The StepCrew

Overview

The StepCrew is the new international dance production featuring the world’s top talents in Irish Step, Ottawa Valley and Modern Tap Dancing as well as Fiddling. The Stepcrew feature members of Chieftains, Bowfire, and Seven Nations, and will transcend traditional dance forms and fiddling to new heights with seamless transitions through traditional classics, modern interpretations of Celtic Dances and electrifying new compositions performed by a live five-piece band featuring some of the leading musicians on the scene today.

The core ensemble features Jon and Nathan Pilatzke (2005 Gemini Award winners who tour full time with the Chieftains); Stephanie Cadman (the fiddling, singing, World Champion Tap dancing sensation of Bowfire); Cara Butler (World renowned Irish step dancer also with the Chieftains) and the incredible dancer / fiddler Dan Stacey (currently with the hit Celtic band Seven Nations).

Related Sites

• The StepCrew Website
• The StepCrew - MySpace

Program

• The Opening Number
• The Jiggs Set
• Evolution of Dance Styles (Tap, Ottawa Valley, Irish Stepdancing)
• Sally Free and Easy (Courtney – vocal feature)
• Waltz Clog (Joe – Irish stepdance feature)
• The Marquis of Huntley’s Snuff Mill (fiddle trio)
• Amanda (Cara & Joe – Irish stepdancing duet)
• Dan Stacey (fiddle solo)
• Sarah Uddin (tap feature)
• Acapella

Intermission

• Seventy-Four (Jon fiddle solo)
• Stix (Tap dancing)
• The Girls’ Ensemble
• Fair & Tender Ladies (Courtney – vocal)
• Stephanie Fiddle vs. Feet
• Fiddle Feud
• Slip Jiggs (Cara Irish stepdancing)
• The “French” Set
• Chairs (Brothers Battle)
• Finale

About the Artists

THE STEPCREW is the new Celtic inspired dance production that features the world's top talents in Irish, Ottawa Valley and Modern Tap dancing. With a cast of seven outstanding dancers, three of the genre’s most talented fiddle players, and backed by an amazing five-piece band, The StepCrew is set to take Celtic dance to the next level as this production continuously transitions from modern interpretations of traditional Celtic music and dance to completely original musical compositions and choreography created especially for the show.

Cara Butler

Under the tutelage of renowned Irish dance master Donny Golden, Carra went on to win numerous Irish dance championships at world-class levels, including five regional and six national titles. Her competitive years were also intermingled with performing with the best of Irish music exports, including Cherish the Ladies, Greenfields of America, and Solas. In 1992 she forged an ongoing relationship with the six time Grammy award winning The Chieftains, which still exists today. Cara is famous for her starring role as the principal dancer in the nationwide Folgers coffee commercial, A Dancer's Morning, and can be seen dancing in Shania Twain's video, "Don't be Stupid."

In 1999, Cara opened as a principal dancer in Jean Butler and Colin Dunne's Dancing on Dangerous Ground in London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane. She continues to work with her sister, of Riverdance fame, doing dance workshops and appearing in Jean Butler's Masterclass, an instructional DVD. Cara Butler's expertise lies in her formal Irish dance training, but is not limited by it. She is a performer at heart and her various talents have enabled her to excel in many mediums. In 1996, she toured with Ashley MacIsaac showcasing her virtuosity as a singer and dancer.

Stephanie Cadman

Stephanie Cadman has been performing since the age of four, delighting audiences with her topnotch Celtic fiddling and dazzling footwork. She appeared as a lead in Swing step, combining her considerable talents as actor, dancer, singer and fiddler. She then went on to perform in the Celtic review Needfire, with John McDermott in Monte Carlo, and with the National Tour of 42nd Street. This year Stephanie is again performing in Anne of Green Gables and Canada Rocks at the Charlottetown Festival. Her new show, Classically Celtic, was a hit at the Boris Brott Music Festival this summer where she wowed the audience with her vocal, Celticfiddling, and dance numbers. As a dancer and choreographer, Stephanie is accomplished in tap, Celtic step dancing, ballet and jazz. She was the top female solo tap dancer at the 1998 World Tap Dance Championships and has won three Canadian step dancing titles.

Her unique choreographies continue to achieve top honors at competitions in Canada and the U.S. She has appeared as a dance soloist and Celtic fiddler with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Edmonton, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Seattle and Portland Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Kennedy Center's National Symphony Orchestra. Recently she participated in a Canadian Forces show-tour where she performed for the troops at several bases in the Middle East. Stephanie's latest project is her new demo CD, "Unleashed". For more information please visit S t e p h anie Cadman's website at : www.stephaniecadman.com

Joe Dwyer

Born in Brooklyn to an Indian mother and an Irish father, Joe Dwyer was mesmerized by the rhythm and percussion of Irish Dancing at the ripe age of six. His talent was quickly noticed by world renowned dancing instructor Donny Golden, who took a liking to his dancing; entering him in local feisanna and introducing him to the accomplished all-female ensemble Cherish the Ladies. In years ahead, Joe captured multiple regional and national titles and placed seventh in the World Championships of Irish Dancing. His talent has taken him to concert halls all over the world and most notably to the White House, where he performed for President Clinton in 1998 and for President Bush and Taoiseach Ahern of Ireland in 2005. Joe recently graduated Cum Laude from Fordham University with a bachelors degree in Finance and Marketing, and currently works as a financial analyst for Morgan Stanley in New York.

Jon and Nathan Pilatzke

This duo, undoubtedly the most dynamic and energetic pair of step dancers to ever hit the stage, have been performing together for upwards of 20 years and have over 50 years of step dance experience between them. Hailing from the Ottawa Valley of Ontario, Canada, Jon and Nathan (who has been aptly nicknamed Crazy Legs) started step dancing at the tender ages of 4 and 5 respectively. Jon then picked up the fiddle at age 9. Since 2002, these brothers have been touring the world with Irish moguls The Chieftains, visiting countries including Sweden, Norway, China, Japan, Australia, and most of Europe and North America. They have performed everywhere from The Ryman Auditorium with Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, and Allison Krauss to Late Night with David Letterman and Conan O'Brien. In addition, Jon was invited in 2001 to join 10 of Canada's best fiddlers in a diverse musical show called Bowfire, which is currently receiving accolades for it’s PBS special being aired nation-wide.

2005 proved triumphant for the Pilatzke brothers as they garnered a Gemini Award (the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy) for Best Performance in a Variety Program on “The Chieftains in Canada”. Jon and Nathan were also extremely proud to be performing throughout the 2005 Grammy-nominated record “The Chieftains Live From Dublin: A Tribute to Derek Bell”. Back in Canada, Jon and Nathan have teamed up with fellow StepCrew alumni Cara and Jef to join Chieftains’ harpist Triona Marshall in an Irish/ Canadian traditional music and dance project called TREAD. They were honoured to record their first CD “Live From Matt Molloy’s” and have toured Japan and Ireland extensively.

Dan Stacey

Canadian born fiddler/ Ottawa Valley Step dancer Dan Stacey has been recently rockin' and rollin' with the Florida based band Seven Nations. He performs side gigs with Irish folk bands such as Altan, Cherish the Ladies and Dervish and has appeared throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark and Japan. Dan was a lead dancer in the Mirvish production of “The Needfire” which earned him a Dora nomination for choreography.

Sarah Uddin

At only 22, Sarah Uddin has travelled the world winning top awards in dance and choreography. She is trained in Ottawa Valley stepdance, tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop. She was a guest dancer in China at the International Children's Festival and was a member of the silver medal-winning Canadian Tap team in Germany.

Rob Becker

Rob Becker (bass) is a well known as one of Vancouver’s most fluid and melodic bassists. His smooth playing and his adept facility with all styles of music has earned him many award nominations. He was the BCCMA’s Bassist of the Year in 1996. Rob has toured extensively throughout Canada and the US with Canadian country singer Patricia Conroy and has been a part of her band for over 15 years. He has also taken part in two Canadian Forces Show Tours that have taken him to Bosnia and the Middle East. Rob maintains a busy work schedule and is equally at home in the studio or on stage having recorded and toured with the likes of Barney Bentall, Theresa Sokyrka, Lee Aaron and Jeremy Fisher.

Courtney Farquhar

Courtney Farquhar's (vocals) debut EP which showcases her talents as singer and songwriter has captivated listeners with her beautiful voice and melodies. She had much success with the release of "That's What Happens" on Warners 'Women and Songs 7' and continues to turn heads with her intriguing lyrics and captivating live performances. Keep an eye out for the upcoming release of her full-length album destined to be as impressive as Courtney herself.

Ryan MacNeil

Ryan Macneil (keyboards/synthesizer) was brought up with the Celtic music traditions of Cape Breton. He is a family member of “The Barra MacNeils” and performs with them on a regular basis. He also performed with the Celtic fusion band “Slainte Mhath” and Irish fiddler “Liz Doherty” throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Ryan has appeared on Great Big Sea’s television special and CBC’s “The Chieftains in Canada.” In 2007, he will perform with The Chieftains U.S. Tour.

Jef McLarnon

Jef McLarnon (guitars) is a Toronto-based musician currently touring with the band Quagmyre and the summer of 2006 saw Jef playing with the Chieftains in Spain and the UK. When he is not playing music, Jef is a strong supporter of the public library system and enjoys welding things together. Jef is kept busy with his constant endeavours to inspire awe and wonder in the hearts of children.

Kirk White

Kirk White (percussion) was 'turned on' to a career in music as soon as his training began (playing along with his Led Zeppelin albums). Since then he has received a Bachelor of Music from U.P.E.I. and a Masters in Percussion Performance from McGill University in Montreal. Kirk has been active as an educator and freelance musician in Eastern Canada for the past 15 years. Performance/recording credits include: Mae Moore, Stephanie Cadman, L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal (dir. Charles Dutoit) and the McGill Percussion Ensemble (dir. Pierre Beluse). Kirk joined the Step Crew in 2007.