Martin to to step out for Walled City Tattoo event

Martin Doherty, from the Smith School of Dance will perform in The Walled City Tattoo, which will be staged on Ebrington Square in Derry-Londonderry as part of the UK City of Culture 2013.

Martin forms part of a total troupe of 174 Highland and Irish dancers from 33 dance schools throughout Northern Irelandand Donegal.

The Tattoo dancers, who range in age from six to 28, will put on a unique display of these two traditional dance forms from Wednesday, August 28 to Saturday, August 31 at 8.45pm.

“The Walled City Tattoo is a show unlike any I have ever before performed in. It is a huge production and we are going to be working hard over the next few months rehearsing for our performance,” says Martin.

“What is really unusual and exciting about the dancing in this event, is the two disciplines and two cultures coming together to complement each other - it isn’t something you normally get to see.

“It will be a rare treat for audiences to see them performed alongside each other.,” he added.

“Although there are similarities in Highland and Irish dancing there are also some major differences including our style, traditional costume, music and the instruments we dance to. It will be a rare treat for audiences to see them performed alongside each other.”

The dancers make up only a small proportion of the 500-strong cast of performers from Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK who will participate in this summer’s Walled City Tattoo.

A hit with ticket buyers, the show is proving so popular a fourth night has just gone on sale. The Walled City Tattoo will now run Wednesday, August 28 to Saturday, August 31 at 8.45pm.

Martin forms part of a total troupe of 174 Highland and Irish dancers from 33 dance schools throughout Northern Irelandand Donegal, all of whom got together on bank holiday Monday for their first show rehearsal.

The Tattoo dancers, who range in age from six to 28, will put on a unique display of these two traditional dance forms, bringing together the two distinct styles of dancing and contributing to creating a vivid reflection of rich history and culture in the show.

Tickets from £18.50 from www.millenniumforum.co.uk or call 028 7126 4455