GUY RICKARBY (Kit Drummer/Musical Director) has played live/recorded with Van Morrison, Roger Daltrey, Eleanor McEvoy, The Devlins, and has performed with The Chieftains, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Celtic Woman, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and the Ulster Orchestra. He's been in the house-band for major television music series including The Irish Tenors & Friends, You're a Star, Fame: The Musical and The Voice of Ireland.

ATHENA TERGIS (Fiddle) hails from a musical family in San Francisco and released her first album at sixteen. She was the featured violinist in the production of Riverdance on Broadway and she has toured with Bruce Springsteen's sax player, Clarence Clemmons. She joined Mick Moloney and Billy McComiskey in releasing their self-titled album along with her solo album A Letter Home.

CAITLIN WARBELOW (Fiddle) Hails from a family of bush pilots in Fairbanks, Alaska. She performs, records, and teaches extensively in a variety of genres including Irish traditional/rock/country/bluegrass, Texas swing, contest fiddling, and classical violin. Caitlin has toured nationally with Cherish the Ladies and Celtic Fire. She holds a Masters degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University.

LOTTIE CULLEN (Uilleann Pipes) has been a classical and traditional Irish violinist since the age of four, she subsequently mastered whistle, piano and concertina before finding her true musical forte in the form of the Irish uilleann pipes. As one of the world's leading female exponents of the instrument, Lottie now features regularly on the international stage.

PAUL BOOTH (Keys/Saxophone) has released four solo albums and firmly established himself as an in-demand solo artist, as well as a "first call" sideman for many big names in both the jazz and popular music worlds. Awards include: Clifford Brown/Stan Getz fellowship held in Miami, and the Best Modern Jazz Player category in Young Jazz Player of the Year.

PAUL FROST (Trombone) studied at the Cork School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, London. Primarily a bass trombonist, he also freelances on trombone and guitar. He has played with the RTÉ Orchestras, Irish Film Orchestra, Wexford Opera, Cyprus State Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and St Florian, Austria.

ROBBIE FITGERALD (Guitar) has been playing the guitar since age ten. At fifteen he began playing in venues across Ireland. When he finished school he studied classical guitar and piano in Dublin Institute of Technology with John Feeley. Since then, he has been working as a session musician playing throughout Ireland and Europe.

STEVE HOLLOWAY (Percussion/Vocals) is a drummer, percussionist and bodhrán player from Brooklyn. In 1995 Steve recorded with Seamus Egan for the soundtrack of the hit film The Brothers McMullen, the CD The Words That Remain by Solas, and Seamus's solo release When Juniper Sleeps. He played over 200 performances of Riverdance on Broadway.

TANYA O'CALLAGHAN (Bass) is a freelance bassist with an eclectic career. She has performed, recorded and written with artists across many styles of music; including Grammy award-winning producers and multi-platinum selling artists, while continuing to write and perform with her own original bands. She is also creator and director of a wholly original, innovative online video series.

RYAN QUIGLEY (Trumpet) is one of the most in-demand lead and jazz trumpet players in the UK. He has worked with Quincy Jones, George Michael, Robbie Williams, Bob Geldof, Ben E. King, The Commitments, Curtis Stigers and more. Ryan has performed as lead/ guest principal trumpet with Metropole, Royal Scottish National, BBC Scottish Symphony, Scottish Chamber, and RTÉ National Symphony Orchestras.

ALYTH McCORMACK (Additional Vocals) is from The Hebrides of Scotland. She was immersed in traditional culture and studied classical singing and drama at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She has toured the world with acts such as The Chieftains and Trace Adkins, and performed with the symphony orchestras of Cincinnati, Seattle, Washington DC and Ireland.

LONDON COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR began in 1984 and with their mixture of gospel swing/R&B set to sophisticated choreography is now the most successful gospel choir in England. They have collaborated with artists including Tina Turner, Diana Ross, George Michael, Elton John, Sting and Paul McCartney. They performed at a concert for Nelson Mandela in London. Their most memorable performance remains the soundtrack of the Disney film, The Lion King.

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