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Akron native brings his unique dance show to Canton
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, Rhythm in the Night comes to the Canton Palace Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Created and assembled by Akron native and Lord of the Dance performer, Justin Boros, along with Gregg Senko the show features 18 world-class Irish step dancers in a tale about good versus evil and love and salvation.
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 14, 2014
It’s called Rhythm in the Night and if it brings to mind the mid-‘80s dance hit by DeBarge, think again. This show has little to do with that song and everything to do with Irish dance.
Created and assembled by Akron native and Lord of the Dance performer Justin Boros, along with Gregg Senko, the show features 18 world-class Irish step dancers in a tale about good versus evil and love and salvation.
Boros’ creation has been in the works for over six years but he’s devoted his life to dance much longer than that. A graduate of Northwest High School in Canal Fulton, he first became interested in the craft at age 15.
“I saw Lord of the Dance on PBS,” said Boros. “The dance I watched was called ‘Warriors’ and it was a very masculine dance and I thought it was so cool. At the time I was on the basketball team but I began researching what Lord of the Dance was.”
Back then, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance was groundbreaking, said Boros, adding it put Irish dance on the map because it strayed from the years of tradition and rigidness in Irish dance.
Eventually he said he began taking dance lessons at the Tim O’Hare School of Irish Dance in Akron with the goal of trying out for Lord of the Dance.
“About a year and a half after I started the lessons I got in (Lord of the Dance),” said Boros, who danced for 15 years leaving in 2002 to attend college at American InterContinental University in Atlanta, where he received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration.
He started working on his ideas for Rhythm in the Night in 2007 while serving as a sales consultant for Novartis Pharmaceuticals. “I didn’t want it to contain traditional Irish music. I wanted a unique sound that would amplify the effect.
“So I worked with two composers, Andrew and Jared DePolo, to create an orchestral soundtrack for the show.”
Once everything was in place Boros began testing the performance in local markets to see what audiences thought.
“We did a show at the Sahib Shriners Auditorium in Sarasota, Florida to 800 people and sold out,” he said. “We also headlined a halfway to St. Patrick's Day festival with Brian Johnson from AC/DC and had 4,000 people on their feet.”
The positive reaction convinced him it was time to take the show on the road “for real” and that’s what he is doing. It debuts March 14 and 15 in Peekskill, New York at the Paramount Theater, the first of 15 cities and 19 shows up and down the East Coast.
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, the dancers will perform at the Canton Palace Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
“Rhythm in the Night is a perfect fit for the diverse programming offered by the Canton Palace Theatre,” said Executive Director Georgia Paxos. “It features performers who grew up in our area attending events at the palace, now showcasing their talents on our magnificent stage. How fortunate are we to be able to welcome them home for this wonderful event.”
The other local dancer is Amanda White, who attended and now teaches at the Tim O’Hare School of Irish Dance.
“This is not my first professional performance, but it is my first time being part of a large-scale tour,” said White, who has been dancing for 14 years.
“I am not Irish but ever since I saw Riverdance as a child I have been hooked on dancing.”
She said preparing for this show has required 20 to 30 hours per week between practicing the routines and working out. White, who is studying communications at The University of Akron, said her goal is to become a professional dancer after graduation.
“I’m very excited about the show,” she said. “It has been a great experience.”
Boros plays lead character Balor. “I wanted my character to have a muscular physique with no costume enhancement,” he said.
“I am six feet four inches tall and 280 pounds, which is unique to the Irish dance show world.”
He said he put in a lot of time weight training as well as dancing to prepare for the role.
In addition to Canton, the performers also perform locally at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium in Lakewood on Saturday, March 22.
Boros, who lives in Sarasota, Florida right now, said he plans to move back to northeast Ohio in the near future. At the moment, he said he’s just happy to be bringing his dream to his home.
Rhythm in the Night gets underway at 7:30 on March 17 at the Canton Palace Theatre. Ticket prices range from $30 to $60. For more information go to cantonpalacetheatre.org or call 330-454-8172.