Celtic music-and-dance group The StepCrew dazzled 711 concertgoers at Armstrong Auditorium on September 15 during the first event of the 2016-2017 Armstrong International Cultural Foundation concert season. It was The StepCrew’s third time performing at Armstrong Auditorium and the first time recording an entire live show.

The two-and-a-half-hour program included tongue-twisting Gaelic songs, intricate instrumental solos, precise choreography, fiddle bowing with wacky props, simultaneous dancing and fiddling, blinding lighting effects, booming acoustics and even audience members waltzing in the aisles. Throughout the evening, several of the performers took to the microphone to express gratitude to what they said was one of their greatest audiences since the group began performing in 2007, to the Armstrong staffers who worked long hours assisting the group and helping them rehearse and record for its music video project the previous three days, and to each other for the sacrifices and hard work that has earned the troupe success over the years. Irish step dancer Cara Butler commented that she was holding back tears because of the warmth and hospitality of the Armstrong crew and the Edmond audience.

Butler, Ottawa Valley step dancers Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, and tap dancers Christine Carr and Julie Fitzgerald demonstrated their respective forms of dancing at the start of the show to a recorded narration describing the unique elements of each type of dance. All night long, they combined the exaggerated leg movements and aggressive stomps of Ottawa Valley step dancing, the rapid footwork and percussive heel clicks of tap dancing, and the graceful leaps and limber kicks of Irish dancing in a program that had audience members nodding and clapping along constantly.

Spurred on by Jon Pilatzke’s urging to evoke “10 times more emotion than usual” for the sake of the video recording, parts of the audience gave standing ovations at least five times. Following a grand finale that drew attention to the band’s drummer, keyboarder, fiddler, guitarist, bassist and banjoist, The StepCrew poured their remaining energy into an encore. The group capped off the night by greeting swarms of fans in the lobby, many of whom said it was the best Armstrong event yet.

The lively event followed three lengthy days of rehearsing and recording at Armstrong Auditorium. Armstrong International Cultural Foundation concert manager Ryan Malone said that Foundation chairman Gerald Flurry suggested the StepCrew video shoot. Armstrong cameramen shot close-up video during the recording session on September 14 that would have been impossible to capture during the recorded live performance the next night. Jon Pilatzke told Armstrong artist liaison Mark Jenkins that The StepCrew will use the footage to produce its first-ever DVD, which will include “the precise shot angles and vision that we have been planning over the years.” Production details and the DVD release date have not yet been confirmed.

The StepCrew is a fusion of Ottawa Valley step dancing, tap dancing, and Irish step dancing set to catchy Celtic tunes. The group’s five dancers, six musicians and one singer have performed with popular ensembles such as the Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies, and Bowfire. Ottawa Valley step dancer Jon Pilatzke is a three-time winner of the Canadian Open Stepdancing Championships. He and his brother Nathan won the Gemini Award in 2005 for Best Performance in a Variety Program with “The Chieftains in Canada.” Tap dancer Christine Carr has won numerous awards, including a first place prize at a New York City competition. Tap dancer Julie Fitzgerald is a two-time Open Step Dance champion, as well as a two-time Canadian Grand Masters fiddle champion. Irish step dancer Cara Butler has won six American national dance titles. Alyth McCormack is a Gaelic singer praised by Jon Pilatzke on the September 12 Music for Life radio program as never having sung a note out of tune in her life.

The 2016-2017 Armstrong International Cultural Foundation concert series continues on November 10, when Herbert W. Armstrong College voice faculty member Paula Malone teams up with prize-winning German cellist Tess Remy-Schumacher.