Danceperados of Ireland - Hooked

The very name Danceperados of Ireland symbolizes the ensemble's enthusiasm for Irish step dancing. Loosely translated, it means "The Danceperados". Yes, the Irish can't stop dancing, singing and playing. It's in their blood. Fishing is also part of the Irish DNA.

With "Hooked", the Danceperados have created a new rousing show that combines the fascination of fishing and dancing with music and song. "Hooked" is a tribute to the customs and traditions of maritime communities, where things are so wonderfully different from those in the big cities. The songs and stories about the sea take us back to a time when people were still self-sufficient and led a simple but self-determined life. But a dangerous one! The sea not only gave, but often also took. All this can be seen and heard. A multivision with historical and current images and videos is combined with music and tap dancing to create a total work of art for the eyes and ears.

However, "Hooked" is not just an ode to the sea and the rivers of the Emerald Isle or the wild and impetuous nature. In view of the speed and aggressiveness of current overexploitation, one has to wonder whether the natural environment will be preserved for future generations. The Dance perados of Ireland bring the unequal battle of David against Goliath to the boards that mean the world. Because small coastal fishers are increasingly threatened by the huge fish factories that are plundering the seas on an industrial scale. Ireland's price for joining the EU in 1973 was to cede 60 percent of its fishing quota. The naive government was badly ripped off, as the EU subsidies expired after a few years and Ireland is now a net contributor to the EU. Nevertheless, huge quantities of fish are taken from Irish waters year after year by other nations, bringing in so much that the old subsidies have long since been recouped.

It is important to the Danceperados of Ireland to draw attention to these issues, which are often not so well known in this country. In contrast to other shows that only present a glorified, idealized world, the ensemble manages the balancing act of being extremely entertaining and yet not just presenting shallow content.

Another big difference to other tap dance shows is that the Danceperados perform live! Many of their competitors feed the audience with half or even full playback. The Danceperados of Ireland have a completely different standard of quality and therefore took the lead in 2014 in a movement that aims to free Irish tap dance from the clutches of the big producers and bring it "back to the roots".

Anyone who has seen "Hooked" will not only go home well entertained, but will also have learned a lot about the Ireland of yesterday and today and perhaps also been encouraged that it is worth fighting for what we love.