Raving about Raven

SHELLEY MARSDEN meets Roisin Mullins, founder of an exciting troupe taking Irish dance to a whole new level…. Pics: Anne Mullen - 14/10/08

Dressed in black leotards and tights, with their long hair tumbling down their shoulders, the four girls I am watching in action in a small Fulham dance studio are mesmerizing. What they are doing, with their high kicks and intricate footwork, looks like Irish dancing, but it’s an intriguing, hybrid form, as their arms are free and some of the moves, underpinned by electrifying Celtic rhythms, look more inspired by Eastern or modern dance. This is my first glimpse of Roisin Mullin’s exciting new Raven Dance Company.

Last year, the acclaimed 26-year-old fusion soloist had a flash of inspiration. It was to create her very own troupe of world-class dancers, that would take Irish dance – her original discipline – as its creative springboard, mixing it with other dance forms and ultimately, creating a whole new style of dance. From what I saw in one evening, they’ve created something new and wonderfully exotic.

Raven Dance have had a huge amount of success since they began, attracting many dancers who have performed in Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Riverdance and Feet of Flames. The company has performed in venues like the University of Surrey, The Hop Exchange, the Grosvenor House Hotel and Queen's College in London, Saffron Walden Carnival and the Big Dance.

Audience responses have been hugely positive too, in fact the girls inform me that people will often excitedly get their mobile phones out at shows and start filming them. The whole idea behind Raven, explains Mullins, was to bring together a group of professional dancers based in a set location that gave shows ‘on request’, that was open to professional Irish Dancers and offered a degree of flexibility.

“It’s a very new concept in Irish dance”, explains Mullins, whose family is from Cork. “There are lots of touring shows and schools, but practically no professional dance company based in the one place.”  Each show, she continues, can be completely different from the last, with dancers rotating fluidly around the needs of the performances. One of the girls I meet at the open rehearsal, for instance, is taking a break from touring with Celtic Legends, another by day works in Management Consultancy.  

Mullins, not only the founder but the choreographer and Lead Dancer of this innovative new company, relishes the changes this unusual set-up brings. “It’s great, because we are all constantly challenged by new requirements, different contexts and new dancers, so the excitement never ends, and every rehearsal is really full of energy.”

For the time being at least, Raven is an all-female company. But why are the boys excluded? “Because I keep hearing the same comments from so many female dancers that have done tours with these big shows. They had a great time, but it was always the men that got to do the really amazing solos and things.  So I decided, at least for this project, that we would really forefront the female – it’s a very empowering thing, and none of us feel like we are ‘missing’ having a male dance partner, it works very well.”

Ultimately, the big plan for Mullins and her girls is to move from giving individual performances to creating a show that will tour across the country, which she believes will take around a year to bring to fruition. I, for one, think this unique twist on Irish dance is exactly what the public is ready for.

Since their inception, Raven Dance have entertained famous names and the general public alike, but recently their reputation was cemented when they were chosen as a ‘surprise gift’ for Max Clifford’s engagement party. The performed for the PR guru at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey. Clifford recently announced his engagement to Jo Westwood, the Mother of Cork City Ballet Dancer Jessica Westwood.

The troupe was asked to team up with Max’s Irish friend and former All England Ceili Champion Christine Morgan, who led the performance with style. The company’s performance was met with rapturous applause, a standing ovation and the gratification of the happy couple, who invited them to stay on for the evening entertainment.

Celebrity guests at the plush venue included Max’s closest friends Des O’Connor and Bobby Davro. The duo later sang and performed a comedy act as their gift to the couple, and openly expressed how impressed they were with Raven Dance Company. Not bad, eh? Watch this space: Mullins says there are possible plans to collaborate with Flavia Cicace of Strictly Come Dancing fame, incorporating some Latin moves into future routines. Not bad, eh?!

A 21^st Century take on Irish dance, Raven is a company that is destined to grow in success and stature. As a result, Mullins is constantly on the look-out for upcoming talent, and to this end is soon holding an open show dance audition/workshop.

One thing Mullin insists on, however, for those who decide to come for an audition, is that they have a solid background in Irish dance. “We can teach people to open up a bit more physically and learn different disciplines, but it’s much harder to start teaching someone Irish dancing from scratch!”

The audition will take place at Dance Attic Studiosm 368 Northend Road, London SW6 (nearest tube: Fulham Broadway) on Sunday November 9^th from 2-4pm. Dancers who would like to come along must be female (!), aged 16-30 years old, be based in south east England and already have a strong level of Irish dance ability. Email roisinmullins@ravendancecompany.com to ensure your place.

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