‘Riverdance’ 20th anniversary tour brings familiar favorites, new features to Kennewick on Oct. 20-21

Bobby Hodges first saw the Irish dance smash Riverdance on TV at his grandfather’s house.

The Bristol, England, native was about 4 years old. And he was enthralled.

By the time he was 6, his mother had signed him up for Irish dance classes — and he went on to win 10 world titles.

And at 18, he joined a Lord of the Dance tour.

Now 25, Hodges is part of Riverdance — The 20th Anniversary World Tour, which stops in Kennewick for two performances next week.

“When I started touring, I was only 18. Not that I didn’t appreciate it, but there was so much going on,” he told the Herald in a phone interview.

It wasn’t until a while later that it sunk in how far he had come.

“It’s amazing to know that a hobby that started when I was 4 has turned into my profession,” Hodges said.

The performances are at 7 p.m. Oct. 20-21 in the Toyota Center’s Windermere Theatre.

Tickets start at $57. Seats still are available.

Hodges is a lead dancer with the show. People who’ve seen Riverdance will recognize beloved features from a singer vocalizing the themes to the powerful, precise, kinetic Irish dancing, he said.

The 20th anniversary show also includes new costumes, lighting, projections and a new a cappella hard-shoe number featuring the dance troupe’s female members.

Bill Whelan composed the show, and it’s produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan.

It’s stopping in the Tri-Cities as part of the Toyota Center’s 2015-16 Broadway season. Next up is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Nov. 25, followed by Flashdance The Musical on Jan. 22, The Illusionists — Live from Broadway on Feb. 12, The Producers on March 4 and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on March 4.

Subscriptions are available at www.yourtoyotacenter.com and by calling the box office at 509-737-3722.

Hodges said he loves performing, loves Irish dancing.

It’s taken him all over the world, from Japan to South Africa to the United States.

While Hodges still has a room at his parents’ home in Bristol, he rarely gets back there.

These days, he said, “my home seems to be on stage.”

Tickets to the Kennewick Riverdance shows are available at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or through the Toyota Center box office.

Tickets purchased through the box office avoid service fees.

This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 11:34 PM with the headline "‘Riverdance’ 20th anniversary tour brings familiar favorites, new features to Kennewick on Oct. 20-21."