St. Patrick's Day Event: Trinity Irish Dance Company

The Trinity Irish Dance Company, founded in 1990 by Artistic Director Mark Howard will be performing at Miller Outdoor Theatre this Saturday (St. Patty's, of course) at 8:00 p.m.. Admission is free, we suggest that you maybe pack yourself some Irish Stew and good Irish beer or whiskey and enjoy a night of progressive Irish dance. The company is non-profit and melds both traditional Irish dance and new means of expression into their performances. Many of the dancers have risen through the ranks of the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance and have danced together since they were children. Mark Howard has crossed cultural and disciplinary boundaries to bring a fresh artistic vision to the stage without straying from the danc'es cultural roots. Accredited with such commercial production as "Riverdance" and appearing in such films as "Backdraft" and "The Road to Perdition".

The company has toured nationally and internationally - performing for The Royal Family of Monaco, Ireland's President Mary Robinson and Indian meditation master Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. Among their television credits are the "Dignity of Children", hosted by Oprah Winfrey, PBS specials "One Step Beyond" and "World Stage", as well as appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", "CBS This Morning", "Live with Regis" and "Good Morning America".

This should be a fantastic performance, and a nice shift from the bar scene, unless you're into that, of course. In which case, Houstonist will be coming through with some beer-laden alternatives and a wrap-up on Friday afternoon, so you can weigh all of your options at one time.